Plant biodiversity
Plants and climate change
Our research teams are in the field studying how plants function in a changing world.
Flora observatory
Under the direction of Etienne Laliberté, a team of scientists is working to better understand and predict changes in plant biodiversity and their consequences on ecosystems in the Anthropocene. Together, they are studying plant morphological and physiological adaptations and developing remote sensing approaches to support plant conservation.
Etienne Laliberté, professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Montreal, has been on the list of the most-cited scientists worldwide for three consecutive years.
An authority on plant biodiversity
Canada Research Chairs are prestigious emblems of research excellence that are awarded to the most distinguished scientists. Under the direction of Etienne Laliberté, the Canada Research Chair in Plant Functional Biodiversity brings together researchers who study the links between plant ecology, functional traits and spectral signatures. Their work is yielding new discoveries on the causes and consequences of changes in plant biodiversity.
Research environment
Plant science research at the University of Montreal is conducted in our laboratories and in the field. Find out more about our modern facilities and prime research sites.
Institut de recherche en biologie végétale
The IRBV is a centre of excellence in research and teaching located on the site of the Montreal Botanical Garden. It was established through a partnership between the University of Montreal and the City of Montreal.
Plant Functional Ecology Laboratory
Within the lab, graduate students study, among other things, how plant species have adapted through evolution to survive and thrive in a variety of environmental conditions.
Station de biologie des Laurentides
The SBL is a site for scientific research and education on local ecosystems. Nearly 400 plant species are found in this protected natural environment.
A world-class centre of excellence
The University of Montreal Biodiversity Centre is home to a number of research initiatives, including the Canadensys network, a national project that makes the information in biological collections available to all, and the Canadian Airborne Biodiversity Observatory (CABO), which is working on the development of spectranomics, a novel approach at the nexus of biodiversity science and remote sensing.
Graduate programs
In addition to extraordinary natural environments, the biological sciences research community has access to laboratories with state-of-the-art equipment at the Science Complex on the MIL Campus.