PLANT ECOPHYSIOLOGY
PLB 530
Dr. Stephen Ebbs
This course is offered in the Spring of odd-numbered years.
WHAT IS
ECOPHYSIOLOGY?
Ecophysiology involves both the descriptive
study of the responses of organisms to ambient conditions and the causal
analysis of the corresponding ecologically dependent physiological mechanisms,
at every level of organization. The
ecophysiological approach must take into account polymorphism in individual
responses, which are largely responsible for the adaptive capacity of any given
population. In this respect,
ecophysiological study yields information which is fundamental for an
understanding of the mechanisms underlying adaptive strategies.
- Société d’Écophysiologie
DESCRIPTION
This course will explore the
physiological processes that influence the growth, reproduction, survival,
adaptation, and evolution of plants. The
physiological processes to be discussed include water relations, mineral
nutrition, solute transport, and energetics (photosynthesis and
respiration). The course will begin with
an overview of these physiological processes, emphasizing their fundamental
importance to plants and the relevant mechanisms. Having established this foundation, the
course will then consider the contribution of these individual mechanisms to
plant growth, development, survival, and adaptation. The influence of biotic and abiotic factors
will be included to provide a context in which to discuss stress physiology and
its ecological consequences for plant adaptation and evolution.
Full
course information can be found on the syllabus for Spring
2005
Supplementary
reading lists for specific lectures can be found here.
Course text: H. Lambers, F.
S. Chapin III, T. L. Pons,
1998, Plant Physiological Ecology, Springer:
SIUC /
URL: http://www.plantbiology.siu.edu/
PLB530/INDEX.HTML
Last updated: 12-Sep-07/ sde