OBJECTIVES:
Investigation of physiological mechanisms influencing ecological patterns and processes, including plant acclimation and adaptation in contrasting habitats, abiotic controls on species productivity and distribution, relevant conceptual and experimental approaches, and integration across ecological scales. Each subject matter section begins with an introduction of the relevant physiological processes and develops toward an ecological synthesis of these processes at community or ecosystem scales.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
As a result of taking this course, students will be able to accomplish the following:
- Identify the importance of major physiological processes to ecosystem function
- Describe plant-environment interactions and how they shape plant adaptation and distribution
- Independently interpret and apply physiological plant ecology from the literature
- Decompose complex ecological patterns into their component physiological processes.
INSTRUCTOR:
Dr. David D. Briske
Department of Ecosystem Science and Management
Animal Industries Building, Room 328
Telephone: 845-5581
email: dbriske@tamu.edu
MEETING TIME AND LOCATION:
Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 9:10 - 10:00 am.
Animal Industries Building, Room 133.
READING ASSIGNMENTS:
Text: Plant Physiological Ecology, Lambers H., Chapin F.S. and Pons T.L. 1998 Springer-Verlag. Reading assignments within this text are referenced by section on the attached syllabus. Journal papers will also be assigned for each subject matter section. These papers are available on the course home page (WebCT-Vista).
PREREQUISITES:
RENR 205 or MEPS 313 or equivalent
EVALUATION PROCEDURES:
Exams will consist of definition and short-answer questions. Problem sets will require synthesis and application of information addressed in lectures, the text and assigned readings to an actual or hypothetical ecological scenario. Problems sets will be made available on the course home page.
Exam I 100 points October 9
Exam II 100 points November 6
Final Exam (Comprehensive) 100 points December 11
Take-home Problems (3) 200 points As assigned
500 points
GRADE DISTRIBUTION:
A=90%
B=80-89%
C=70-79%
D=60-69%
F=0-59%
MAKE-UP EXAMINATIONS AND LATE ASSIGNMENTS:
Make-up examinations will be given provided that students present a documented University-excused absence within 1 week of the scheduled exam. An excused absence means that illness or some other problem beyond your control prevented you from taking the scheduled exams. Make-up exams must be taken within 4 weeks of the scheduled exam. Instructors are under no obligation to provide an opportunity for students to make up course work missed because of unexcused absences (see TAMU Regulations below). Assignments that are turned in late, without an excused absence, will be assessed a 10% reduction for the first week and a 25% reduction there after.
ATTENDANCE:
Regular class attendance is expected. Most examination questions come from the lectures and experience shows that those students who attend class consistently obtain the highest scores.
Attendance (Revised 1999)*
The University views class attendance as an individual student responsibility. Students are expected to attend class and to complete all assignments. Instructors are expected to give adequate notice of the dates on which major tests will be given and assignments will be due. Students are responsible for providing satisfactory evidence to the instructor to substantiate the reason for absence.
AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights protection for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact the Department of Student Life, Services for Students with Disabilities in Room B118 in Cain Hall (845-1637).
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY STATEMENT
“An Aggie does not lie, cheat, or steal or tolerate those who do.”
Upon accepting admission to Texas A&M University, a student immediately assumes a commitment to uphold the Honor Code, to accept responsibility for learning, and to follow the philosophy and rules of the Honor System. Students will be required to state their commitment on examinations, research papers, and other academic work. Ignorance of the rules does not exclude any member of the TAMU community from the requirements or the processes of the Honor System. For additional information please visit: www.tamu.edu/aggiehonor/.
PHYSIOLOGICAL PLANT ECOLOGY
COURSE SYLLABUS
RLEM 607
I. Introduction to Physiological Plant Ecology
A. Discipline Definition and Approach (Chapter 1)
B. Discipline Development
II. Plant Processes and Environmental Interactions
A. Radiation Budgets (Chapter 4, p. 210-228)
1. Radiation laws and terminology
2. Leaf spectral characteristics
a. reflection
b. absorption
c. transmission
3. Leaf orientation
a. cosine law
b. display mechanisms
4. Energy dissipation
a. reradiation
b. convection
c. latent heat transfer
d. environmental constraints
5. Ecological implications
a. optimal leaf size
b. specific energy budgets
B. Whole-Plant Photosynthesis (Chapter 2A, p. 10-89)
1. Photosynthetically active radiation
2. Radiation attenuation
a. canopy architecture
b. radiation quality
3. Adaptation to radiation environments
a. heliophytes and sciophytes
b. physiological acclimation
c. canopy-level modifications
4. Photosynthetic pathways
a. Calvin-Benson (C3)
b. Hatch-Slack (C4)
c. C4 subgroups
d. C3-C4 intermediates
e. Crassulacean Acid Metabolism (CAM)
f. pathway evolution
5. Regulation of photosynthesis
a. CO2 response curve
b. feedback mechanisms
c. resource constraints
6. Comparison of photosynthetic pathways
a. CO2 compensation point
b. light saturation point
c. light compensation point
d. photorespiration
e. temperature optima
f. water-use efficiency
g. nitrogen-use efficiency
h. 13C/12C ratio
i. photosynthetic capacity
j. quantum yield
k. productivity
7. Pathway distribution
a. patterns
b. controls
8. Response to elevated CO2
a. pathway comparison
b. CO2 acclimation
c. ecosystem responses
9. Ecological implications
C. Relative Growth Rate (Chapter 7, p. 299-345)
1. Plant growth
2. Basis for variation
3. Physiological mechanisms
4. Resource constraints
5. Ecological implications
D. Plant Water Relations (Chapter 3, p. 154-204)
1. Concepts and measurements
a. relative water content
b. water potential
c. instrumentation
2. Soil-plant-atmosphere continuum
a. transpiration
b. transport mechanisms
c. hydraulic conductivity
d. cavitation and xylem refilling
e. conductivity–cavitation trade-off
3. Water absorption
a. hydraulics of water uptake
b. root traits and distribution
c. hydrogen isotope ratios
d. hydraulic lift
4. Plant water stress
a. developmental patterns
b. physiological consequences
c. mechanisms of injury
5. Drought resistance
a. tolerance mechanisms
b. avoidance mechanisms
c. plant strategies
6. Ecological implications
a. species replacement
b. precipitation gradients
E. Plant-Soil Relations (Chapter 6, p. 239-263;
1. Nutrients in the soil 282-292)
a. availability
b. distribution
2. Nutrient acquisition
a. absorption
b. root traits
c. life span
d. environmental constraints
e. mycorrhiza
3. Nutrient-use efficiency
a. retention
b. resorption
4. Adaptive strategies
a. root proliferation
b. physiological plasticity
c. inorganic N uptake
d. life history strategies
F. Scaling: Leaf to Globe (Chapter 10B, p. 503-515)
1. Ecological scaling
2. Leaf trait relationships
3. Metabolic scaling
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