Tropical plant biology

The aim of this course is to introduce students to the diversity of plants in tropical environments, from a botanical, morphological and functional point of view. Lessons include an introduction to tropical biodiversity and its observation, the taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity of the major tropical families, the life forms of tropical plants (morphology and anatomy, architecture), their ecophysiology (diversity of phenolic compounds, link with adaptation and distribution), functional ecology (general notions, responses to environmental gradients, specializations, plant succession), the diversity of biotic interactions, notions of coevolution (symbioses, reproductive systems, dispersal).

General notions of 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 relevant characters for the identification of tropical plants - Understanding of evolutionary mechanisms and the phylogeny of terrestrial plants.

Basic knowledge of plant biology.

100% continuous assessment