Experimental Plant Ecology

Abstract

Experimental research principles in plant ecology, ranging from highly reductionistic to very complex approaches. The significance of laboratory, greenhouse and field experiments. Practical realisation in an existing restoration project.

Objective

- to become familiar with various experimental approaches to plant ecology incl. advantages and disadvantages - to gain practical skills by carrying out and evaluating ecological plant experiments - to connect theoretical knowledge with the practical know-how of a restoration project.

Content

Principles of experimental plant ecology will be given in lectures; among other things, the advantages and disadvantages of greenhouse, common garden and field trials; various designs (replacement, additives and response surface designs), methods and instruments will be introduced. In a double session, the Seebachtal lakes project will be introduced, one of the largest fen restoration projects in Switzerland. The practical part will comprise experiments at various levels. Groups of students, under guidance, will develop experiments. This includes asking clear questions, search of literature, setting up and maintenance of the experiments, measurements and harvest, chemical analysis, interpretation of the results, writing a report and present a talk. An example is the evaluation of competitive behaviour of rare and common species depending on the N/P ratio: can rare species really survive better on P-limited sites than on N-limited? Which plant characteristics are decisive, e.g. excretion of phosphatase?

Resources