Plant Physiology

Plant physiologists at STRI study how tropical plants — particularly trees — function and interact with the environment. Researchers examine how processes such as photosynthesis and associated water loss are regulated, and how these key processes are coupled to the acquisition of water and nutrients from soils, as well as to light, temperature, air humidity and atmospheric carbon dioxide. The aim is to better understand and predict growth and survival of tropical vegetation under past, present and future conditions, and how functional diversity is linked to the high plant biodiversity of tropical forests.