Winter semester
| Module | Course |
|---|---|
| P 3 SWS Bsc, MSc | Functional Anatomy of Seed Plants with Focus on Crops Plant anatomy is the study of the structural arrangement of cells, tissues and organs. A good understanding of anatomy is key for succeeding in all other areas of plant science, such as morphology, physiology, evolution, molecular studies, and ecology. This course is a hands-on dive into the fundamentals of plant anatomy, exploring the functionality of anatomical traits in all plant organs. Whenever possible, the evolution of anatomical traits will be investigated in crops under an evolutionary, comparative perspective. During the domestication process many anatomical changes were favored in wild relatives of today’s crops according to human needs, which makes them excellent examples to illustrate functional consequences of anatomical changes. Link to LSF |
| VL 4 SWS BSc, teacher | Vielfalt des Lebens - Tree of life (Botanical part) A series of lectures will cover a broad study of organismic botany, including morphological, anatomical and evolutionary aspects of uni- and multicellular algae, lichens, fungi, mosses, ferns and flowering plants. Link to LSF Organismische Biologie - Formen- und Artenvielfalt (during the summer semester) Lerninhalte sind theoretische und praktische Grundlagen der Mikrobiologie, der Botanik und der Zoologie. Methodisch werden grundlegende Kenntnisse und Fähigkeiten für die Mikroskopie sowie der Formen- und Artenvielfalt von Mikroorganismen (inkl. Prokaryoten), Pflanzen (Embryophyta) und Tiere (Metazoa) vermittelt. Darüber hinaus werden Studierende in der Interpretation von Daten geschult. Link zu LSF |
| VL 4 SWS BSc, teacher | Systematic Data and Evidence A series of lectures will discuss the following topics: paleontological and biogeographical data; speciation and radiations; diversity hotspots; principles of phylogenetic tree inference; introduction to biological collecting and collections (including visits to the Bavarian Natural History collections); taxon-specific approaches and problems (e.g., species concepts in bacteria, species concepts in higher organisms, the morpho species concept in paleobiology); role of organismal interactions in the evolution of adaptation; role of systematics in evolutionary biology; the meaning of classification, identification, nomenclature and taxonomy. Link to LSF |
| Module (VL/P) 6 ECTS BSc, MSc, teacher | WP14: Schwerpunkt Botanik und Mykologie - Focus on Botany and Mycology The lecture covers the diversity, morphology and evolution of phototrophic organisms (i.e., algae, seedless plants and seed plants) and fungi. The practical course is based on numerous specimens for physical examination, which comprise fresh and pickled material and microscopic slides. Link to LSF |
| Module (VL/P) 3 ECTS BSc, MSc, teacher | Morphology and diversity of eucaryotic algae The lecture builds on the Bachelor's level and covers the morphological and molecular diversity of eukaryotic algae (e.g., red algae, green algae, brown algae, dinophytes) as well as an introduction to light and electron microscopy. In the practical course, students are introduced to step-by-step procedures for light and electron microscopy, including detailed observation, fixation and preparation of specimens as well as standard visualization techniques using light and scanning electron microscopy |
| S 3 SWS BSc, MSc, teacher P 3 SWS MSc, teacher | Function, Genetics and Evolution of C4 and CAM The seminar takes place as a block course in the week before the practical. Each student will present and discuss a publication on C4 or CAM photosynthesis. By discussing review papers, principals of C4 or CAM photosynthesis will be introduced before the start of the practical course. Link to LSF Function, Genetics and Evolution of C4 and CAM C4 and CAM photosynthesis are both extraordinary cases of complex physiological traits that evolved independently in many plant lineages and concentrate carbon around Rubisco to suppress photorespiration and reduce water loss. During the introductory lectures, students will learn how, where and why C4 and CAM photosynthesis evolved and key morphological, anatomical, biochemical, and molecular changes underlying its origin from the C3 ancestor. In addition, they will also learn the diversity and distribution of CAM and C4 photosynthesis in plants studying also intermediate photosynthetic types, such as C2 plants or plants with CAM cycling. Through the practical course, students will examine the differences between CAM and C4 photosynthesis and the ancestral C3 photosynthesis at the physiological and molecular levels. First, they will observe and measure leaf anatomical differences and ecophysiological performance between C3, C4 and CAM plants. Second, they will extract RNA and compare the gene expression profiles of C3, C4 and CAM plants. At the end of the course, important skills in anatomy, physiology, molecular biology and bioinformatics will be acquired. Link to LSF |
| S 2 SWS BSc, MSc P 3 SWS BSc, MSc | Molecular phylogenetics and evolution of plants Each student will present and discuss a publication on a phylogenetic reconstruction of a certain plant taxon. Possible subtopics are biogeography, trait evolution, systematics, diversification, coevolution and biotic interactions. Link to LSF Molecular phylogenetics and evolution of plants Students will learn how to generate NGS sequence data and develop trait matrices to test evolutionary and systematic working hypotheses in plant evolutionary biology. They will gain first-hand experience with NGS sequence data handling, phylogenetic tree reconstructions, time divergence estimation analysis, ancestral area reconstruction analysis and trait reconstruction. Students are expected to submit a report in form of a publication summarizing and discussing the results generated throughout the practical course. Link to LSF |
| P 3 SWS BSc, MSc | Taxonomy and Plant Collections The course, Taxonomy and Plant Collections would consist of lectures and practical sessions introducing plant taxonomy, its history, typification, specimen’s collection, curation, plant nomenclature, new species description, the production and use of taxonomic tools, monographs, floras, checklists, keys, and data bases. By the end of the course, you will learn curatorial and taxonomic skills, work in one of the largest herbariums in the world. Link to LSF |