We take an integrative approach to synthesize the ecology,
physiology,
and anatomy of plants in a comparative framework. We define our
questions in the natural, changing environment and follow the answers
all the way to the molecular or ultra-structural level. A unifying
theme of our studies is the question of how plants survive and thrive
in their natural environment and what mechanisms are responsible for
the acclimation and adaptation of plants to extreme environmental
conditions. We identify the physiological and structural traits (and
hopefully the associated genes) that protect plants, and particularly
their ability to collect solar energy, perform photosynthesis, and
distribute sugars throughout the plant. We compare these
characteristics among plant species with contrasting growth patterns
and acclimation strategies.
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