Botany

relating to environmental sustainability

Plants form the largest component of ecosystems, and all life on earth depends on plants as a source of energy and oxygen. Plants also play a crucial role in fixing carbon dioxide and counter-acting the effects of climate change. An understanding of the functioning of plants from the cellular to the ecosystem level is required to manage our natural resources, from the conservation of remaining natural ecosystems, to resource management in agricultural landscapes and the rehabilitation of severely disturbed areas.
In addition to the fundamentals like anatomy, physiology, ecology and systematics, undergraduate courses in Botany cover a range of applied topics such as conservation ecology, biological invasions, plant utilisation and environmental rehabilitation and management. At Honours level, students may include courses like rehabilitation ecology, environmental impact assessment, climate change, plant-insect interactions, and conservation genetics. The department also offers, jointly with the Environmental Science Department, an Honours course in Biodiversity and Conservation.

Explore learning opportunities: www.ru.ac.za/botany

Go to the Rhodes University ENVIRONMENT front page. Suggestions/Questions? Contact environment(at)ru.ac.za