Tropical Plant Biology

The objective of this course is to introduce students to the diversity of plants in tropical environments, from both botanical and morphological as well as functional perspectives. The course covers an introduction to tropical biodiversity and its observation, the taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity of major tropical families, the life forms of tropical plants (morphology and anatomy, architecture), their ecophysiology (diversity of phenolic compounds, relationship to adaptation and distribution), functional ecology (general concepts, responses to environmental gradients, specializations, plant succession), the diversity of biotic interactions, and concepts of coevolution (symbiosis, reproductive systems, dispersal).

General concepts in ecology and evolution based on the study of plant diversity in tropical environments - Ability to characterize a plant (morphology and anatomy, architecture) - Ability to identify characteristics relevant to the identification of tropical plants - Understanding of evolutionary mechanisms and the phylogeny of terrestrial plants.

Basic knowledge of plant biology.

Comprehensive ongoing assessment: 100%