Botany

Entomology BOU33122

Description

• There are more species of insects on Earth than any other group of organisms and they are of massive ecological and economic importance. This module will address behavioural, social, ecological and applied aspects of entomology, including their role in delivering ecosystem services (such as biocontrol and pollination), invasive species (such as fire ants and harlequin ladybirds) and conservation (both in Ireland and internationally). The practicals will provide students with the skills for sampling and identification of insects, which will be further enhanced through an individual project.

Soil Science BOU33123

Description

• Soils are important for plants as they provide the key resources required for growth and also essential structural support. This module will provide an overview of the fundamental concepts of soil formation and characterisation; how soil characteristics influence plant distribution and productivity through water and nutrient availability; how soil organisms (bacteria, fungi) interact with plants and how soils influence global biogeochemical cycles (carbon and nitrogen). Particular focus will be given to the role of soils in the production of food, fuel and fibre and how sustainable land management practices are required to ensure the long-term health and fertility of soil systems.

Plant Physiology BOU33100

Description

• This module covers major biochemical and physiological aspects of photosynthesis, respiration, resource capture and growth at both the cell and whole plant level. Continual assessment for this module will be a mini review on a given subject area relevant to photosynthesis, and an exercise in writing a scientific paper where raw data from a growth study of plants maintained at different light intensities will be supplied.

Global Environmental Change BOU33105

Description

• The global environment is changing more rapidly at present than at any time during the human occupancy of the planet. This module reviews the existence of the changing environment and the predictions for the future, and focusses on aspects of sustainability and how this is assessed for various production systems.

Plant Molecular Biology BOU33107

Description

• Plant Molecular Biology plays a major part in most fields of botanical research including ecology, systematics and physiology. The aim of this module is to cover the fundamentals of plant molecular biology and to explore applied aspects, including molecular systematics, molecular ecology, conservation genetics and genetic engineering.

Diversity & Systematics of Land Plants BOU33112

Description

• There are over 400,000 land plant species known to science. This module will explore the evolution and classification of land plants (embryophytes) and how to identify them in the field. By undertaking this module you will become acquainted with the evolutionary history, life cycle and general distinguishing attributes of the major land plant evolutionary groups: Bryophytes (mosses, hornworts and liverworts), Monilophytes (ferns and fern alies), Lycophytes, Gymnosperms (e.g. conifers, cycads) and Angiosperms (flowering plants).
The module will discuss evolutionary origins, various systems of classification, compare and contrast molecular and morphological phylogenetic signals and discuss various large groups of land plants with a particular focus on the most ancient ( bryophytes) and the most recent and highly diverse (Angiosperms, flowering plants). This module will include laboratory practical classes, self-guided fieldwork and lectures. Students will produce their own herbarium plant collection on a small selection of native species in the Irish flora as part of the module.

Vegetation Description and Analysis BOU44109

Description

• This module will describe how to sample, record and lead up to detailed multivariate analyses to help define vegetation communities. Though some theoretical and historical framework will be given in lectures, the emphasis will be on practical collection, analysis and interpretation of vegetation data. Various data sets will be utilised in computer-based sessions, and field work will be used to generate a novel data set, the analysis and interpretation of which will form part of the continuous assessment for this module.

Plant Breeding and Biotechnology BOU44060

Description

• The module covers the principles and practice of plant breeding and biotechnology. Lectures cover key topics such as the origins of agriculture, genetic resources, disease resistance, conventional breeding, modern breeding, genetic engineering, and case studies in breeding and biotechnology. Practicals cover crop diversity, polyploid estimation and at least one site visit to a Teagasc Research Centre (e.g Ashtown Dublin).