Botany

Botany includes mainly ecology and physiology in Oulu. They can include other branches of sciences too, like modern systematics and taxonomy uses chemical compounds and molecular biology with morphological distinctive marks in order to study the relationships between plant species.

Ecological research focuses on interactions between animals and plants and between microbes and fungi. In Oulu, botanical basic research has particularly focused on ecophysiology of plants and Northern plant ecology. The research of fungi and lichen is also under focus. Plant physiological research has emphasis on the physiology of trees, the metabolism, genetic regulation, cold-resistance, dormancy and tolerance towards stress factors of environment.

Applied botanical research includes the inventory of natural resources (including forests, mires and lakes), the effects of environmental changes on plants, nature conservation, environmental impact assessment and ecological background of land use planning. New applying branches are for example, restoration ecology and utilisation of secondary metabolic products.

Advanced studies in botany concentrate on theoretical plant ecology, ecophysiology, special questions in northern areas and molecular biology of plants. Most botany graduates find posts as teachers or researchers. Many of them also find jobs in public administration and environmental protection, as well as in recreation and cultural services.

Botany

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