Dr. Peter Alpert, a professor with Biology Department of University of Massachusetts visited Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden (XTBG) on invitation during June 2-7. He communicated with researchers, delivered a lecture, and made field tours.

Prof. Peter Alpert made a lecture entitled “Clonal plants as invasive species in a changing world”. He talked about relationships among clonal plants, biological invasion, and global change, and their research trends.

Dr. Peter Alpert also made field tours to the 20-ha tropical forest dynamics plot, the observation tower in the tropical rainforest, montane moist evergreen broadleaved forest in Ailao Mountains, and karst landform in Stone Forest near Kunming.

Dr. Peter Alpert’s research has two foci, one basic and one applied. The focus of his basic research is on how the life forms and functions of plants enable them to survive and grow in specific habitats. The focus of his applied research is on the conservation of natural communities.

Peter Alpert presenting a lecture

At the montane moist evergreen broadleaved forest in Ailao Mountains