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Biol 3400: Vascular Plant Taxonomy: Goals/Objectives

Course Goals

• Increased awareness of vascular plant diversity and the factors influencing its development and maintenance;
• Knowledge of current perceptions of relationships between vascular plant taxa in northern Utah, plus reasons that these perceptions have changed in the past and may change in the future
• Appreciation of the fundamental role of taxonomy, systematics, and herbaria to many other disciplines;
• Recognition that diversity and flexibility are key elements in determining the long term success of any taxon.

Specific Objectives

Biology 3400 is designed to enable you to:

• Identify vascular plants using technical keys written in different styles;
• Recognize about 60 of the common plant families of northern Utah and adjacent areas;
• Interpret technical descriptions;
• Write simple keys and descriptions;
• Discuss the selection pressures thought to lead to common morphological patterns in vascular plants;
• Discuss, in broad outline, current perceptions concerning the relationships among the families studied and the reasons why some of these perceptions are changing;
• Understand the major philosophical principles currently guiding taxonomists and systematists;
• Prepare museum-quality herbarium specimens;
• Use a research herbarium.

To develop these skills, you will be required to examine plants in the laboratory, record, their characteristics using appropriate terminology, prepare simple keys (including interactive keys), suggest probable pollinators and habitat of individual species based on their morphology, and explain the differences between major taxonomic philosophies currently in use. You will also be required to become familiar with the resources of the Intermountain Herbarium and acquire 'good herbarium manners' while taking this course.