Functioning and adaptation of tropical plants

The objective of this EU is to explore the diversity of life forms and morphological and functional adaptations of plants living in tropical regions. Each of the major biological types will be analyzed (trees, grasses, vines, epiphytes, hemiepiphytes, etc.) in order to understand their architecture and modes of development, and to study the particularities of their functioning.

A comparative analysis will attempt to define the nature of the adaptations that have enabled these plants to occupy all available niches.

Particular emphasis will be placed, from an evolutionary perspective, on studying the biomechanical and conduction properties in situ that characterize some of them.

Another focus will be on tree ontogenesis, addressing architectural concepts related to the processes involved in the development of large tropical tree crowns, including root strategies. The interaction between vegetative structures, reproduction, and secondary growth will be addressed in practical work on tropical material.

The concepts of growth and competition in populations will be addressed using simple examples with concepts of growth modeling.

Be able to define and characterize plant life forms and their modes of development. Know how to apply the concepts and tools specific to the study of plant biomechanics. Know how to study the temporal characteristics of tree development based on concepts of morphology, macroanatomy, and architecture. Be able to establish a plant sampling protocol to study the relationships between primary and secondary growth.

Continuous assessment: 100%