Chapter 1 What Is Plant Biology? Lecture Outline Change first slide for each chapter Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display.

Outline The Relationship of Humans to Their Environment The Effect Humans Have on the Environment Human and Animal Dependence on Plants Botany as a Science Scientific Method Diversification of Plant Study (Botanical Disciplines)

The Effect Humans Have on the Environment Human population will exceed 7.8 billion in 2025, yet the size of earth remains constant. We have had major impacts on the environment: Drained wetlands Cleared natural vegetation Dumped wastes and pollution Used pesticides and herbicides

The Effect Humans Have on the Environment We must reduce our environmental impact: Change agricultural practices Render pollutants harmless Recycle Replace pesticides with biological pest controls Conserve water and energy Preserve habitats and species

Human and Animal Dependence on Plants Plants convert the sun’s energy into energy that is usable to plants and to animals. In the process, plants produce oxygen and remove carbon dioxide in the air we breathe.

Human and Animal Dependence on Plants Plants are the sources of multiple products of human society: Food Perfumes Dyes Copyright © McGraw-Hill Companies Permission Required for Reproduction or Display

Human and Animal Dependence on Plants Plants are the sources of multiple products of human society: Beverages Lumber Paper Coffee

Human and Animal Dependence on Plants Plants are the sources of multiple products of human society: Clothing Medicines Coal and oil Alternate energy sources Cotton plants

Botany as a Science Botany is the study of plants. At first, interest in plants was practical. Centered around the production of food, fibers, fuel, and medicine Eventually, an intellectual interest arose. Led to plant study becoming a science Science involves the observation, recording, organization, and classification of information.

Scientific Method The scientific method describes the procedures of developing and testing hypotheses. Hypothesis - Tentative, unproven explanation of an observation

Scientific Method Experiment - Test to determine if a hypothesis is correct Must be repeatable Variables - Aspects of the experiment that can be changed or held constant Good experiments consist of two parts: Variable changed Variable held constant = Control

Scientific Method Data - Results from the experiment Principle - Useful generalization derived from experimental data Theory - Grouping of related principles

Diversification of Plant Study (Botanical Disciplines) Plant Anatomy Internal structure of plants Plant Physiology Plant function Plant Taxonomy Describing, naming and classifying plants Plant Systematics Developing methods for classifying and naming plants Cross-section of Magnolia wood

Diversification of Plant Study (Botanical Disciplines) Plant Geography Plant distributions Plant Ecology Interaction between plants and their environments Plant Morphology Form and structure of plants

Diversification of Plant Study (Botanical Disciplines) Genetics Science of Heredity Potential development of better agricultural, medicinal, and other useful plants Cell Biology Cell structure and function Economic Botany and Ethnobotany Practical uses of plants and plant products Still vast amounts of botanical information yet to be discovered

Review The Relationship of Humans to Their Environment The Effect Humans Have on the Environment Human and Animal Dependence on Plants Botany as a Science Scientific Method Diversification of Plant Study (Botanical Disciplines)