|
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 |