Rangeland Plant Ecophysiology

REWM 3500

Fall 2013

Date / Topic / Reading

Week 1

8/26 What is plant ecophysiology? (Lambers et al. 1998, pg 1-9)

8/28 Integrating concepts in plant ecophysiology

8/30 Integrating concepts in plant ecophysiology

Week 2

9/2 Labor day, no class

9/4 Radiation and irradiance (Taiz & Zeiger, Chpt 7 [163-179], Chpt 8 [199-205], & Chpt 9 [243-251])

9/6 Photosynthesis - photochemical reactions and chlorophyll fluorescence

Week 3

9/9 Photosynthesis - carbon reduction reactions

9/11 Photosynthesis - sun and shade leaves

9/13 Photosynthesis - response to excess light (Taiz & Zeiger, Chpt. 7 [189-192] & Chpt 9 [251-254]), Problem set 1 - Photosynthesis

Week 4

9/16 Collaborative Research Project.  Meet in Botany Conservatory

9/18 Photosynthesis - C4 photosynthetic pathway (Taiz & Zeiger, Chpt 8 [208-221] & Chpt 9 [256-261])

9/20 Photosynthesis - CAM photosynthetic pathway (Taiz & Zeiger, Chpt 8 [221-223], Chpt 9 [261-262])

Problem set 1 due

Week 5

9/23 Photosynthesis - carbon isotope discrimination (Taiz & Zeiger, Chpt 9 [263-265])

9/25 Photosynthesis - responses to elevated CO2

9/27 Respiration and carbon balance

Week 6

9/30 Exam 1

10/2 Collaborative Research Project.  Data analysis, in class

10/4 Plant water relations - concept of water potential (Taiz & Zeiger, Chpts 3, 4)

Problem set 2 - Plant water balance

Week 7

10/7 Plant water relations - water relations of cells

10/9 Plant water relations - water movement through plants

10/11 Plant water relations - adaptations to water deficit (Taiz & Zeiger, Chpt 26)

Week 8

10/14 Plant water relations - adaptations to water deficit

10/16 Precipitation change and plant responses (paper discussion, reading to be announced)

Problem set 2 due

10/18 Leaf energy balance

Problem set 3 - Leaf energy balance

Week 9

10/21 Leaf energy balance

10/23 Adaptations to extreme temperatures (Taiz & Zeiger, Chpt 26 [pg 762-764, 773-776])

10/25 Adaptations to extreme temperatures

Problem set 3 due

Week 10

10/28 Adaptations to alpine environments

10/30 Exam 2

11/1 Plant responses to herbivory (Briske&Richards 1995)

Week 11

11/4 Plant responses to herbivory

11/6 Plant responses to herbivory

11/8 Plant competition

Collaborative Research Project report due

Week 12

11/11 Plant competition

11/13 Shrub encroachment, causes and consequences (paper discussion, reading to be announced)

11/15 Nutrient relations of plants (Taiz & Zeiger, Chpts 5 & 12)

Week 13

11/18 Nutrient relations of plants

11/20 Thanksgiving holiday, no class

11/22 Thanksgiving holiday, no class

Week 14

11/25 Plants and ecosystem processes

11/27 Plants and ecosystem processes

11/29 Tree die-off, causes and consequences (paper discussion, reading to be announced)

Week 15

12/2 Weed invasions, causes and consequences

12/4 Catch up, Review for exam 3

12/6 Exam 3