15 ECTS credits
450 h study time
Offer 1 with catalog number 4023295FNR for all students in the 2nd semester at a (F) Master - specialised level.
See link via website Tropimundo
Plant communities:
Biological diversity: typology of tropical forests, species richness, global distribution, explanatory factors, tropical forests of the SWIO zone,
Structure and functioning of plant communities: spatio-temporal variability (horizontal: disturbances, succession, vertical), regeneration (life cycle, process: dispersal, germination, etc.), plant / plant interactions (facilitation, competition).
Plant / environment interactions:
specific strategies (functional traits), eco-physiology and plant responses to the biotope (illumination, water, temperature, soil),
Animal Communities:
Ecology of arthropods: diversity and functioning of communities, sampling methods, social insects. F
tropical island aunes: native vertebrates of the Madagascar hotspot.
Anthropogenic threats (degradation, deforestation, invasions), consequences (fragmentation, habitat loss, extinctions) and re-mediation (REDD +).
Nature of the interactions (mutualism, symbiosis, antagonism, parasitism, predation), origin of the interactions, interactions animal plants interactions plants microorganisms, role of the interactions in the evolution, specialization of the interactions.
Chemical ecology of insect plant interactions: molecules involved in plant x insect relationships; CGSM: sample collection, principle and analysis of results; Physiology and ecology of the insect plant relationship; EAG: operating principle and analysis of results. Ecology and evolution of interactions: Pollination and dispersal in the islands; Mycorrhizal symbiosis; Evolution of mutualisms in an island environment; Case study: biotic interactions in Apis mellifera;
Species concept and classification.
Taxonomy, Nomenclature, Herbarium: Code of Botany, Description of new species, Management of collections (Databases, Herbarium techniques, DNA library, ...). Classification of large plant families: tools and methods of analysis: (morphology, cytology, plant anatomy), classification principles. Vascular flora of SWIO: Magnoliids: Laurales; Piperales / Monocots: Alismatales; Pandanales; Liliales; Asparagales / Commelinids: Arecales, Poales, Zingiberales: (Core eudicots: Rosids: Fabidae Oxalidales, Malpighiales, Fabales, Rosales / Rosids: Malvidae: Myrtales, sapindales, Malvales / Asterids: Ericales, Gentianales, solanales, Boraginales, Asterales, Escaloniales, Apiales.
FIELD: 1 week in MADAGASCAR and 1 week in REUNION (Marelongue Station): techniques of studies, inventories and sampling of the biodiversity of Madagascar and the surrounding islands: Ecology of plant communities; forest inventories; analysis of different strata and litter; Ecology of pollinator plant interactions, pollinator observation method, characterization of floral biology (morphology, color, odor, nectar), study of the reproductive system and pollen flow; Inventories of the entomofauna; sampling and conditioning technique; identification criteria, Botany
The costs for the Course (travel, accommodation) are in part met by the University, but students will be asked to contribute to shared food and transportation costs if necessary.
The field school aims to put the student in real situations of study or analysis as he will meet in a professional environment. The context will be that of field expertise in a natural environment. This course aims to teach the student the mastery of diagnostic tools. Understand biodiversity and the functioning of tropical forest ecosystems through regional case studies of the main biotas of Madagascar's biodiversity hotspot; acquire methodologies for measuring the diversity and dynamics of animal and plant communities in tropical environments; integrate this knowledge into operational programs implemented by natural environment managers. To acquire knowledge on the methods of studies of the chemical mediation intervening in the insect plants interactions. To gain knowledge of the different strategies developed by plants to reproduce with pollinators as well as the evolutionary consequences. Train experts in taxonomy (identification, nomenclature, classification) and evolution (speciation, reproductive biology, adaptation, convergence, biogeography, ...) of flowering plant species in South West Indian Ocean. Mastery of techniques related to expertise in tropical botany (Herbarium, sampling, referencing of specimens, ...).
Upon completion of the course a student must be able to understand the functioning of tropical forest ecosystems. Measure the biological diversity of complex systems. Evaluate the impact of natural and anthropogenic disturbances. To know the diversity of the major faunal groups of the hotspot of the South West of the Indian Ocean. Apply this knowledge to studies conducted by natural environment managers. Botanical diagnosis, dissection of plant organs, microscopy, sampling and inventory techniques of plants, collection and referencing of specimens.
The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Other Exam determines 100% of the final mark.
Within the Other Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:
Oral assessment: 25 %
Written assessment: 50 %
Projects/Presentations/Reporting: 25 %
This offer is part of the following study plans:
Master of Biology: AR Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree in Tropical Biodiversity and Ecosystems, start at Brussels
Master of Biology: AR Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree in Tropical Biodiversity and Ecosystems, start at Paris
Master of Biology: AR Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree in Tropical Biodiversity and Ecosystems, start at Cayenne