Not established.
Plant Functional Ecology is a discipline with a high relevance in the field of the Environmental Sciences, given the important role played by plants in ecosystems. This subject contemplates the ecophysiological basics that affect plant distribution in natural or naturalized environments, as well as the analysis of factors affecting the long-term success of plants in a given environment. Therefore, this subject will analyse the functional responses of plants to different stress situations, whether abiotic (water, nutrients, radiation, temperature, pollutants, etc.) or biotic (competition with other plants, herbivory, reactions to pathogens, etc.), with special attention to plant responses to face with adverse situations occurring nowadays, such as climate change, pollution or land-use changes. Moreover, the role of vegetation in carbon fixation and its importance in carbon footprint estimates will be emphasized.
This subject aims to improve the employability of the Environmental Sciences graduates in the field of forestry, agriculture and plant ecology, through the transfer of theoretical concepts and technical field/laboratory training related to the basic aspects of the Plant Functional Ecology.
The subject of Plant Functional Ecology belongs to the module of scientific bases of the natural environment, and it has a direct relationship with basic and obligatory subjects such as Biology and Ecology. At the same time, this subject gives a fundamental knowledge that will help to consolidate those contemplated in other optative subjects related to the curricular intensification "Conservation, environmental planning and management" such as Fire Ecology, Aquatic Ecosystems or Terrestrial Ecosystems, besides other matters related with the curricular intensification "Analysis and technologies of the environment" such as Ecological Restoration.
| Course competences | |
|---|---|
| Code | Description |
| CB01 | Prove that they have acquired and understood knowledge in a subject area that derives from general secondary education and is appropriate to a level based on advanced course books, and includes updated and cutting-edge aspects of their field of knowledge. |
| CB02 | Apply their knowledge to their job or vocation in a professional manner and show that they have the competences to construct and justify arguments and solve problems within their subject area. |
| CB03 | Be able to gather and process relevant information (usually within their subject area) to give opinions, including reflections on relevant social, scientific or ethical issues. |
| CB04 | Transmit information, ideas, problems and solutions for both specialist and non-specialist audiences. |
| CB06 | Students have developed the ability to work as a team and lead, direct, plan and supervise multidisciplinary teams |
| E01 | Ability to understand and apply basic knowledge. |
| E03 | Awareness of the temporal and spatial dimensions of environmental processes |
| E04 | Ability to integrate experimental evidence found in field and/or laboratory studies with theoretical knowledge. |
| E05 | Capacity for qualitative data interpretation |
| E06 | Capacity for quantitative data interpretation |
| E13 | Ability to handle software. |
| G03 | Good oral and written communication |
| Course learning outcomes | |
|---|---|
| Description | |
| Analyze the response of plants to the changing conditions of their environment as well as the availability of resources, with special emphasis on situations of environmental stress. | |
| Understand the main functional mechanisms of plants that explain their geographical distribution, and their influence on biogeochemical cycles, particularly carbon and water. | |
| Additional outcomes | |
| Description | |
| Know the main interactions, both positive and negative, of plants with other organisms, and characteristics of the plant that determine or influence such interactions. | |
| Acquire skill in sampling criteria, management of basic research equipment, data preparation and presentation of results related to Plant Functional Ecology. | |
| Make simple observations, ask questions and formulate hypotheses in a student's environment related to Plant Functional Ecology. | |
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Unit 1: Introduction to Plant Functional Ecology
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Unit 2: Acquisition and balance of resources: plant adaptations
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Unit 2.1: Energy
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Unit 2.2: Carbon
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Unit 2.3: Water
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Unit 2.4: Mineral nutrients
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Unit 3: Plant responses to environmental stress
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Unit 3.1: Temperature
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Unit 3.2: Soils with extreme characteristics
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Unit 3.3: Atmospheric pollution
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Unit 4: Biotic interactions of plants
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Unit 4.1: Plant-plant interactions
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Unit 4.2: Plant-organism interactions
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The practical part of the course will deal with several of the topics covered in the theoretical part, such as plant adaptations for resource acquisition and their response to environmental stress, in an applied way.
| Training Activity | Methodology | Related Competences (only degrees before RD 822/2021) | ECTS | Hours | As | Com | Description | |
| Class Attendance (theory) [ON-SITE] | Lectures | CB01 CB02 CB03 E01 E03 E04 E05 E06 | 0.88 | 22 | N | N | Lectures. All the teaching material will be available on the virtual platform. | |
| Workshops or seminars [ON-SITE] | Workshops and Seminars | CB03 CB04 CB06 G03 | 0.16 | 4 | Y | N | Students will present and discuss scientific articles and/or assignments related to the field trip. | |
| Other off-site activity [OFF-SITE] | Self-study | CB03 CB04 CB06 E04 | 0.24 | 6 | N | N | Preparation of workshops and seminars to be presented in class. | |
| Class Attendance (practical) [ON-SITE] | Practical or hands-on activities | CB02 CB03 CB04 CB06 E04 E05 E06 E13 G03 | 0.6 | 15 | Y | Y | Practical field and laboratory work. | |
| Practicum and practical activities report writing or preparation [OFF-SITE] | Self-study | E04 E05 E06 G03 | 0.9 | 22.5 | Y | Y | Preparation of a report about the practical sessions. | |
| Progress test [ON-SITE] | Assessment tests | CB01 CB02 E01 G03 | 0.08 | 2 | Y | N | There will be two progress tests about the theoretical contents, which may eliminate material for the final exam. | |
| Study and Exam Preparation [OFF-SITE] | Self-study | CB01 CB02 CB03 E01 E03 E04 E05 E06 | 1.56 | 39 | N | N | Study and preparation of the evaluation tests. | |
| Final test [ON-SITE] | Assessment tests | CB01 CB02 E01 E03 G03 | 0.08 | 2 | Y | Y | Final test to evaluate the theoretical knowledge acquired. | |
| Total: | 4.5 | 112.5 | ||||||
| Total credits of in-class work: 1.8 | Total class time hours: 45 | |||||||
| Total credits of out of class work: 2.7 | Total hours of out of class work: 67.5 | |||||||
As: Assessable training activity Com: Training activity of compulsory overcoming (It will be essential to overcome both continuous and non-continuous assessment).
| Evaluation System | Continuous assessment | Non-continuous evaluation * | Description |
| Final test | 60.00% | 70.00% | Assessment of the theoretical part of the subject by means of two partial tests (continuous evaluation) and/or a final test (non-continuous evaluation). |
| Practicum and practical activities reports assessment | 30.00% | 30.00% | Evaluation of the practical part of the subject by means of a written report. |
| Other methods of assessment | 10.00% | 0.00% | Evaluation of the topics presented in the seminars and/or the tasks related to the field trip. |
| Total: | 100.00% | 100.00% |
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Continuous assessment:There will be two mid-term tests to assess the theoretical knowledge acquired. In order to pass the mid-term exams, it will be necessary to obtain a mark of 4 or higher (out of 10) in each of them. In case of failing one or both mid-term exams, it will be necessary to sit the final exam in order to be assessed for the part/s not passed.
In order to pass the course, it will be necessary to obtain a mark of 4 or higher (out of 10) in the theoretical and practical parts independently. In any case, the course will only be considered passed if the overall grade, weighting the different evaluable activities according to the table above, results in a mark of 5 or higher (out of 10).
All the evaluable activities will be recoverable, either in the extraordinary or special final exam. However, attendance to the practicals is considered as a compulsory and non-recoverable activity in order to pass the subject. -
Non-continuous evaluation:The criteria for non-continuous assessment will be the same as for continuous assessment, taking into account the weightings shown in the table above.
Those evaluable activities that have obtained a mark of 4 or higher (out of 10) in the ordinary assessment will be considered compensable in this extraordinary call. In any case, the subject will only be passed if the overall grade, weighting the different evaluable activities according to the above table, results in a mark of 5 or higher (out of 10).
| Not related to the syllabus/contents | |
|---|---|
| Hours | hours |
| Workshops or seminars [PRESENCIAL][Workshops and Seminars] | 4 |
| Other off-site activity [AUTÓNOMA][Self-study] | 6 |
| Class Attendance (practical) [PRESENCIAL][Practical or hands-on activities] | 15 |
| Practicum and practical activities report writing or preparation [AUTÓNOMA][Self-study] | 22.5 |
| Progress test [PRESENCIAL][Assessment tests] | 2 |
| Study and Exam Preparation [AUTÓNOMA][Self-study] | 39 |
| Final test [PRESENCIAL][Assessment tests] | 2 |
| Unit 1 (de 4): Introduction to Plant Functional Ecology | |
|---|---|
| Activities | Hours |
| Class Attendance (theory) [PRESENCIAL][Lectures] | 2 |
| Unit 2 (de 4): Acquisition and balance of resources: plant adaptations | |
|---|---|
| Activities | Hours |
| Class Attendance (theory) [PRESENCIAL][Lectures] | 10 |
| Unit 3 (de 4): Plant responses to environmental stress | |
|---|---|
| Activities | Hours |
| Class Attendance (theory) [PRESENCIAL][Lectures] | 6 |
| Unit 4 (de 4): Biotic interactions of plants | |
|---|---|
| Activities | Hours |
| Class Attendance (theory) [PRESENCIAL][Lectures] | 4 |
| Global activity | |
|---|---|
| Activities | hours |