Botanist Career Description
Traditionally, the concept "plant" includes a whole range of living organisms, from bacteria, algae, fungi, mosses, ferns, gymnosperms and flowering plants. Human beings depend on plants for fresh air and food. Plants also fulfil
many other needs of humans, such as medicine, building materials and the creation of aesthetic environments.
What am I going to do in this occupation?
There are different careers in botany and each one concentrates on a specific sub-discipline:
Plant taxonomist
Plant taxonomy involves the identification and classification of plants. Plant taxonomists usually work in herbaria where the collected plants are kept. They also collect plants in the field and work in laboratories or greenhouses where the systematics, chemistry, structure, population genetics and the reproductive behaviour of plants are studied.
Ethnobotanist
Ethnobotanists do research on all the plants traditionally used for food and medicine. Ethnobotanists study the different ways in which people make use of plants, whether for food, fibre, medicine or any other purpose. They are often involved in the discovery of plants and the collection of economically profitable plants, the re-vegetation of exploited areas and the conservation of rare and endangered species.
Palynologist
Palynology is the study of fossil and living pollen. These studies often shed light on the historical background of a certain region and useful information is gained for studies in Archaeology, Ecology and Systematics. Palynology is a highly specialised branch of systematics and it involves the identification of plant species through analysing the pollen with light- and electron microscopes. The work is usually done in a laboratory. Palynologists are also used in forensic medicine and criminology because it is possible to identify pollen on clothes, shoes and the body.
Palaeobotanist
The palaeo botanist studies plant fossils and must have an interest in rocks and geology.
Plant physiologist
A plant physiologist studies the functioning of plants. This involves the growth, development, nutrient uptake and biochemical processes of plants. Such studies are important because of the pressure placed on the provision of food by the growth of the population. Plant physiologists play an important role in agriculture where drought-resistance, crop production, nutritional value, quality of food crops, the germination as well as the storage of seed and the production of fruit are
studied. Physiologists mainly work in laboratories but also conduct growth studies on farmlands, in growth chambers and greenhouses.
Mycologist
Mycology is the study of fungi. These organisms are often microscopically small or thread-like and do not photosynthesise. They are studied although strictly speaking they are not plants. Fungi play an important role in food cycles in the various ecosystems. They cause decay in food and other natural products and they are also important in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries. Fungi often live in symbiosis with higher plants and play an important role in the ecology of the environment. Mycologists are presently active in the mushroom industry of SA.
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Plant pathologist
The plant pathologist studies diseases in plants. The diseases found in specific cultivated crops or trees are studied and controlled. The work is mainly done with the use of microscopy.
Plant geneticist
This discipline has two main branches. The first sub-discipline involves the cultivation of crops. This kind of work is done by agriculture departments and also in the private sector where new plant varieties are developed and selected for productivity and resistance to diseases. Geneticists are employed by both govemment and private forestry organisations to work on programmes for the improvement of trees for cultivation. The work also involves the performing of field experiments and the use of microscopes in laboratories.
The second sub-discipline involves population and evolutionary genetics. Research is done on plant systematics and conservation biology where the relations between different populations or species must be determined genetically.
Weed scientist
Weed scientists study the different types of weed as well as mechanical, chemical and biological methods of control. A thorough knowledge of different insects used for the biological control of weeds is necessary. The weed scientist is involved in projects to rehabilitate areas taken over by weeds. Knowledge of ecology is also necessary. Mter weeds are destroyed mechanically or chemically, the area must be managed ecologically in order to prevent soil erosion and to ensure that another does not replace one type of weed. Knowledge of ecology makes it possible to understand why weeds invade certain areas and to make predictions.
Requirements
What kind of personality do I need?
People who care for bio-diversity and conservation in SA, who have an interest in nature, an inquiring mind and who like to research, study and observe nature, will enjoy a career in botany.
Where can I work?
The National Botanical Institute (NBI) is one of the main employers of botanists. Three main areas of activity within the NBI are: Botanical Gardens, Scientific Research and Education and Information Services. Some museums employ plant taxonomists to study the flora of that region. Some universities also employ plant taxonomists in full-time research posts. The study of the anatomy of wood is important for forestry and there are a limited number of jobs in the forestry industry and at the conservation division of the Department of Environment Affair. Plant taxonomists are also used for weed-control and plant cultivation programmes.
Can I work for myself in this occupation?
Botanists can work as consultants, providing data bases, lists of plants, vegetation mapping and environmental impact studies. They can also provide advice to organisations such as mining industries, nature conservation, National Parks Board and fertiliser companies.
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