Plant ecology

Our research into plant function includes the role of plant silicon, ecosystem carbon and water biogeochemistry.

Our researchers specialise in a wide range of plant ecology topics:

Plant function;
Ecological strategies;
Plant and soil community ecology.

We are interested in how plant traits are linked to ecological strategies and evolution of different species. Our research also explores the effect of environmental gradients on plant biodiversity and community composition, across a wide variety of ecosystems including floodplain meadows, Cape flora and agroforestry systems.

We are also interested in the plant and ecosystem responses to global change and environmental disturbances.

How planting macadamia trees could transform Malawi

PhD student Emmanuel Junior Zuza from the School of Earth, Environment and Ecosystem Science talks about his work with the Neno Macadamia Trust, planting macadamia trees to improve food security and generate new income sources for Malawian farmers.