Portuguese Flora

Recommended Prerequisites

General knowledge in botany (1^st cycle).

Teaching Methods

Special emphasis will be given to information in databases on global plant diversity in the Internet.

Lectures with the use of highly illustrated powerpoints.

Practicals: interactive and highly participative teaching.

Field-work: interactive and highly participative group teaching.

Learning Outcomes

At the end of the course the student should be able:

1.To analyse and synthesise botanical information to (i) understand plant distribution in Portugal, (ii) identify taxa of the Portuguese flora and assess their present global distribution

2.To transfer theoretical understanding to the use of botanical databases and applications

3.To make decisions based on ethical principles both in the field collecting plants and using taxonomic information in the internet

4.Communicate botanical information

5.To be autonomous in the identification of Portuguese plants using different methods (Floras, Herbarium, databases) and also in preparing the project for assessment.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

1. Portugal: meeting point of different phytogeographical areas

2. The origins of the Portuguese flora

2.1. Paleotropical geoflora: subtropical floristic elements

2.3. Arctoterciary geoflora: deciduous elements

2.4. The Gulf Stream: floristic temperate Atlantic elements

2.5. The Messinian Salinity crisis: floristic elements adapted to salt and dry climate

3. Pleistocene: glacial-interglacial regimes

3.1. Disjunctions from the north

3.2. Development of the Mediterranean climate and plant adaptations

4. Natural sharing plants with other Mediterranean areas

5. Mediterranean invaders in the Portuguese flora

6. Endemics in the Portuguese flora

7. Identification of Portuguese plants

7.1. Development of tools for taxa identification. Operating principles of software designed for interactive identification.

7.2. Collaboration on the project “Coimbra is Greener” with report on plant diversity assessment of Coimbra peri-urban area

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Project: 100.0%

Bibliography

Amaral Franco, J & Rocha Afonso, ML (1991-2000). Nova Flora de Portugal. Escolar Editora.

Blondel, J & Aronson, J (1999). Biology and wildlife of the Mediterranean region. Oxford University Press.

Coutinho, AX (1939), Flora de Portugal, 2º ed. de R.T. Palhinha.

Davis, P et al. (1966-85). Flora of Turkey. Edinburgh University Press

Fernandes, A & Fernandes, RB (1991). Flórula vascular da Mata da Bufarda. Serviço Nacional de Parques, Reservas e Conservação da Natureza. Gráfica Europam: Lisboa.

Heywood, VH ed. (1993). Flowering plants of the World. Batsford : London.

Ingrouille, M (1992). Diversity and evolution of land plants. Chapman & Hall: London.

Mabberley, DJ (2008) Mabberley's Plant-book. 3ed. Cambridge Acad. Press.

Tutin, TG et al., eds (1964-80). Flora Europaea. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, UK.

INTERNET:

World Checklist of Selected Plant Families

The families of flowering plants, L. Watson and M. J. Dallwitz

The database of Atlas Florae Europaeae

JSTOR, Global Plants

Flora iberica