Project properties

Title Reproductive strategies of tropical tree species
Group Forest Ecology and Forest Management Group
Project type thesis
Credits 24-36
Supervisor(s) Prof. Dr. Lourens Poorter
Examiner(s) Prof. Dr. Frans Bongers
Contact info Lourens.poorter@wur.nl
https://www.wur.nl/en/Persons/Lourensprof.dr.ir.-L-Lourens-Poorter.htm
Begin date 2020/04/01
End date
Description MSc thesis / MSc internship / BSc thesis / BSc internship
Tropical forests harbor a tremendous diversity of trees, which are able to coexist
because of differences in their life history strategies. Tree species are engaged in
a race for the canopy, where fast growth and tall mature sizes allow them to get a
better access to light, but at the expense of a delayed reproduction. In this desk
study, you will enter data from a field study and analyze the size-dependent
reproduction of 40 Bolivian rainforest tree species, and link it to their maximum
adult stature, flowering strategy, fruiting strategy, and shade tolerance. With
these data you will quantify the reproductive thresholds of trees (i.e., at what
diameter and height does the species reproduce). This allows to fine tune
minimum diameter cutting limits for timber trees, to guarantee sufficient
reproduction and sustainable timber production.

Corona proof: i.e.no field work (abroad) or intensive lab studies required

Biodiversity and functional diversity/ Plant-animal interactions/ Population and
forest dynamics/ Sustainable forest management/ America's / Tropical zone/ Desk study
Used skills
Requirements Standard for MSc thesis/internship:
FEM-30306 Forest Ecology and Forest Management and
REG-31806 Ecological Methods I