BOTN40300 Plant Biology Field Course

Academic Year 2022/2023

Plant and environmental scientists are tackling many of the most important challenges facing humanity in the twenty-first century, including climate change, biodiversity loss and food security. The aim of this module is to provide students with essential field-based skills necessary to address these challenges. Through a 4-day residential field course this module will equip students with plant identification skills, provide an understanding of how plants form the basis of habitats capable of sequestering large amounts of carbon and provide an understanding of the role of management in maintaining biodiversity. In addition, it will enable students to learn the practices involved in organic food production. The course will take place in Co. Donegal and include fieldwork in peatlands, saltmarshes, National Park woodlands and access to state-of-the-art organic agriculture facilities.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

Develop plant identification skills and a proficiency at using taxonomic keys
Identify plants from a range of habitats – peatland, saltmarsh, woodland
Understand the processes underpinning carbon sequestration in a range of habitats
Examine climate change adaptation and mitigation solutions
Understand the practicalities of managing habitats for multiple objectives such as biodiversity and climate change
Understand organic food production practices
Prepare and present effective written reports and oral presentations on field collected data
Assess risks and work safely in a field environment

Indicative Module Content:

Plant identification
Habitat function
Carbon sequestration
Climate mitigation and adaptation measures
Organic food production and practices
Managing biodiversity in a National Park

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Small Group

2
Field Trip/External Visits

40
Autonomous Student Learning

83
Total

125
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
The module combines a set of lectures in UCD, with a 4-day residential field course in Co. Donegal, which runs after the exams in the Spring trimester. Each of the days will focus on a different habitat (peatlands, saltmarsh, woodland) with one day taking place at the organic agricultural facility. Presentations will take place at the beginning of the Autumn trimester and a written scientific report will also be submitted in the Autumn trimester. 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Presentation: Seminar on field collected data Unspecified n/a Graded No

33
Assignment: Scientific report Unspecified n/a Graded No

33
Fieldwork: Field notebook Unspecified n/a Graded Yes

33

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 
Remediation Type Remediation Timing
Repeat (CFP) Within Three Semesters
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Not yet recorded.

Name Role
Professor Fiona Doohan Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Florence Renou-Wilson Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Mr Eugene Sherry Tutor