Systematic Biology

1. Understand the principles of systematic biology and plant taxonomy.
2. Identify and classify plants using various taxonomic methods.
3. Explain the historical development of plant classification systems.
4. Describe the sources of taxonomic evidence and their applications.
5. Analyze the processes of variation, natural selection, and speciation in plants.

13 weeks, about 32 hours in total. Yours will differ.

1. Week 1Module 1:

   • Unit 1: Introduction to Systematic Biology · 2 hours

     Read the introduction to systematic biology.. Understand the definitions of systematics and biosystematics.. Identify the four main types of relationships between plants: phylogenetic, phenetic, geographic, and tropic..

2. Week 2Module 1:

   • Unit 2: Historical Background of Classification I · 2 hours

     Study the historical background of classification by preliterate humans.. Examine early Western civilizations' contributions to classification, focusing on Theophrastus and Dioscorides.. Understand the role of Islamic botany and Albertus Magnus in the Middle Ages..

3. Week 3Module 1:

   • Unit 3: Historical Background of Classification II · 2 hours

     Continue studying the historical background of classification.. Learn about the Herbalists and their contributions.. Understand German Herbalists: Brunnels, Bock, Cordus, Fuchs.

4. Week 4Module 1:

   • Unit 4: Historical Background of Classification III · 2 hours

     Study the Italian Renaissance and the transition of the 1600s.. Examine the contributions of Andrea Cesalpino, Caspar Bauhin, John Ray, and Joseph Pitton de Tournefort.. Understand Carl Linnaeus and the Linnaean Period..

5. Week 5Module 1:

   • Unit 5: Classification I · 2 hours

     Study classification systems, including classical and experimental taxonomy.. Understand the differences in aims, units of study, and materials used in each approach..

6. Week 6Module 1:

   • Unit 6: Classification II · 2 hours

     Continue studying classification systems.. Examine the system of classification, sources of data, and tests of characters in classical and experimental taxonomy..

7. Week 7Module 2:

   • Unit 1: Classification III · 2 hours

     Study methods of description, concepts of natural variation, and phases of development in plant taxonomy.. Understand the pioneer, consolidation, experimental, and encyclopedic phases..

8. Week 8Module 2:

   • Unit 2: Population Concept · 2 hours

     Define population and understand the need for a biosystematics approach.. Study population taxonomy and its importance in evolutionary and genetical studies..

9. Week 9Module 2:

   • Unit 3: Plant Nomenclature · 2 hours

     Study the basis of scientific names, including scientific versus common names, composition, generic names, specific epithets, and author citations.. Understand the rules of nomenclature, including principles, procedures, ranks of taxa, the type method, and priority of names..

10. Week 10Module 2:

    • Unit 4: Principles of Plant Taxonomy · 2 hours

      Study the principles of plant taxonomy, including categories, characters, and classification.. Understand monophyletic requirements, species, infraspecific taxa, genera, families, and orders..

11. Week 11Module 2:

    • Unit 5: Sources of Taxonomic Evidence I · 2 hours

      Study morphology, comparative plant anatomy, cytology, and embryology as sources of taxonomic evidence.. Understand the use of vegetative and reproductive characters in morphology..

12. Week 12Module 3:

    • Unit 1: Sources of Taxonomic Evidence II · 2 hours

      Study electron microscopy, palynology, and paleobotany as sources of taxonomic evidence.. Understand the morphological characters of pollen grains and their use in taxonomy..

    • Unit 2: Sources of Taxonomic Evidence III · 2 hours

      Study chemosystematics, ecological evidence, and physiological evidence as sources of taxonomic evidence.. Understand the use of plant chemistry in improving plant classification..

13. Week 13Module 3:

    • Unit 3: Sources of Variation · 2 hours

      Study sources of variation, including developmental, environmental, and genetic variation.. Understand gene mutations, chromosomal mutations, gene flow, recombination, and reproductive systems..

    • Unit 4: Natural Selection · 2 hours

      Study natural selection, including directional, stabilizing, and disruptive selection.. Understand the role of natural selection in adaptation and evolution..

    • Unit 5: Random Events · 2 hours

      Study random events, including neutrality theory and catastrophic selection.. Understand the effects of genetic drift and random sampling of genes..