Overview
This unit addresses plant ecophysiology, describing in vivo responses of plants to the environment in both an agricultural and environmental context. You will gain an understanding of plant structure and function, including water relations, transport pathways, gas exchange, photosynthesis, respiration, secondary metabolism, nutrition and growth regulation.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
BOTN11004 Foundation Plant Biology or BIOL11100 Functional Biology or BIOL12112 Animal and Plant Physiology
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 1 - 2022
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes – in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of 'pass' in order to pass the unit. If any 'pass/fail' tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully ('pass' grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the 'assessment task' section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University's Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback - Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from SUTE
Request that assessments are not due on the same day, two weeks after Res School.
The assessment items are the practical report and a written assignment. Students should be reminded that written assignment can be submitted earlier, and that the formal due date is a final date. Students will continue to be encouraged to bring drafts of the assignment to residential school to inform general discussion on the topics covered in the assignment.
Feedback from SUTE
Request perusal time for the questions in on-line exam
The exam was on-line, open for a three hour period. It is not possible to invigilate a 'no writing' 10 minute period. In future, students should be advised to create a perusal (planning) time for themselves.
Feedback from SUTE
Request to provide hardcopy of on-line text, available for purchase
The on-line text is a free resource, but its navigation is not optimal. The potential to have hardcopy available through the bookstore will be investigated.
Feedback from SUTE
Request to have quizzes a higher percentage of total marks
The weekly time-limited quizzes are meant to ensure weekly study and reflection, with the work rewarded in understanding of the topic and so better performance on other assessment items. Multiple attempts are possible, and so very high marks are achievable. I will seek guidance on potentially increasing the weight of this assessment item.
Feedback from Student feedback
Request to avoid Mondays for lectures given the number of public holidays that fall on Mondays
Timetabling is outside lecturer control, however a series of 'topic' video presentations can be made that support continued learning on public holidays.
Feedback from SUTE
Request to avoid need to access external links in the final on-line exam
The on-line examination is, by necessity, open book. Therefore questions must be more 'problem solving' than 'direct responses'. This was attempted through having links to readings. This material can be provided within the exam documentation.
Feedback from Student feedback
Assessment tasks were relevant to the weekly learning and related heavily to our exam. The residential school was great for learning some theoretical work, as well as practical work.
These outcomes should be maintained.
- Describe and illustrate the principal physiological processes of angiosperms as an integrated system
- Apply knowledge of plant physiology in real life situations in agriculture, forestry and vegetation management
- Conduct plant physiology experiments, write experimental reports in the correct format and critique existing reports.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||
---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | |
1 - Online Quiz(zes) - 10% | |||
2 - Written Assessment - 25% | |||
3 - Practical Assessment - 25% | |||
4 - Online Test - 40% |
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | ||
---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | |
1 - Communication | |||
2 - Problem Solving | |||
3 - Critical Thinking | |||
4 - Information Literacy | |||
5 - Team Work | |||
6 - Information Technology Competence | |||
7 - Cross Cultural Competence | |||
8 - Ethical practice | |||
9 - Social Innovation | |||
10 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures |
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes
Assessment Tasks | Graduate Attributes | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | |
1 - Online Quiz(zes) - 10% | ||||||||||
2 - Written Assessment - 25% | ||||||||||
3 - Practical Assessment - 25% | ||||||||||
4 - Online Test - 40% |
Textbooks
Plant Physiology
Edition: 4th (1992)
Authors: Salisbury FB and Ross, CW
Wadsworth
Belmont Belmont , California , USA
ISBN: 0534983901
Binding: Paperback
Additional Textbook Information
Second hand copies of Plant Physiology (by Salisbury and Ross) can be purchased on line
An on-line resource, Plants in Action, will be used as a primary information source.
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
- Computer with Microsoft Office and Endnote installed. The 'Real Statistics' add-In for Microsoft Excel is highly recommended to undertake the statistical analysis required for this unit
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Harvard (author-date)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
n.english@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Introduction - what is plant physiology?
Chapter
Please read 'Plants in Action ed 1' sections 'Preamble', 'A Plant Science Manifesto' and 'Plant Science Applied: case study cotton' from https://www.asps.org.au/plants-in-action-2nd-edition-pdf-files
Events and Submissions/Topic
This weeks' Weekly Online Quiz is for background - for me to understand how much you know about plants!
Module/Topic
Seed dormancy and germination
Chapter
Plants in Action ed 1: Chapters 8.1.1, 8.1.2 and case study 8.1.
Study Guide Module 1
Events and Submissions/Topic
Let us get a discussion going each week - e.g., this week on the Global Seed Vault and the oldest seed to have germinated.
Module/Topic
Water potential
Chapter
Plants in Action: Chapter 3 (Water movement) and 5 (Phloem transport) and the section in Chapter 7 on cell expansion (over several weeks)
Study Guide Module 2
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 1 Online Quiz closes Week 3 Monday night.
Module/Topic
Water uptake and transport
Chapter
As for week 2: Plants in Action: Chapter 3 (Water movement) and 5 (Phloem transport), the section in Chapter 7 on cell expansion and Chapter 15.
Study Guide Module 3
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 2 Online Quiz closes Week 4 Monday night.
Module/Topic
Water relations
Chapter
as for week 4
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 3 Online Quiz closes Week 5 Monday night.
Residential School (Compulsory) is scheduled in Rockhampton (9/G14) 6 to 8 April, 2022
(Optional - submission of draft of Assessment 2 - Making Sense of Plant Processes)
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Mineral nutrition
Chapter
Plants in Action: Chapters 4 and 16
Study Guide Module 4
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 4 Online Quiz closes Week 6 Monday night.
Module/Topic
Nitrogen and sulphur
Chapter
Plants in Action: Chapters 4 and 16
Study Guide Module 5
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 5 Online Quiz closes Week 7 Monday night.
Module/Topic
Photosynthesis
Chapter
Plants in Action: Chapters 1, 2 and 13
Study Guide Module 6
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 6 Online Quiz closes Week 8 Monday night.
Module/Topic
Carbohydrate metabolism
Chapter
Plants in Action: Chapters 2.4 and 11.3 to 11.7
Study Guide Module 7
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 7 Online Quiz closes Week 9 Monday night.
Module/Topic
Plant growth - description and regulation
Chapter
Plants in Action: Chapter 6 and 9
Study Guide Module 8
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 8 Online Quiz closes Week 10 Monday night.
Module/Topic
Plant growth modelling - bringing it all together
Chapter
Plants in Action: Chapter 6
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 9 Online Quizzes close Week 11 Monday night.
Practical reports Due: Week 11 Friday (27 May 2022) 11:45 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Review
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 10 and 11 Online Quizzes close Week 12 Friday night.
Making sense of plant processes Due: Week 12 Friday (3 June 2022) 11:45 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
The day of the End of Term Online Test will be announced during Term 1 by email and on moodle. A 3.5 hour window is provided for this activity, once commenced. It can be commenced any time during the nominated day, but must be completed within a 3.5 h continuous window once started and complete before the end of the 24-hour period.
1 Online Quiz(zes)
On-line quizzes are keyed to the material provided each week and are open for two weeks (less in the last weeks of term). They are intended to pace you, providing incentive for weekly learning. The quizzes are designed to check that you have done the reading and understood the concepts associated with each weeks' learning. As items of continuous assessment, each quiz is of small ‘value', but understanding each week’s material will lead to better assignment and exam scores!
For each quiz: there is no time limit; and one re-attempt of a quiz is allowed but not required. There is a 20 minute enforced time period between attempts. The highest grade of the two attempts will be used in assessment. Questions are generally multiple choice but include matching of terms and calculations. The questions in each quiz are taken from a question bank, so you may not get the same questions the second time you take the quiz. All quizzes must be attempted.
11
Weekly
A window is provided on each quiz, generally the Monday of the second week following the content week being assessed (e.g., quiz of Week 1 is due Monday of Week 3), but this window is compressed in latter weeks.
Quizzes are automatically marked on submission.
The quizzes cover understanding of technical terms and concepts. Questions may be in multiple choice, matching term or calculation answer formats. Answers will be automatically marked as correct or incorrect.
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Describe and illustrate the principal physiological processes of angiosperms as an integrated system
- Apply knowledge of plant physiology in real life situations in agriculture, forestry and vegetation management
2 Written Assessment
The 'Making Sense of Plant Processes' assessment item is meant to check and demonstrate your progress in various plant topics covered in the unit to the point of submission of the assignment.
This assessment item is comprised of a number of tasks, including calculations and descriptive/interpretive short answers. It will cover material presented in Weeks 1 - 10. The specific questions will be posted on the Moodle site by the end of Week 2. Start this assessment right away and keep on top of it....do not wait for the last week to do it!
Please submit your answers in a Word document (doc, docx or rtf). PDF documents will not be accepted. You can perform calculations or draw figures by hand and insert them as images (e.g., jpegs) in the Word document. If you don’t have a scanner – take a photo on your mobile phone, or use SnagIt or similar (remember to attribute your sources). Please consider redrafting your calculations for clarity before photographing/scanning them. Also (although obvious, its an issue each year) remember to number your answers (keyed to questions).
Week 12 Friday (3 June 2022) 11:45 pm AEST
To be submitted through the Moodle site.
Review/Exam Week Monday (6 June 2022)
For calculation based tasks, marks are awarded for:
1. A statement of the principle and key relationship (20%);
2. Clear step by step calculations, with explanation and unit analysis (60%);
3. The correct numerical answer (20%).
For descriptive/interpretative tasks cite and reference relevant supporting information and interpret it in the context of your response to the question asked. Marks are awarded for:
1. The quality of the background review, including a definition of the topic (30%);
2. The discussion of this information in context of the question asked (50%);
3. The clarity of English expression, spelling, grammar, accuracy of referencing, appropriate length (20%).
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Describe and illustrate the principal physiological processes of angiosperms as an integrated system
- Apply knowledge of plant physiology in real life situations in agriculture, forestry and vegetation management
3 Practical Assessment
Two practical reports (800 words each, excluding references, figure captions, tables and title page) are required in the format of a scientific paper or technical report. Each will describe one of the experiments undertaken at residential school. The choice of the exercises undertaken during Residential School to be used in the reports will be discussed during the School. These reports will each 'stand alone', but should be submitted as one document (with one section for each report).
Please submit your answers in a Word document (doc, docx or rtf). PDF documents will NOT be accepted. You can perform calculations or draw figures by hand and insert them as images (e.g. jpegs) in the word document. If you don’t have a scanner – take a photo on your mobile phone. You must make sure we know what question you're answering by putting the question number in front of the text. Please consider redrafting your calculations for clarity before photographing/scanning them.
Week 11 Friday (27 May 2022) 11:45 pm AEST
Review/Exam Week Monday (6 June 2022)
The reports will not be assessed on the 'success' of the experiment. Assessment will be based on:
1. Structure (as a scientific or technical report, with Title, Abstract, Keywords, Introduction, Materials and Methods, Results and Discussion, Acknowledgements, References, Appendices (if any; only the text between Introduction and Discussion are counted against the max word count of 800);
2. Demonstration and explanation of calculations, with explanation of units in each step;
3. Appropriate data analysis;
4. Interpretation of data in the discussion section, with reference to existing knowledge;
5. Correct citations
- Communication
- Critical Thinking
- Team Work
- Information Technology Competence
- Apply knowledge of plant physiology in real life situations in agriculture, forestry and vegetation management
- Conduct plant physiology experiments, write experimental reports in the correct format and critique existing reports.
4 Online Test
The End of Term Online Test involves a written response to a series of questions drawn from each topic covered in the unit in an examination type format. Students will access the questions on-line and will have 3.5 h to complete the task, to be undertaken within the nominated 24 h period (the exam must be completed before the end of the 24-hour period). This is an 'open book' test, however, your answers must be your own and not cut and paste or copied from another source.
Please type your answers (spelling and grammar are not being marked as long as the meaning in your answer is clear) and as in Assessment 2 - Making Sense of Plant Processes, please submit images of your calculations/figures embedded in the document. Please remember to number your answers to the corresponding question.
The day of the End of Term Online Test will be announced during Term 1 by email and on moodle. A three hour window is provided for this activity, once commenced. It can be commenced any time during the nominated day, but must be completed within a 3 h continuous window once started.
Exam Week Monday (13 June 2022)
Each sub-question of the assessment will have an associated mark. Please allocate your time proportional to the mark. Responses will be assessed in context of the demonstration of understanding of terms and concepts, to the level covered in the coursework of the unit.
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Describe and illustrate the principal physiological processes of angiosperms as an integrated system
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.