Plant Ecophysiology and Diversity
OEB 120
Subject & Catalog Number
Course Information
Description
This lecture, discussion and laboratory course considers how plants function in an ecological context. The goal is to examine from a theoretical perspective, as well as through hands-on experience, the major plant physiological processes (photosynthesis, respiration, growth, water uptake and transport, and nutrient uptake and assimilation), how these differ among plants with different growth forms and from different habitats, and how they are influenced by environmental variation, symbioses with fungi and other organisms, competition with neighbors, and herbivore pressure. We will explore several themes that highlight the importance of understanding how plant functioning is affected by a changing global environment with increasing land degradation and disturbance. In-class labs will teach both classic and cutting-edge techniques aimed at understanding how plants function, cope with stress, compete for and allocate resources in the face of constantly changing environmental conditions.
Recommended Prep
OEB 52, 55 or OEB 10 (or permission of the instructor).
Available for Harvard Cross Registration
