BIOL3712 Integrative Physiology of Animals and Plants

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Overview

This topic uses an integrative approach to understand the range of physiological systems that determine how animals and plants maintain their internal environment (i.e. water and ionic relations, circulation, nutrient acquisition, growth, circadian rhythms) in response to a broad range of external environments, with particular focus on difficult external environments (hot, arid, salty). The topic will provide the physiological underpinnings that enhance the understanding of animal and plant behaviour, feeding, reproductive and mating strategies, perception, and response to the environment. Examples are drawn from across the animal and plant kingdoms and will include details of where animal and plant physiology interact. Human physiology is included throughout as part of a comparative approach. The topic will also include reference to the evolutionary influences shaping physiology across the animal and plant kingdoms.

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Aims

After completing this topic, students should have a basic understanding of how animal and plant physiology influences their perception of and response to the external environment. Students should also be able to integrate their physiological understanding to a range of real-life challenges faced by plants and animals. Students will work on two practical-based research projects, in which they will learn about the collection of physiological data, their analysis, and presentation in a formal report and poster. They will present the content they have learned in lectures through popular-science style summaries.

Learning outcomes

On completion of this topic you will be expected to be able to:

Understand the basic physiological function (including the associated anatomy) that animals and plants rely on to survive in their external environments

Understand how knowledge of the physiological constraints of animals and plants enhance the understanding of observed interactions between animals and plants within their environment and with each other

Have awareness of how evolution has influenced the multitude of physiological alternatives observed in the natural world

Apply the concepts presented in lectures to unfamiliar examples of animal and plant interactions

Identify and apply the appropriate statistical testing procedures to test a research hypothesis

Use an understanding of physiological system function and apply skills for monitoring of animal and plant physiology to execute and report on two research projects

Assessments

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Requisites information

Pre-requisites:

Handbook

Integrative Physiology of Animals and Plants

BIOL3712