Universidad de Jaén

THEORY

1. Introduction to Plant Conservation Biology. Historical overview. Plant diversity. Threats to plant diversity. The importance of conserving and managing plants of botanical and ethnobotanical interest.

2. Ethnobotany. Concept and historical background. Ethnobotanical methodology. Evolution of ethnobotanical studies. Ethnobotanical specialities. Areas with high ethnobotanical interest. Current state and perspectives of Ethnobotany in Spain.

3. Botanical resources. Useful plants: agricultural, medicinal, aromatic, melliferous and ornamental species.

4. Autoecology of plants. Light, soil, temperatura, moisture and anthropozoogenic activities. Biotypes or vital forms. Bioindicators.

5. Prioritary species in Plant Conservation. Chorology notions. Rarity and its aspects. Stenochory categories. Endemic and rare plants. Plant diversity distribution.

6. Origin of Mediterranean and Andalusian flora. Introduction. From Archaeozoic to Oligocene. Miocene. Pliocene. Quaternary glaciations. Holocene.

7. Invasive plants. Allochtonous, invasive and transformer plants. Clasification of alien plants. Habitats susceptible to invasion. Prevention and control. Alien plants in Spain and Andalusia. Legislation on alien plants.

8. Threatened flora. Risk factors. Criteria for determining threat degree: IUCN categories. Priorities in protection. Red Lists and Red Books.

9. Legal tools for plant management and conservation. Conventions and Directives. National and authonomical law.

10. Scientific tools for plant management and conservation. Demographic and genetic studies. Plant reproductive biology. Plant breeding systems. Pollination. Seed and fruit dispersal. Seed dormancy. Phenomorphology.

11. Technical tools for plant management and conservation. In situ conservation techniques. Protected Natural Spaces. Andalusian ENP network. Biosphere reserves. Natura 2000 network. Micro-reserves network of Valencia Community. In situ Botanical Gardens. Exclusion fencing.

12. Ex situ conservation techniques. Advantages of ex situ techniques. Plant Germplasm Banks: Seed Banks. Field collections. Pollen banks. In vitro collections. Other ex situ techniques. Ex situ Botanical Gardens.

13. Integrated conservation. Collection techniques. Restitution techniques: Strenghetning. Reintroduction. Introduction. Restoration.

14. Conservation and Recovery Plans. Contents of a recovering plan for threatened flora. Phases of a recovery plan for threatened flora. Examples.

15. Informative tools for plant management and conservation. Action mechanisms. Environmental education programs.

16. The future of plant conservation. Conservation and sustainable development. The role of biologists in plant conservation.

PRACTICES

1. Field practice: In situ conservation techniques

2. Visit to Plant Germplasm Bank: Ex situ conservation techniques

3. Laboratory practice: Red Books and Red Lists

4. Computer practice 1: Flora databases (I)

5. Computer practice 2: Flora databases (II)

SEMINARS

1. Ethnobotany

2. In situ plant conservation

3. Invasive plants

4. The endemic flora in Andalusia

THEORY

Lectures: 3 ECTS, using ICTs supported by teaching material in the Virtual Teaching Platform of the University, the Library and Internet.

Seminars: 0.8 ECTS, using ICTs supported by teaching material in the Virtual Teaching Platform of the University, the Library and Internet. Seminars help students to get the skills to catalogue, evaluate and manage natural resources; sampling, characterizing and managing populations and communities; managing, conserving and recovering populations and ecosystems; obtaining information, designing experiments and interpreting results in plant conservation matters.

Thus, the student will acquire the competencies CT1, CT2, CT3, CT4, CT6, CT7, CT9, CE15, CE16.

PRACTICES 2 ECTS

Laboratory and informatics practices will be carried out in small student groups both in laboratories and computer classrooms. The teacher will explain the fundamentals and development of practices. Supported by practice scripts, the students will carry out the procedures to obtain the results that will be analyzed and discussed in order to get final conclusions. The practice script will be available in the Virtual Teaching Platform of the University providing the objectives, materials and experimental methodology and will be also used to compile data and results.

Field practices will be carried out in small student groups out of the classrooms. The teacher will explain the fundamentals and development of practices. Supported by practice scripts, the students will carry out the procedures to obtain the results that will be analyzed and discussed in order to get final conclusions. The practice script will be available in the Virtual Teaching Platform of the University providing the objectives, materials and experimental methodology and will be also used to compile data and results.

Practices will complement the and will help the student to acquire the skills to: catalogue, evaluate and manage natural resources; sampling, characterizing and managing populations and communities; managing, conserving and recovering populations and ecosystems; obtaining information, designing experiments and interpreting results in plant conservation matters.

Thus, students will acquire the competencies CT5, CT8, CT9, CT10, CE15

Tutorials 0.2 ECTS

Specialized tutorials will be held to supervise works and reports. Tutorials will help students to acquire skills to manage information, designing experiments and interpreting practical results.

Students with special educational needs should contact the Student Attention Service (Servicio de Atención y Ayudas al Estudiante) in order to receive the appropriate academic support

THEORY (50%). Written tests and exams. CG10, CT3, CT4, CT6, CT7, CT9, CT10, CE15, CE16.

PRACTICES (20%). Written exam. CG10, CT1, CT2, CT3, CT4, CT5, CT6, CT7, CT8, CT9, CT10, CE15, CE16.

REPORTS OF PRACTICES AND SEMINARS (20%). CG10, CT1, CT2, CT3, CT4, CT5, CT6, CT7.

ATTENDANCE, PARTICIPATION AND INTEREST (10%). Attendance control. CT10. Attendance: 0,8 points (whenever the student has attended 50% of classes). Participation and interest: 0,2 points of overall mark.