The XTBG – OTS field course named “The Ecology of Climate Change in the Tropics and Sub-Tropics” ran from June 16 to July 16. Four presentations on the independent research projects by trainees marked a successful complete of the field course.

On July 13, the trainees presented their research projects to the expert panel composed of Prof. Chen Jin, Dr. Fan Zexin, Dr. Eben Goodale, and Dr. Uromi Goodale.

The four research projects were: 1) Invasive flora along an elevation gradient and implications of climate change: A case study from Ailaoshan Mountain range, Yunnan, China；2)Potential influence of climate change on plant-pollinator interactions - Preliminary study from Yuanjiang subtropical forest；3) Woody plant diversity and leaf morphology along an altitudinal gradient in the hot dry valley；4) Coloration of butterflies along an elevation gradient.

The research project named “coloration of butterflies along an elevation gradient” was chosen as the best. The project was finished by Rayees Ahmad Malik from India, Miss Tuanjit Sritongchuay from Thailand, Xing Shuang from Hong Kong, Catherine Heidy Bravo Avila from Florida International University, Amanda Vicente Santos from University of Costa Rica, Adrian Lu from University of California - Berkeley and Laura Marie Walker from University of Arkansas.

Link: http://english.xtbg.cas.cn/ic/icn/201402/P020140221535961939920.pdf

Presentations 

 Trainees and experts pose a group photo

Trainees visit labs

Chen Jin poses a photo with best team