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Project properties |
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| Title | The role of leaf venation in stomatal conductance responses to drought in lianas
and trees in the canopy of two tropical forests |
| Group | Forest Ecology and Forest Management Group |
| Project type | thesis |
| Credits | 33-39 |
| Supervisor(s) | FEM group: Frank Sterck
Other organization: Jose Medina (STRI, Panama) |
| Examiner(s) | Frans Bongers |
| Contact info | Frank.sterck@wur.nl |
| Begin date | 2020/06/01 |
| End date | |
| Description | MSc thesis
Lianas are increasing in many tropical forests with potential negative implications for forest biodiversity, productivity, carbon sequestration and climate change mitigation. We have measured large, adult individuals of 16 liana species and 16 tree species from two canopy cranes over 2 years in tropical forests of Panama. This thesis will benefit from this data set, and explore the role of leaf venation for the stomatal responses that control carbon gain and water loss of these species. We have images of leaves of all species, and you will analyze those images for leaf venation patterns, and link that information to other functional traits to better understand the role of leaves for carbon gain, water loss and drought responses. The availability of our data for multiple species will allow you to compare lianas and trees in dry and wet forest, and speculate on drivers of the increase of lianas in Neotropical forest. Corona proof: i.e.no field work (abroad) or intensive lab studies required Climate change effects /Biodiversity and functional diversity /Ecophysiology/Americas/Tropical zone/Desk study |
| Used skills | Statistical skills, image analysis |
| Requirements | Recommended:
FEM-30306 Forest Ecology and Forest Management and REG-31806 Ecological Methods I |