Diversity and Ecology of Vascular Plants

Contact: Christiane Ritz

Summary: Vascular plants dominate vegetation of the terrestrial surface, and represent the main base for terrestrial food chains. The module covers taxonomy and systematics of important plant families as well as the evolution of important traits. Students practice using taxonomic literature and practice identification of plant material. It also includes methods of recording, collecting and documenting ecological important taxa in the field as well as and in natural history collections. In addition, students learn about spatial analyses (GIS), ecological relationships in plant communities, and about effects of abiotic conditions (soil, climate) and land use with an eye on conservation.