Reference no: EM133153249

Learning outcome 1: To gain an understanding of Australian plant diversity, speciation and evolutionary relationships

Learning outcome 2: To apply this knowledge to mapping plant communities

Learning outcome 3: particularly within the Queensland Regional Ecosystem framework

This assignment is designed to give you experience in mapping or undertaking a small research project. You are expected to use independent judgement to synthesise information and to make intellectual advances. To learn to plan and conduct research appropriate to the discipline and to communicate the methodology, results and implications of this research. If possible please submit your assignment electronically. Direct to the Subject Coordinator.

This assignment is to introduce you to vegetation communities and ecosystems and how to describe them or to assess reproductive strategies.

Choose ONE (1) of the following topics.
Choose two different vegetation communities, adjacent or separate and compare and contrast their structure and floristics, so as to determine how they differ and to suggest possible reasons for these differences, if any. Then compare your results with the regional ecosystems of the area. Your methods should be based on the Queensland Regional Ecosystem Guidelines as much as possible. In case the URL's have changed GOOGLE Queensland Herbarium - Environmental. Just and then type in what you want in search will usually do it.

Size and length of transect(s) will depend on the area chosen, for instance a transect in a mangrove community is likely to be shorter than in a woodland community.

OR
Again choose a vegetation community, and describe the species present in each of the strata. Your transect should be between 50 and 100 m long, and probably about 10 m wide although you may need to do what is also termed a "whole site search" to get an overall picture of the main species present. A comprehensive species list should accompany your report. I will expect to see mosses and ferns if present included, even if the former are not fully identified, but you may be able to get them to genus. Refer (1) Specht, RL & Specht, A (1999) Australian Plant Communities: dynamics of structure, growth and biodiversity. Oxford University Press. Oxford; (2) Specht, RL & Specht, A (2002) Objective Classification of Plant Communities in Tropical and Subtropical Australia. Proc. Roy. Soc. Queensland, 111, 105-120 (online) .Masters, B (2012) Aust. Soil & Land Survey Field Handbook 3rd Edn. Austral Ecology 37. Doi.10.1111/j.1442-2993.2012.02363.x. Also Neldner et al 2020 Queensland Herbarium. Queensland Department of Environment and Science.

OR
Assess the reproductive strategies/breeding systems of three (3) species in your garden or an area of your choice. This requires making some of your own observations/experiments. Suggested procedures: (1) identify species; (2) Google for relevant papers; (3) determine if unisexual or bisexual; (4) is a reward offered - if it is nectar then estimate relative quantity and time of maximum production; note if anthers dehisce before the stigma is ready; (5) how long individual flowers are open;(6) how long is the inflorescence open. Fruit set: tag plants, then note how many flowers produce mature fruit, how long do they take to reach maturity etc. Compare your results/observations with the relevant published papers involving your species or related ones. This is a good way of assessing the quality of research in relevant papers.
Presentation must follow the format as for publication in an appropriate journal such as Austral Ecology. Regarding referencing Refer to the Instructions for Author which will be on their website.