Advanced Course in Plant Ecophysiology And

2009-09-01

Advanced Course in Plant Ecophysiology and

Global Change Biology

Course period: 1 September to 3 November 2009

The courses start 1 September at 10.45 in the lecture room 5, at the Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences (Botan-huset), Carls Skottsbergs gata 22B,

The aim of the course is to get an understanding on how plant ecosystems interacts with environmental stress with special emphasis on climate change and to get basic knowledge and skills on different techniques used to study these interactions.

The two courses, Plant ecophysiology (BIO415, 15 ECTS) and Global change biology (ES 2414, 15 ECTS) will be combined in one course.

Literature: Physiological Plant Ecology: Ecophysiology and Stress Physiology of Functional Groups, Larcher, Walter 2003 (ISBN 3540435166). Approximate price: 400 SEK. Additional papers covering global change issues will also be included.

Teachers: Göran Wallin (GW), (course-leader)

Johan Uddling (JU),

Leif Klemedtsson (LK)

Azad Nousratpour (AN)

Lasse Tarvainen (LT)

Lecture room: Most lectures, seminars and presentations will be held in lecture room 5.

Language: English

The course is divided into two parts. The first part is mainly theoretical but will also include a field trip where experimental methods will be demonstrated. The first part will be finished by a written examination. The second part will focus on experimental work in the field, data analysis and studies of scientific publications. Part 2 is examined by oral and written presentations.

Part 1:

Lectures: All chapters will be briefly covered in lectures, see below. It is not compulsory but strongly recommended to attend.

Modelling exercises: These exercises will give an introduction to quantitative estimations of environmental and physiological processes. The over-all gain is to gain an appreciation of the use of mathematical models for understanding and predicting ecosystem functioning.

The exercises are:

1. Photosynthetic carbon isotope discrimination
2. Photosynthesis

3a.Ecosystem fluxes and energy balance

3b.Hydraulic regulation of stomata

Seminars: the course includes four seminars where central issues covered by the course will be discussed. To prepare these seminars, all students should individually prepare at least 2 questions (for each seminar) that should be discussed during the seminars. The questions should be presented on the course web-site (kursportalen) the day before the seminar (before 12). The seminars are compulsory. The seminars start with a discussion among students (8.30-10). The aim is to select a few central issues that later (10.15-12) is discussed on a seminar with students and teachers.

Field trip: We will spend three days (14-16th September) in the field visiting different experimental sites as well as demonstrating experimental methods. We will stay over-night at Östad säteri, ( If you can’t stay over night, there are regular bus routes between Göteborg City and the site. You will get special information on that later.

Examination: A written examination will be held the 9th October

Part 2:

Field studies: All field studies will be carried out at the field site, Skogaryd, between Uddevalla and Vänersborg 110 km north of Göteborg. Part 2 will also include, some laboratory work, data analysis and literature studies. The studies will be focused on measurements of biomass, leaf area index, shoot photosynthesis, root respiration and net ecosystem exchange. The work will be carried out in groups. The days for field measurement are dependent on the weather conditions, thus the schedule for field visits are preliminary. The field studies are all compulsory.

Course program (Book chapter in brackets)