BIMBFS-Botanical Field Skills

Module Provider: School of Biological Sciences
Number of credits: 30 [15 ECTS credits]
Level:7
Terms in which taught: Autumn / Spring term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2022/3

Module Convenor: Dr Jonathan Mitchley
Email: j.mitchley@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

This module introduces students to field botanical skills and the common families of vascular plants and orders of bryophytes in the UK, it develops practical identification skills and the use of keys and other advanced aids to the identification of plants including herbarium skills.  The module develops understanding of the biogeography and ecology of plants and vegetation and it introduces the methodology of Phase 2 NVC survey in the UK.

Aims:

• To introduce common families of vascular plants and orders of bryophytes in the UK; 


• To develop practical identification skills to genus and species level including the use of keys and other aids to the identification;


• To develop identification skills including the use of keys and other advanced aids to the identification;


• To develop understanding of the biogeography and ecology of plants and vegetation.


• To introduce the methodology of Phase 2 NVC survey in the UK.

Assessable learning outcomes:

• Ability to recognise families of flowering plants and order of bryophytes common in the UK;


• Identify a wide range of vascular plants and bryophytes accurately to genus and species level using living material in the lab and in the field;


• Ability to construct and evaluate a key to identify plants;


• Know how to carry out a Phase 2 NVC quadrat survey and present the results and analyse the data to industry standards.

Additional outcomes:

• Working in groups on identification tasks and problem solving e.g. quadrat survey.


• Appreciation of the full range of field botany skills.

Outline content:

• Introduction to plants, plant identification and field botany skills;


• The parts of a flower and floral formulae;


• Families of flowering plants in the UK;


• Identification of vascular plants to genus and species from vegetative and flowering specimens in the lab and field and using microscopes and keys and advanced aids;


• Writing and evaluating keys to aid identification of plants;


• Identification of bryophytes in lab and field using microscopes and keys;


• Herbarium skills;


• Extreme botany - identification of plants from remnants an imperfect specimens;


• Biogeography and ecology of plants and vegetation in Britain;


• The National Vegetation Classification: background and applications.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

Lectures, workshops, lab sessions for plant ID and data analysis, field classes for vegetation survey and data collection and plant ID.

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Lectures	10	10
Tutorials	10	10
Practicals classes and workshops	25	25
Fieldwork	10	10
Guided independent study:
Wider reading (independent)	10	10
Exam revision/preparation	10	10
Advance preparation for classes	10	10
Preparation for tutorials	5	5
Group study tasks	10	10
Reflection	50	50
Total hours by term	150	150	0
Total hours for module	300

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Report	20
Practical skills assessment	20
Set exercise	20
Class test administered by School	40

Summative assessment- Examinations:

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

• Plant key assignment (Autumn Term)


• Herbarium assignment (Autumn Term)


• NVC report (Spring Term)


• Plant ID tests (Autumn and Spring Terms).

Formative assessment methods:

• Regular formative identification quizzes and tests;


• Practice keying and other ID sessions;


• Herbarium tasks; and


• NVC data analysis.

Penalties for late submission:

The below information applies to students on taught programmes except those on Postgraduate Flexible programmes. Penalties for late submission, and the associated procedures, which apply to Postgraduate Flexible programmes are specified in the policy £Penalties for late submission for Postgraduate Flexible programmes£, which can be found here: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/cqsd-old-site-documents/penaltiesforlatesubmissionpgflexible.pdf
The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/cqsd-old-site-documents/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Assessment requirements for a pass:

50%

Reassessment arrangements:

Resubmission of failed coursework.

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

1) Required text books:  None

2) Specialist equipment or materials:  None

3) Specialist clothing, footwear or headgear:  None

4) Printing and binding:  None

5) Computers and devices with a particular specification:  None

6) Travel, accommodation and subsistence:  None

Last updated: 22 September 2022