Department of Botany Programmes
| Title | ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Code | SBOT501 | Department | Botany |
| Aim | To develop an understanding of the dynamics of and plant communities and plant succession in Maputaland area. | ||
| Content | A study of the plant community and community dynamics; plant communities and plant succession in Zululand; vegetation analysis, with emphasis on the practical application of the different methods of surveying vegetation; a study of environmental factors and their influence on the community; plant geography with particular reference to the vegetation of Maputaland; restoration ecology. | ||
| Title | AQUATIC BOTANY | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Code | SBOT502 | Department | Botany |
| Aim | To examine environmental influences on periphyton and macrophyte survival in fresh water ecosystems. | ||
| Content | Stress, disturbance and competitive pressures in macrophyte community dynamics; the importance of wetlands in supporting and maintaining freshwater ecosystems; relative efficiency and ecological problems of aquatic plant management; long-term ecosystem monitoring. | ||
| Title | SECONDARY PLANT METABOLITES | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Code | SBOT503 | Department | Botany |
| Aim | To develop an understanding of the biosynthesis, occurrence, structure and functions of secondary plant products. | ||
| Content | Occurrence, structure, biosynthesis, catabolism and functions of secondary plant products which act as phytoalexins (isoflavonoids, sesquiterpenes) and non-protein amino acids. The importance of carotenoids in photosynthesis, changes in photosynthesis during leaf development, the biochemistry of herbicide action, biosynthesis and metabolism of ABA, auxin and GA prior to and during leaf yellowing in annual plants. | ||
| Title | ECOPHYSIOLOGY | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Code | SBOT504 | Department | Botany |
| Aim | To develop an understanding of water, mineral absorption and various metabolic processes of plants. | ||
| Content | Water economy of plants; photosynthesis; respiration; carbohydrate metabolism; lipid and nitrogen metabolism; vitamins and hormones; photoperiodism; history of botany; principles of statistics as applied to biology. | ||
| Title | GENERAL BOTANY | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Code | SBOT505 | Department | Botany |
| Aim | This module is designed to add to the content of the students area of specialization as determined by the research project. | ||
| Content | The content to be studied will be determined according to the selection of modules by the student and the intended direction of specialization. Special fields in Botany like Taxonomy, Genetics, Anatomy, Morphology etc. where expertise exist in the department, can also be covered in this module. | ||
| Title | ECONOMIC BOTANY | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Code | SBOT506 | Department | Botany |
| Aim | This module is designed to develop an understanding of the value of the natural environment. | ||
| Content | To estimate the quantities of botanical resources and the study of direct use-value of marketable resources and the significance of subsistence activities and non-marketed resources that add to the total value of the environment. | ||
| Title | ETHNOBOTANY | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Code | SBOT507 | Department | Botany |
| Aim | This module is designed to develop an understanding of the value of how people of a particular culture (Zulus) make use of indigenous plants. | ||
| Content | Plant species that are harvested from the wild and used as food, shelter, medicine, clothing, hunting and religious ceremonies. A study of plants grown in the homesteads with reference to identification, position on the premises, cultivation, uses and conservation status. | ||
| Title | RESEARCH PROJECT | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Code | SBOT509 | Department | Botany |
| Aim | To develop the skills of conducting a research project. | ||
| Content | The research topic will be determined by the department according to the selection of modules by the learner and the intended direction of specialization. | ||