Outline

Overview

Plants grow across a range of environments, influencing form, function and ultimately reproductive success. Being sessile, plants lack the luxury of seeking an alternative 'stress-free lifestyle' and therefore rely on genetic and physical adaptations to survive and reproduce. To understand how a plant can achieve such flexibility requires knowledge of plant structure and the influence of environmental drivers on plant growth and function. In this unit, you will examine the physiological processes controlling plant growth and reproduction linked to environmental constraints. You will understand the relationship between tissue and cellular structure and their underlying role in physiological and metabolic activities, particularly processes involving light capture, photosynthesis, water regulation, nutrient management and metabolite redistribution. Lectures and interactive practicals will together introduce you to plant processes that underpin life on earth. Experimentation and analysis of plant physiological processes will develop a skill base that will lead to a greater understanding and appreciation of common plant processes. As a component of the Plant Science minor and the Plant Production major, BIOL2031 will provide an important platform to extend your interests in plant science and plant related fields across the curriculum.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Life and Environmental Sciences Academic Operations
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	None
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	AGEN2005 or BIOL3043 or BIOL3943 or BIOL2931
Assumed knowledge ?	Knowledge of concepts and skills in BIOL1XX6.
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Claudia Winters, claudia.keitel@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s)	Andrew Merchant, andrew.merchant@sydney.edu.au
	Claudia Keitel, claudia.keitel@sydney.edu.au
	Brent Kaiser, brent.kaiser@sydney.edu.au
	Tina Louise Bell, tina.bell@sydney.edu.au
	Charles Warren, charles.warren@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Final exam (Record+)	Examination Multiple choice and short answer questions	40%	Formal exam period	2 hours
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Practical quizzes Online quiz	20%	Multiple weeks	Details provided on Canvas
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Lab books Lab notebook to demonstrate scientific note-taking and analysis skills	20%	Multiple weeks	Details provided on Canvas
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Scientific commentary Written assignment	10%	Week 12	600 - 800 words
Outcomes assessed:
Presentation	Presentation Powerpoint and oral presentation	10%	Week 13	15 minutes
Outcomes assessed:
= hurdle task ? = group assignment ? = Type B final exam ?

Assessment summary

Practical quizzes: Online practical quizzes testing understanding of practical content. All quizzes need to be completed on Canvas.
Lab notebooks: Students will need to fill out their laboratory notebooks weekly. Marks will be based on completeness, clarity and accuracy, and more information on lab notebook requirements will be available on Canvas. Notebooks will be compiled on LabArchives.
Scientific commentary and presentation: Students will undertake a research project during the semester. They will employ data collected during the practical sessions and use both library and internet resources to investigate the research topic and question. Students will work in small groups to prepare a 10 min PowerPoint seminar for joint presentation (10 marks). Prior to the presentation, a two-page summary (600-800 words, excluding references, 10 marks) must be submitted in the general format of a scientific commentary, with a focus on relating the outcomes of the project to current literature. Students will have the opportunity to review the contribution of their peers to this group assignment (more information will be provided on Canvas). Powerpoints need to be submitted via Turnitin on Canvas.
Examination: A 2-hour theory exam will be held during the official examination period at the end of semester. The exam may comprise multiple-choice, short-answer and/or mini-essay questions from any area of the lecture and practical program. Students must obtain an overall mark of at least 40% in the final exam (i.e. 16/40) to pass the unit.

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	Introductory session (general info, practicals, assessments, online platforms)	Practical (3 hr)
	Case study 1: Plant sciences and global health	Lecture (1 hr)
	Leaf function 1: Primary metabolism	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 02	Leaf gas exchange and anatomy 1: photosynthetic light and carbon dioxide response	Practical (3 hr)
	Leaf function 2: Light harvesting and photoprotection	Lecture (1 hr)
	Plant energy exchange	Lecture (1 hr)
	Tutorial for Module 1	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 03	Leaf gas exchange and anatomy 2: photosynthetic light and carbon dioxide response	Practical (3 hr)
	Plant water relations and hydraulics 1	Lecture (1 hr)
	Plant water relations and hydraulics 2	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 04	Water potential and hydraulic conductivity	Practical (3 hr)
	Case study 2: Plant and human adaptations to nutrient deficiencies	Lecture (1 hr)
	Plant nutrients	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 05	Groups	Practical (3 hr)
	Biotic interactions of the hidden half	Lecture (1 hr)
	Nutrient transport	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 06	Plant root potassium uptake	Practical (3 hr)
	Beneficial root symbionts - Rhizobia and Mycorrhizae	Lecture (1 hr)
	Case study 3: Biofortification for food quality	Lecture (1 hr)
	Tutorial for Module 2	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 07	Legume nodule nitrogen fixation	Practical (3 hr)
	Plant factories: carbohydrates	Lecture (1 hr)
	Plant factories: fatty acids, lipids, waxes	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 08	Plant factories: amino acids, proteins	Lecture (1 hr)
	Plant factories: structure and anatomy	Lecture (1 hr)
	Tutorial for Module 3	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 09	Carbohydrates/partitioning	Practical (3 hr)
	Case study 4: Physiological drivers of plant reproduction	Lecture (1 hr)
	Plant reproduction – flowering	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 10	Flowers and seeds	Practical (3 hr)
	Plant reproduction – seed development	Lecture (1 hr)
	Plant reproduction - senescence	Lecture (1 hr)
	Tutorial for Module 4	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 11	Plant stress response	Practical (3 hr)
	Case study 5: Plant adaptations to climate variability and climate change	Lecture (1 hr)
	Stress response 1 – wet and dry	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 12	Data review and analysis workshop	Practical (3 hr)
	Stress response 2 – salinity	Lecture (1 hr)
	Stress response 3 – hot and cold	Lecture (1 hr)
	Tutorial for Module 5	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 13	Presentations	Practical (3 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance: You are required to attend a minimum of 90% of timetabled practicals for this unit (8 practical sessions and 2 data review and analysis workshops), unless granted exemption by the Associate Dean.
Required materials: The practical manual with background information about the experiment conducted during the practical session, as well as experimental protocols will be available on Canvas one week prior to the practicals. It is expected that you read this manual prior to coming to the sessions in preparation for the pre-lab quiz. The manual will not be provided in printed form.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. understand basic plant principles governing carbon fixation, water balance, nutrient uptake, growth, partitioning, reproduction, stress response and death
LO2. use technical equipment to understand core concepts linked to carbon capture, the role of water and minerals on growth, resource exchange between tissues and the underlying intricacies of plant development
LO3. demonstrate inquiry and problem solving skills through practical classes which focus on experimentation, data collection, data analysis and presentation
LO4. demonstrate effective scientific communication by producing written, visual, and oral work on practical results and relevant topics linked to plant physiology, independently and as part of groups
LO5. complete pre-reading prior to lab practicals and be fit to carry out experiments independently where appropriate, and work alongside peers in an effective and collaborative manner

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

The assessments and delivery of this unit has been adjusted to take into consideration student feedback from the previous year.

Additional information

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect

Current students

BIOL2031: Plants and Environment

Semester 2, 2021 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect