ENV BIOL 2510 - Plant Identification II

North Terrace Campus - Semester 2 - 2022

This short intensive course provides a basic understanding of the diversity of plants and develops specialised technical skills in the identification of vascular plants. The course is taught in the context of the origins of Australian plant diversity with special emphasis on selected and iconic Australian plant groups. Native and introduced plant groups are emphasised in practical studies and some emphasis will be placed on understanding the status of rare, threatened and priority weed plant groups. Field and practical experience will include study of plant diversity of local natural and managed habitats. Skills developed in this course include the description and identification of vascular plants along with a basic understanding of land based non-vascular plant groups. The skills developed will provide a sound basis contributing to investigating evolutionary processes and describing biodiversity.

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Course Details

Course Code	ENV BIOL 2510
Course	Plant Identification II
Coordinating Unit	School of Biological Sciences
Term	Semester 2
Level	Undergraduate
Location/s	North Terrace Campus
Units	3
Contact	Up to 6 hours per week during 2nd half of the Semester; up to 40 hours per week in Mid-Semester break
Available for Study Abroad and Exchange	Y
Incompatible	ENV BIOL 2515
Assumed Knowledge	6 units of Level I BIOLOGY, Environmental Biology courses or equivalent; ENV BIOL 2500
Assessment	Quizzes (in practicals), oral presentation, assignments, mid-term and final tests

Course Staff

Course Coordinator: Professor Michelle Waycott

Course Timetable

The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from .

Course Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this course students should be able to:

1	Demonstrate understanding of the principles and practice of vascular plant identification;
2	Demonstrate understanding of plant taxonomic nomenclature and systems of classification;
3	Infer the taxonomic status of unknown plant specimens and have the analytical tools to assess their conservation or introduced status;
4	Demonstrate understanding of how to collect plant specimens from the field and prepare them for lodgement in herbaria and
5	Understand processes of vascular plant evolution which underly the origins of existing biodiversity.

University Graduate Attributes

This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

University Graduate Attribute	Course Learning Outcome(s)
Attribute 1: Deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth Graduates have comprehensive knowledge and understanding of their subject area, the ability to engage with different traditions of thought, and the ability to apply their knowledge in practice including in multi-disciplinary or multi-professional contexts.	2-5
Attribute 2: Creative and critical thinking, and problem solving Graduates are effective problems-solvers, able to apply critical, creative and evidence-based thinking to conceive innovative responses to future challenges.	1,2,3
Attribute 3: Teamwork and communication skills Graduates convey ideas and information effectively to a range of audiences for a variety of purposes and contribute in a positive and collaborative manner to achieving common goals.	1,2,4,5
Attribute 4: Professionalism and leadership readiness Graduates engage in professional behaviour and have the potential to be entrepreneurial and take leadership roles in their chosen occupations or careers and communities.	1-5
Attribute 5: Intercultural and ethical competency Graduates are responsible and effective global citizens whose personal values and practices are consistent with their roles as responsible members of society.	2-5
Attribute 8: Self-awareness and emotional intelligence Graduates are self-aware and reflective; they are flexible and resilient and have the capacity to accept and give constructive feedback; they act with integrity and take responsibility for their actions.	2,4

Learning Resources
Recommended Resources
The recommended texts assigned to this course are:
- Plant Systematics, Second Edition, by Michael G. Simpson ISBN: 978-0-12-374380-0
- It's Blue With Five Petals by Ann Prescott ISBN: 978-0-64-659298-5
Learning & Teaching Activities

Learning & Teaching Modes

During Covid-19

NOTE: practicals are involved but not during the 12 weeks.This course is run in an atypical format. Although run in Semester 2 lectures and some tutorial content will be delivered as online content prior to the 1 week face to face period during the first week of the mid-semester break (this year starting 21 Sept 2020). This will be followed by 3 weeks 'tutorials' to support the students development of major project. The fundamental of the course is the face to face hands on learning - laboratory and field based - in the practice of identifying plants, both informal (field base) and formal (lab based) final results being evaluated in a technically authoritative manner, augmented by additional lecture/tutorial content during this period.The specific outcomes for this course are difficult to achieve without students having access to microscopes in the laboratories, and plant material that is able to be explained to the students in detail to understand what they are looking at. To achieve the outcomes in 2020, with a minimum of lab and field time, we are restructuring the available lab time and space during the scheduled face-to-face period in the mid-semester break (ie starting 21 Sept 2020). We propose to deliver laboratory classes, complying with COVID conditions in Braggs laboratories and field components, again based on COVID conditions compliant activities in walking distance to the northern end of North Tce campus.

Our 2020 proposal is :
1. All lectures will be converted to online content if not already developed in this mode - including the content usually given during the face-to-face week.
2. All tutorials will be converted to online content including the content usually given during the face-to-face week, some of this content will be delivered post face-to face to provide follow-up reinforcing content that also prepares the students for their final major project work.
3. We will develop in-lab work that is readily completed following COVID-19 restrictions and lab availability. We will also record the labs during the week if students are unable to attend and propose that they find similar plant material to observe although they may need to be directed in gaining access to appropriate material.

Typically we take students to natural bush sites close to the city (Anstey Hill) or within easy travel distance (Aldinga Scrub and Onkaparinga reserve). During this years' course we will utilise sites such as the Botanic Gardens, Botanic Park and along the Torrens with permission from landholders. This will enable walking from campus and social distancing.

Workload

The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

A student enrolled in a 3 unit course, such as this, should expect to spend, on average 12 hours per week on the studies required. This course is being delivered through a combination of intensive face to face sessions full time for one week and an additional 6 weeks of content delivered flexibly via electronic content or project based work. This includes both the formal contact time required to the course (e.g., lectures and practicals), as well as non-contact time (e.g., reading and revision).

Learning Activities Summary

This course will be delivered by the following means:

Our 2020 proposal is :
1. All lectures will be converted to online content if not already developed in this mode - including the content usually given during the face-to-face week.
2. All tutorials will be converted to online content including the content usually given during the face-to-face week, some of this content will be delivered post face-to face to provide follow-up reinforcing content that also prepares the students for their final major project work.
3. We will develop in-lab work that is readily completed following COVID-19 restrictions and lab availability. We will also record the labs during the week if students are unable to attend and propose that they find similar plant material to observe although they may need to be directed in gaining access to appropriate material.

Typically we take students to natural bush sites close to the city (Anstey Hill) or within easy travel distance (Aldinga Scrub and Onkaparinga reserve). During this years course we will utilise sites such as the Botanic Gardens, Botanic Park and along the Torrens with permission from landholders. This will enable walking from campus and social distancing.

The course content may include the following topics:
1.   Botanical nomenclature, the principles of systematics and taxonomy (including historical context)
2.   Species concepts versus species identification (including historical and theoretical context and its practical application).
3.   Modern taxonomic techniques.
4.   The role of the herbarium and other research infrastructure such as botanic gardens, seed banks and databases.
5.   Fundamentals of plant characters used for modern taxonomy; morphology, anatomy, cytology, DNA characters. Detailed
plant character analysis; leaves, flowers and fruits.
6.   Spotting characters for major groups including iconic Australian flowering plant groups, weeds and globally important
plant families.
7.   Evolutionary systematics of vascular plants including adaptation and congruence in plant characters.
8.   Advanced plant biodiversity; plant-animal co-evolution, adaptation gradients, the influence of plasticity,
applied uses of plant biodiversity, ethnobotany.

Practical classes may include developing skills in the recognition of plant structures for use in taxonomic identification, the use of taxonomic identification key and other resources, analysis of plant characters for assessment of variability.

Specific Course Requirements

The recommended texts assigned to this course are:

Plant Systematics, Second Edition, by Michael G. Simpson ISBN: 978-0-12-374380-0

It's Blue With Five Petals by Ann Prescott ISBN: 978-0-64-659298-5

The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
Assessment must maintain academic standards.

Assessment Summary

Assessment Task	Type of Assessment	Percentage of total assessment for grading purposes	Hurdle Yes or No	Outcomes being assessed / achieved	Approximate Timing of Assessment
Quizzes	Formative & Summative	15%	No	1,3	Week 39
Practical Assessment	Formative & Summative	15%	No	2,3,4	Week 42
Project	Formative & Summative	20%	No	1-5	Week 44
Mid-Semester Test	Summative	25%	No	1,2,3,5	Week 39
Final Test	Summative	25%	No	1, 2, 3, 4, 5	Week 45

Assessment Detail

1. Quizzes (15%)

Four quizzes testing the skills
in plant identification the students have gained will be held online for increased accessibility. The total for these quizzes will be 15% of their final grade (each quiz is worth 3.75%). These quizzes include assessment of the ability of student to not only observe and describe the unknown plant specimens they will need to identify but the correct taxonomy applied.

2. Practical Assessment (15%)

The practical assessment will replace group presentations and be based on the hands on activities conducted during the face to face week. Alternatives are being identified for those unable to attend but lack of equipment at home identified as problem for inspecting plants for use in formal identification keys.

3. Project (20%)

The project has been down-weighted as it usually represents the individual and group work based field collections in native bushland which will not be possible this year. A revised major project scope has been devised where the students can achieve good outcomes using virtual resources following demonstrations during the face to face training.

4. Mid Term and Final Tests (50%)

Mid-term test (25%)

Mid-semester test has been increased in value due to additional online content to be completed prior to the face to face training activities.

Final test (25%)

A 1 – hour test following the intensive mode component that will draw on material from both lectures and practicals requiring the students to integrate their learning in short answer and/or short essay-style questions.

Submission

If an extension is not applied for, or not granted then a penalty for late submission will apply. A penalty of 10% of the value of the assignment for each calendar day that the assignment is late (i.e. weekends count as 2 days), up to a maximum of 50% of the available marks will be applied. This means that an assignment that is 5 days late or more without an approved extension can only receive a maximum of 50% of the marks available for that assignment.

Course Grading

Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
Grade	Mark	Description
FNS		Fail No Submission
F	1-49	Fail
P	50-64	Pass
C	65-74	Credit
D	75-84	Distinction
HD	85-100	High Distinction
CN		Continuing
NFE		No Formal Examination
RP		Result Pending

Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

Final results for this course will be made available through .

Student Feedback

The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.
Student Support
Policies & Guidelines
This section contains links to relevant assessment-related policies and guidelines - all university policies.
Fraud Awareness

Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student鈥檚 disciplinary procedures.

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Authorised by:	Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Academic)
Maintained by:	Course Outlines Administrator

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