Key facts
UNE unit code: BOTY570
*You are viewing the 2027 version of this unit which may be subject to change in future.
- Trimester 1 - Online
- Yes
- Yes
- Yes
- 6
Unit information
Cryptogams are not only mushrooms and mosses but include a wide range of land plant and fungal diversity, including the lichens. Although they are often overlooked in favour of flowering plants, cryptogams are highly diverse and occur all over the world, including in Australia where many fascinating cryptogams have unique and important ecological roles.
In this unit, you will learn to identify cryptogams using keys and other modern diagnostic tools and hone your knowledge of their biology. You will explore the roles that cryptogams play in the environment and how they interact with other organisms, and how they can also be detrimental to the native ecosystems and agriculture.
Practical exercises will ensure that you can integrate theoretical knowledge with technical skills in cryptogam collection and identification.
Offerings
For further information about UNE's teaching periods, please go to Principal Dates.
| Teaching period | Mode/location |
|---|---|
| Trimester 1 | Online |
*Offering is subject to availability
Intensive schools
| Start | Finish | Duration | Attendance | Offerings | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TBA | TBA | 4 days | Mandatory Intensive School | All offerings | Mandatory Intensive School. Dates to be advised. |
Enrolment rules
Notes
Please refer to the student handbook for current details on this unit.
Unit coordinator(s)
Learning outcomes
Upon completion of this unit, students will be able to:
- identify cryptogams using keys and modern diagnostic tools to species level, recognising diagnostic characters;
- demonstrate an advanced and integrated understanding of cryptogam biology, diversity, and ecological roles in ecosystem processes, taxonomic ethics, interpretation of phylogenies and the species naming process;
- apply knowledge of cryptogam biology to plan, justify and conduct fieldwork and specimen preparation to herbarium standards with complete metadata documentation;
- critically appraise evidence from morphological characters, phylogenies and published literature as a basis for published taxonomic descriptions; and
- effectively communicate specialist knowledge to a range of audiences through written work, an oral presentation and scientific documentation.
Assessment information
Assessments are subject to change up to 8 weeks prior to the start of the teaching period in which you are undertaking the unit.
| Title | Must Complete | Weight | Offerings | Assessment Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Final Examination - Assurance Task | Yes | 20% | All offerings | To pass this unit, you must achieve at least 50% in this task and meet all other passing requirements in the unit. There is a supervised exam at the end of the teaching period in which you are enrolled. The exam will be online with supervision via webcam and screen sharing technology. Coordinated by UNE Exams Unit. |
| Herbarium collection - Assurance Task | Yes | 30% | All offerings | Make collections of cryptogams during the intensive school. Prepare those specimens and curate them into a small cryptogam herbarium to be submitted to the Beadle Herbarium for assessment. No. Words: equivalent to 1500 To pass this unit, you must achieve a minimum cumulative total of 50% across the Practical Assessment - Assurance Task and the Herbarium collection – Assurance Task and the Integration of cryptogam survey into vegetation monitoring plan - Assurance Task, and meet all other passing requirements in the unit. |
| Integration of cryptogam survey into vegetation monitoring plan - Assurance Task | Yes | 15% | All offerings | Students will design and plan the integration of a cryptogam survey into vegetation monitoring. No. Words: 1000 To pass this unit, you must achieve a minimum cumulative total of 50% across the Practical Assessment - Assurance Task and the Herbarium collection – Assurance Task and the Integration of cryptogam survey into vegetation monitoring plan - Assurance Task, and meet all other passing requirements in the unit.
|
| Practical Assessment - Assurance Task | Yes | 25% | All offerings | Identification quiz at the end of the intensive school. No. Words: equivalent to1000 To pass this unit, you must achieve a minimum cumulative total of 50% across the Practical Assessment - Assurance Task and the Herbarium collection – Assurance Task and the Integration of cryptogam survey into vegetation monitoring plan - Assurance Task, and meet all other passing requirements in the unit. |
| Taxonomic Description | Yes | 10% | All offerings | Write a formal description of a cryptogam species in a style that would allow it to be included in a taxonomic treatment. Include generic context and conservation issues. No. Words: 2000 |
Learning resources
Textbooks are subject to change up to 8 weeks prior to the start of the teaching period in which you are undertaking the unit.
Textbook information will be displayed approximately 8 weeks prior to the commencement of the teaching period. Please note that textbook requirements may vary from one teaching period to the next.
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