Systematics and Biodiversity | Plant Biology | SIU

PLB 300 - Plant Diversity

4 Credit Hours

This course surveys the history and diversity of algae, land plants, and fungi-branches of the tree of life that are of immense importance both to the ecosystem and to human interests.  Emphasis is on evolution, ecology, symbiotic relationships, life cycles, and adaptive morphology.  Prerequisite: BIOL 200B or PLB 200.  Lab fee: $50
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PLB 304 - Elements of Plant Systematics

4 Credit Hours

The principles of plant classification including history, nomenclature, specimen collection and preservation, current systematic methodologies, and a survey of the pteridophytes, lycophytes, gymnosperms and 50 angiosperm families. Two lectures and four laboratory hours per week. Prerequisite: BIOL 200B or PLB 200. Lab fee: $50
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PLB 415 - Morphology of Vascular Plants

5 Credit Hours

The study of external form, internal structure, and relationships of vascular plants. Prerequisite: BIOL 200A and BIOL 200B, or PLB 200; PLB 300 & 400 recommended.  Lab fee: $40

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PLB 449 - Plant Systematics and Evolution

3 Credit Hours

The principles of modern plant systematics including classification methods, phenetics, cladistics, speciation and isolating mechanisms, plant breeding systems, basic population genetics, hybridization, polyploidy, and flowering plant phylogenetic relationships using traditional and molecular markers. Prerequisite: Plant Biology 304 (or equivalent) or consent of instructor.

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PLB 451 - Flora of Southern Illinois

3 Credit Hours

Exposure to the major upland and lowland communities of southern Illinois with an emphasis on the identification, distribution and ecology of the natural and introduced floristic components. Prerequisite: PLB 304 or consent of instructor.  Field Trip Fee not to exceed $160

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PLB 479 - Plant Variation

3 Credit Hours

Classical and modern plant biosystematics focused at and below the species level. Chromosomal and molecular bases for genetic and phenotypic variation in plants, isolating mechanisms, speciation, hybridization, polyploidy, phylogeography, and conservation genetics will be discussed. Prerequisite: Plant Biology 304 (or equivalent) or consent of instructor.

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PLB 554 - Evolution Seminar

1-4 Credit Hours

Adanced topics in evolutionary biology including genetics & development, evolutionary ecology, phylogeny, paleontology, biogeography, population genetics, molecular ecology, speciation, molecular evolution, and macroevolution. Topics will vary each semester. Seminar format with group discussions and student presentations. Graded S/U. Prerequisite: consent of instructor.

Same course as ANTH, MBMB and ZOOL 554

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PLB 556 - Phylogenetics

3 Credit Hours

An advanced introduction to modern methods of phylogenetic inference, emphasizing both theoretical background concepts and numerical approaches to data analysis. Topics include properties of morphological and molecular characters, models of character evolution, tree estimation procedures, and tree-based testing of evolutionary hypotheses. Prerequisite: consent of instructor.

Same course as ZOOL 556

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PLB 578 - Population Genetics

3 Credit Hours

Genetic structure of populations, factors causing changes and principles governing rate and direction of change. Three lectures per week. Prerequisite: Zoology 304 or equivalent, and Biology 305 or equivalent.

Same course as ZOOL 578

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