Botany 1: Non Vascular Plants

Learning the main theoretical and practical aspects of fungi, algae, and bryophytes. Basic knowledge about the diversity of non-vascular plants, their life forms, and modes of reproduction. Studying the morphology, anatomy, reproduction, and diversity of fungi, algae, and bryophytes. Recognizing their main phylogenetic lineages. Knowing taxa of special applied importance. Understanding their role in ecosystems. Learning techniques for their recognition and conservation. Using appropriate bibliographic and internet information related to the theme.

THEORETICAL LECTURES
Classification systems of living beings. Groups of organisms that make up non-vascular plants. Fungi: Vegetative and reproductive characteristics, biological cycles, and classification. Fungal associations (lichens, mycorrhizae). Importance and applications. Algae: Vegetative and reproductive characteristics, biological cycles, and classification. Prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Importance and applications. Bryophytes: Vegetative and reproductive characteristics, biological cycles, and classification. Importance and applications. Evolutionary strategies of plants for conquering the terrestrial environment.
PROGRAM OF THEORETICAL LECTURES (34 h)
Introduction to the subject (1h)
Block 1: Fungi (15h)
Theme 1. Botany: Definition and object of study. Levels of organization and classification proposals. Biodiversity and number of species (1h)
Theme 2. General characteristics of fungi (morphology, nutrition, reproduction, and ecology). Biodiversity and Phylogeny (1h).
Theme 3. Slime molds. General characters. Examples of the main groups (Acrasiomycota, Myxomycota, and Plasmodiophoromycota). Pseudofungi. General characters and examples of Oomycota (2h)
Theme 4. Eumycota (true fungi). General characters. Classification and examples of Chytridiomycetes and Zygomycetes (2h)
Theme 5. Eumycota. Unicellular and mycelial Ascomycetes. Most representative groups. Economic importance and usefulness (3h)
Theme 6. Eumycota. Basidiomycetes. Most representative groups. Economic importance and usefulness (3h).
Theme 7. Lichenized fungi. Morphology, structure, and reproduction. Usefulness and applications (3h)
Block 2: Algae and Bryophytes (18h)
Theme 8. General characteristics of algae: Morphology, reproduction, and ecology. Biodiversity and Phylogeny (1h)
Theme 9. Prokaryotes: Cyanophyceae. General characters, habitat, and utilities. Classification (1h).
Theme 10. Eukaryotic algae: Cryptophyta, Dinophyta, Euglenophyta, and Haptophyta. Differential characters, reproduction, cycles, habitat, examples, and utilities (1h).
Theme 11. Ochrophyta: Phaeophyceae, Bacillariophyceae, Chrysophyceae, and Xanthophyceae. Differential characters, reproduction, cycles, habitat, examples, and utilities (4h).
Theme 12. Rhodophyta. Bangiophyceae and Florideophyceae. Differential characters, reproduction, cycles, habitat, and utilities (4h).
Theme 13. Chlorophyta and Charophyta. Differential characters, reproduction, cycles, habitat, and utilities (4h).
Theme 14. General concepts and aspects of bryophytes and related. Adaptations to the terrestrial environment. Reproduction and biological cycles. Main groups (Anthoceropsida, Marchantiopsida, and Bryopsida) (3h).

INTERACTIVE CLASSES
SEMINARS (4h)
Seminar 1. Introduction to practices 1 and 2: Fungi (1h).
Seminar 2. Introduction to practices 3, 4, and 5: Algae (1h).
Seminar 3. Introduction to practice 6: Bryophytes (1h).
Seminar 4. Collection and conservation of plant material (1h)

LABORATORY PRACTICES (14h)
Practice 1. Micro and macrofungi (2h).
Practice 2. Lichenized fungi (2h).
Practice 3. Microscopic algae (2h).
Practice 4. Macroscopic algae-1 (2h).
Practice 5. Macroscopic algae-2 (2h).
Practice 6. Bryophytes and related (2h).
Practice 7. Observation of fungi, algae, and bryophytes (2h).

TUTORING (2h) They will be used to clarify doubts, provide information, and guide students to acquire competencies.
EXAMS (3h) They will be face-to-face and multiple-choice, covering both theoretical and practical parts, including a visual test.
All activities are presential except for tutoring, which will be conducted through MS Teams.

BIBLIOGRAFÍA BÁSICA
- Díaz González, T.E., Fernández-Carvajal, M.C. & Fernández Prieto, J.A. 2004. Curso de Botánica. Madrid: Ediciones Trea.
- Sitte, P., Weiler, E.W., Kadereit, J.W., Bresinsky, A. & Körner, C., 2004. Strasburger. Tratado de Botánica. 35ª ed. Barcelona: Ediciones Omega.
- Van den Hoek, C., Mann, D. G. & Jahns, H.M., 1995. Algae: An Introduction to Phycology. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
- Vanderpoorten, A. & Goffinet, B., eds., 2009. Introduction to Bryophytes. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
- Webster, J. & Weber, R., 2007. Introduction to fungi (en línea). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. http://deskuenvis.nic.in/pdf/WEBSTER30521807395.pdf
- Nabors, M.W. 2006. Introducción a la Botánica (en línea). Madrid: Pearson. https://bibliotecaia.ism.edu.ec/Varios/IntroduccionBotanica.pdf

BIBLIOGRAFÍA COMPLEMENTARIA
- Aira, M. J., Vázquez, R. A. & Izco, J., eds., 2014. Manual de prácticas de Botánica: Laboratorio y campo. Santiago de Compostela: Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Servizo de Publicacións e Intercambio Científico.
- Bárbara, I. & Cremades, J., 1993. Guía de las algas del litoral gallego. La Coruña: Casa de las Ciencias.
- Castro, M.L., 2004. Cogomelos de Galicia e Norte de Portugal. Vigo: Edicións Xerais de Galicia.
- Pérez, C.; López, M.C. & López de Silanes, E., 2003. Guía dos liques de Galicia. Vigo: Baía Ediciones.

RECURSOS EN INTERNET
- Algas marinas de Asturias
http: www.Asturias.es/medioambiente/publicaciones/ficheros/algas%20 marinas%20de%Asturias.pdf
- Bárbara, I. 2009. Algas bentónicas marinas y salobres de Galicia: iconografías y claves de identificación. Facultad de Ciencias. Universidad de A Coruña.
http://es.scribd.com/doc/28418650/Guia-Fotografica-Algas-Marinas-Galici…
- British Bryological Society. 2012. www.britishbryologicalsociety.org.uk
- Guiry, M.D. 2012. Algaebase: Listing the World's Algae. http://www.algaebase.org/
- Catálogo de setas y hongos https://www.fungipedia.org/hongos.html
- Sociedad Española de Liquenología. http://www.ucm.es/seliquen/

Knowledge/Contents: Com04, Com08
Comp04: To know and be able to apply instrumental techniques and design work protocols in the laboratory and the field, applying appropriate regulations and techniques related to safety, hygiene, waste management, quality, and sustainable development.
Comp08: To know and be able to apply basic techniques, principles, and processes to assess the conservation status of ecosystems and propose solutions in scenarios of global change, as a central criterion in achieving sustainable development goals.

Skills/Abilities: H/D05, H/D08, H/D11
H/D05: Develop the ability to obtain, handle, preserve, identify, and classify biological specimens, as well as their remains and traces.
H/D08: Ability for reasoning, argumentation, and critical thinking.
H/D11: Ability to elaborate and present an organized and comprehensible text, adequately reflecting the sources of information used.

Competencies: Comp03, Comp05
Comp03: That students know how to apply their knowledge to their work or vocation in a professional manner and possess the skills typically demonstrated through the development and defense of arguments and problem-solving within their area of study.
Comp05: That students have the ability to gather and interpret relevant data (usually within their area of study) to make judgments that include reflection on relevant social, scientific, or ethical issues

Expository and interactive teaching (including practical sessions) will be conducted in person. The contents of all course activities will be available on the virtual classroom, such as PowerPoint presentations or practice scripts. Tutoring sessions will be conducted virtually through the MS Teams platform.
• Expository lectures: The course content will be explained through lectures with audiovisual aids. Attendance is not mandatory.
• Interactive seminar classes: These sessions will be used to explain the characteristics of fungi, algae, and bryophytes that will be analyzed during practical sessions, as well as to explain practice scripts and methods for preparing samples for proper observation. Attendance is not mandatory.
• Interactive laboratory classes: The first six sessions will analyze the morphology and vegetative and reproductive structures of fungi, algae, and bryophyte species. In the final session, students will be provided with a diverse set of specimens for visual recognition. Students must attend these sessions with the scripts available in the virtual classroom. Attendance is not considered mandatory.
• Tutoring sessions: These sessions will be dedicated to resolving any questions related to teaching activities, whether theoretical or practical. Additionally, through the virtual classroom, students will be provided with a series of quizzes to self-assess their progress in acquiring competencies. Attendance is not considered mandatory.
• Exams will be conducted in person and will consist of multiple-choice questions, covering both theoretical and practical aspects, including a visual test.

Continuous assessment It will be conducted for both the theoretical and practical parts. The dates of the exams will be announced in advance on the virtual classroom. These are evaluative tests that are voluntary and in-person.
Theoretical part: At the end of the explanation of the topics in the first block (Topics 1 to 7 inclusive), a written multiple-choice test will be conducted to assess knowledge and skills. The maximum grade is 3 points out of 10. Students who achieve a score equal to or greater than 1.5 points will only need to take the final exam for the contents of block 2. Therefore, the grade obtained through continuous assessment will be retained for both opportunities of the final exam.
Practical part: At the end of practical session 7, a written multiple-choice test will be conducted covering the first six laboratory practices (P1-P6), and a visual recognition exercise for practice 7. The maximum score for the test is 2 points out of 10, as well as for the visual exercise (2 points out of 10). To pass the practical part, students must obtain at least 1 point in the test and 1 point in the visual recognition exercise. Students who do not reach this score will have to retake both the test and the visual recognition exercise in the final exam. In other words, passing only the test or the visual recognition exercise alone will not be considered sufficient, and both must be repeated in either opportunity of the final exam.
Students who, for any reason, do not attend the theoretical and/or practical assessment exams of continuous assessment on the scheduled date, will waive this evaluation system and must take the full exam covering topics 1-14 at final exams and complete the practical exam (test and visual recognition exercise) in the final exam. In both parts (theory and practical), they must achieve the minimum score specified for each theory block and for the practical exam, with the previously mentioned specifications.
Final exam: This exam is mandatory and in-person for all students, as it complements the continuous assessment. However, the parts passed through continuous assessment will not need to be repeated in the final exam, which will maintain the same characteristics in both opportunities.
The exam for the content of expository classes will be multiple-choice and will consist of two blocks. Block 1 (topics 1 to 7 inclusive) will have a maximum score of 3 points out of 10 (passing grade 1.5 points), as well as block 2 (topics 8 to 14 inclusive, maximum 3 points, passing grade 1.5). Students who do not reach the minimum score in each block will have to retake that part in the second opportunity. The competencies Com04, Com08, Comp03, and Comp05 will be assessed.
The exam for interactive practical classes will consist of a multiple-choice test and a visual recognition exercise, with a maximum score of 4 points out of 10. As with continuous assessment, to pass this part of the subject, it is necessary to obtain at least 1 point in the test and 1 point in the visual recognition exercise. Students who do not reach the minimum score will have to retake the exam in the second opportunity, under the same conditions. The competencies H/D05, H/D08, and H/D11 will preferably be assessed
Repeat students must adhere to the evaluation criteria outlined in the teaching guide for each academic year, as no grades from previous years are retained. The contents covered in the interactive seminar classes will not be evaluated.

In-class work
• Lectures: 34 hours
• Laboratory practices: 14 hours
• Seminars: 4 hours
• Tutoring: 2 hours
• Exam: 3 hours Total hours of in-class work: 57 hours
• Student's personal work: 93 hours

• Attendance to all teaching activities.
• Daily learning of the contents taught in class.
• Consultation of recommended and additional bibliography.
• Utilization of the virtual classroom.
• Consultation with the faculty for any doubts related to the subject.

In the case of fraudulent completion of exercises or tests, the provisions outlined in the "Regulations for the assessment of academic performance of students and review of grades" will apply. This subject will have a virtual classroom available to students on the Moodle platform and direct communication channels through the MS Teams application.