ECS 304 · also ENVIRON 304
Responses of Trees and Forests to Variation and Change in Climatic Conditions
Ram Oren
Description from DukeHub
The course examines the theoretical foundations of water-carbon tradeoffs from individual leaves to biomes. The structure of these flow paths and exchange surfaces reflects evolutionary adaptations that balance the tradeoff under prevailing environmental constraints. This framework allows predicting with reasonable accuracy how climate variation influences the tradeoff and, consequently, tree function. At the forest ecosystem scale, responses become more complex and are additionally shaped by biogeochemical interactions among plants, microorganisms, and insects. The interactions determine ecosystem services, e.g., water yield and carbon sequestration, and their responses to changing climate.
Skills
No skill passed the confidence bar. Weak matches go to review instead of this page: an AI pass that has to quote the description, then a person.
AI-resilient: 0 of 5
- No: Physical, lab or field work
- No: Live work with people
- No: Judgment someone is accountable for
- No: A craft you practice with your hands or body
- No: Small, in-person format
The checks lean on Microsoft Research, Working with AI (2025), which found generative AI applies least to physical work and hands-on work with people. A signal, not a promise. How the score works
More in ECS
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- Waves, Beaches, and Coastline Dynamics ECS 315
- Beach and Island Geological Processes ECS 316A
- Snow, Glaciers, and Climate Change ECS 318