XVI International Botanical Congess
Biomechanical analyses can help to improve the understanding of the ecology and of selective forces acting on plants. The benefit of ecobiomechanical studies correlating form, structure and function to environmental constraints is exemplified by discussing the variations of mechanical properties in typical lianas and semi-selfsupporting climbers that become lianescent only in their oldest ontogenetic stage. The ecological importance of differences in mechanical properties is explained with respect to the survival after breakage of supporting branches or falling of entire host trees. It can be shown that different types of lianas and semi-selfsupporting climbers vary widely in their developmental and mechanical strategies for occupying and exploiting clearings of different size.