Throughout the tropics (e.g. Brazil, Madagascar, West Africa, Zambia) research of my group concentrates on the flora, vegetation and ecology of neglected ecosystems, such as rock outcrops (e.g. inselbergs, ferricretes). A particular focus is on desiccation tolerant plants which are adapted to long periods of droughts. Since 1990 we are following the vegetation dynamics of forests and savannas in selected parts of West Africa. In this context we are involved in capacity building programmes (e.g. WASCAL).
Over the last 30 years rock outcrops are impacted by many human impacts, such as mining, fire, grazing and illegal plant collections. Desiccation-tolerant plants and carnivorous plants are suffering a lot and the decrease of their populations are dramatic. Terrestrial orchids: bulbs are sold in huge numbers on markets as a snack.
https://www.botanik.uni-rostock.de/team-kontakt/prof-dr-stefan-porembski
