This unit examines in depth how Australian plants acquire resources such as carbon, nutrients and water and the environmental influences on these processes. The emphasis will be on how plants respond to the stresses of salinity, drought, low nutrients, temperature, water logging and heavy metals and their effect on plant growth and development. The unit will examine the functional and anatomical adaptations of plants to their environment. Examples will be drawn from the Australian flora in arid, semi-arid and humid environments. A strong practical component will investigate the ecophysiology of Australian plants growing in coastal forests, dune fields, salt marshes and mangrove and seagrass communities.