·　A lecture will be delivered each morning.. Afternoon session will be “free” to visit locally, work with students’ manuscripts, chat with students or whatever else!
An introduction to the history of ecology, and ecological research, ecological questions, and the scientific method; descriptive ecology, experimental ecology, applied and basic ecology, patterns and processes, hypothesis testing etc.
Biodiversity: what ecological conditions allow stable coexistence of up to 40 species per m2 in a grassland or 300 per ha in a forest?
China has 30% of the world’s plant species, and 30% of those are found in Yunnan Province. What are some of the ecological conditions that promote this high diversity? Is it well documented – a good research program here!
We could choose any species, or groups of species, and ask how their removal (or loss) might affect how the ecosystem functions. For example, what are some of the potential consequences to Ecosystem function if Shorea and other species are replaced by rubber plantations?
Abundance: why weeds and rare species?
We could choose any rare or infrequent species and ask why it is not more abundant, or why it does not have a wider distribution?
Why is the world green?
This topic asks why herbivores do not increase in such numbers to entirely decimate vegetation. This will be a general consideration of what is popularly known as “top-down” vs. “bottom-up” control.
The basic determinants of community structure.
The role of competition, herbivore, predators and chance events in determining the structure of plant communities.
It is free to change the topics as necessary before the final inform be given. The participants’ research interests or questions will be added to the topics and questions as needed.