Taxonomy and phylogeny of chlorophyll lines

Duration

25h Th, 15h Pr

Number of credits

Lecturer

Nicolas Magain

Language(s) of instruction

French language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the second semester

Schedule

Schedule online

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

On earth, there is a great diversity of organisms doing photosynthesis, using solar energy to produce their energy. The aim of this course is to give the student an idea of ¿¿the diversity of these organisms, of the relationships (or not) between them, and of the major events and innovations that have led to today's diversity.
This course consists mainly of two parts
1. The evolution of the green lineage (kingdom of plants), and the evolutionary history and innovations that led to the current diversity of red and green algae, bryophytes, ferns, lycophytes, seed and flowering plants etc. We will also focus on particular lifestyles such as parasitic or carnivorous plants.
2. The diversity of photosynthetic organisms that are not part of the green line (brown algae, diatoms, dinoflagellates, euglenes, etc.) as well as their close non-photosynthetic relatives). The key concept of endosymbiosis will be discussed, to understand this great diversity within the tree of life.
A lesson will also be devoted to fungi, and their relationship to photosynthetic organisms.
The goal is for the student to get a concrete idea of ¿¿the diversity of photosynthetic organisms and their relationships.
In addition to the theoretical aspects, we will browse scientific articles as case studies, to see how evolutionary biology research is done today, and what the latest recent advances are.
The diversity of organisms will be illustrated through various media, including internet and video.

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

-Get an idea of the diversity of photosynthetic organisms on earth, of the kinship relationships between them, and of the main features that characterize the different groups.
-Visualize the path of events that led to this current diversity
-Realize that the evolution is not linear and directional, and the amount of convergence, horizontal transfers etc. that have led to today's diversity
- Being able to walk in nature anywhere on earth and relate the different organisms encountered to their taxonomical group

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

Basic knowledge of biology and botany is an asset

Basic knowledge in evolutionary biology, in particular via the course "Introduction to evolutionary biology" of block 3 of bachelor

 

 

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

Traditional course supported by richly illustrated slideshows and various resources (video, internet).

 

When possible, meetings will be held with doctoral students or early-career scientists working on the topics covered in the course to gain a concrete idea of ??the work of scientists working on these topics.

 

Practical group work on the theme of the diversity of plant organisms and their classification will be organized in conjunction with the Herbarium and the Plant World Observatory. A report will be submitted at the end of this practical work.

 

During the practical work, students will work in groups on a taxonomic group of plants. Part of the work will take place at the OMP using living organisms and part at the herbarium using herbarium plates. Students will be interested in the phylogenetic position of the group today and over time (group history), its autapomorphic characteristics, its diversity and the distribution of the species representing the group (biogeography). At the end of this practical work, students will have to prepare a presentation of the taxonomic group which will constitute their assessment (see below).

Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)

Face-to-face course


Additional information:

Depending on sanitary conditions, the course will take place face-to-face, remotely or in hybrid. We favor face-to-face.

Course materials and recommended or required readings

See French text

Exam(s) in session

Any session

- In-person

written exam ( multiple-choice questionnaire, open-ended questions ) AND oral exam


Further information:

Exam(s) in session

Any session

- In-person

written exam ( open-ended questions )


Additional information:

Any session :

- In-person

written exam ( open-ended questions )

- Remote

written exam

- If evaluation in "hybrid"

preferred in-person


Additional information:

The assessment is divided into two parts

 


(1) a written exam on the themes seen during the course

(2) an evaluation on the practical work



The ratio is 70% for the written exam and 30% for the practical assessment.

For the assessment of the practical work, students, in groups, will be required to present the taxonomic group on which they performed the practical work, based on herbarium plates selected by them and by representatives of the taxonomic group present at the OMP, during a free oral presentation at the OMP.

Work placement(s)

None

Organisational remarks and main changes to the course

None

Contacts

Nicolas Magain nicolas.magain@uliege.be

Association of one or more MOOCs

Items online