International field course
September 8th-14th, 2023
Ecuador

Linking plant functional traits and ecosystem function in tropical montane forests

About us

We are an international team of researchers working on tropical montane forest ecology. We aim to improve our understanding of Andean tree communities and ecosystem-level responses to anthropogenic pressures. We collaborate actively with local and international organizations that influence policy-making and local actors actions that promote conservation and sustainable development in Ecuador. This field course is part of the VLIR-UOS funded Project "Recovery and conservation of Andean tropical mountain forest to benefit livelihood of local communities", conducted by Universiteit Gent, Escuela Politécnica Nacional, Universidad de Cuenca and other research institutions.

To apply: Send a CV, and a letter of interest to ecosystemfunctionTMFecuador@gmail.com

Deadline: July 16th 2023

This course will enhance the research capacity of an international group of post-graduate students interested in the ecological functioning of Andean forests and responses to climate change. The course will have practical and theoretical training, with a strong focus on the ecological processes that drive diversity and carbon recovery. The participating students will have the opportunity to conduct their own research projects and write essays.

Instructors

Prof. Hans Verbeeck

U Gent, Belgium

CAVElab - Computational & Applied Vegetation Ecology

Hans.Verbeeck@UGent.be

Prof. Selene Báez

EPN, Ecuador

Faculty of Sciences, Biology Department

selene.baez@epn.edu.ec

Dr. Michael Perring

UKCEH, UK

Centre for Ecology & Hydrology

mikper@ceh.ac.uk

Prof. Ximena Palomeque

U. Cuenca, Ecuador

Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Water Resources and Environmental Sciences

ximena.palomeque@ucuenca.edu.ec

Dr. Jürgen Homeier

HAWK, Germany

University of Applied Sciences and ArtsFaculty of Resource Managment

jhomeie@gwdg.de

Course contents

Importance of forests in the context of global environmental change, and methods to study ecosystem level carbon cycling.
Modeling carbon cycling through remote sensing.
Plant life-history and resource acquisition and use.
Plant traits and ecosystem function: response vs. effect traits.
Linking plant functional traits and ecosystem function in Andean forests..
Measuring plant functional traits: hands-on training.
Selecting the right plant traits for successful forest restoration: experimental approaches in Andean forests.
Dendrochronology of Andean trees.
Social sciences applied to the conservation of Andean forests.