
Welcome to my site. I am Mohammed Armani, a Plant Ecologist, a Lecturer at KNUST, and a Postdoctoral Associate at the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (EEB) and Yale Institute for Biospheric Studies (YIBS), Yale University.
I study how plants adapt to disturbance (such as fire, herbivory, and drought) and how plant functional traits (PFTs) influence species performance across tropical plant communities (forest, savanna, grasslands). I employ both field-based and common garden experimental approaches.
But I am not only about research! I aspire to make a difference by providing resources that help students to make the best use of their time before, during, and after college/University (see more under the “Schoolent” page). Under the “Wosotree” (Wise and Ancient Wisdom of Trees) page, I teach many useful life lessons/skills based on our current understanding of the functioning of trees.
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How to write a winning Statement of Purpose/Motivation
by tm2side | Jul 10, 2023 | Schoolent
By Mohammed Armani & Emmanuel Oduro Takyi (PhD Student, Yale University, emmanuel.odurotakyi@yale.edu) The SOP/SOM is often one of the most difficult tasks when compiling your application documents for international postgraduate studies. The difficulty in...
I am interested in postgraduate studies abroad, how do I start?
by tm2side | Dec 4, 2022 | Schoolent
I am fortunate enough to have been able to pursue postgraduate studies in the Netherlands (Wageningen University, MSc Forest and Nature Conservation) and China (XTBG, PhD Ecology). Both studies were funded by prestigious scholarship schemes (Joint Japan/World Bank...
Crinum ornatum: Love at first sight!
by tm2side | Jun 21, 2021 | Plant Science
It was love at first sight indeed! On my walk this morning, I chanced upon this beautiful muddy patch with numerous Crinum ornatum (Family = Amaryllidaceae). I had no idea what plant it was. I was just attracted to their super bright white flowers with broad pink...
On the mega stranding of dolphins close to Axim, Ghana
by tm2side | Apr 6, 2021 | Uncategorized
This is a guest post by Mike Aryeh, Marine mammal scientist and GIS analyst with ResourceTrust Ghana. Locals pulling stranded alive dolphins out of sea If you are reading this, you might have heard of dolphins stranding close to Axim on the 4th of April 2021. You...
It is about time we recognized and appreciated the savannas of Ghana.
by tm2side | Mar 28, 2021 | Ghana, People and Nature
Examples of the savannas of Ghana: 1) Guinean savanna (Left, Mole National Park) 2) Guinean savanna in the High Forest Zone-Interior Savanna Zone transition (Middle, Kogyae Strict Nature Reserve), 3)Coastal savanna (Right, Shai Hills Resource Reserve). “When is...
Stop Biomism, the discrimination against grassy biomes!
by tm2side | Mar 22, 2021 | Uncategorized
Examples of Forest and Savannas in Ghana: 1) Coastal Forest (Top, Cape Three Point Forest Reserve), 2) Moist Forest (Bottom left; Bobiri Butterfly Sanctuary), 3) Guinean Savanna (Bottom Middle; Kogyae Strict Nature Reserve), Coastal Savanna (Bottom right; Shai Hills...
Making sense of the “no-deforestation” discourse. Part III
by tm2side | Mar 4, 2021 | People and Nature
This is the final part of a series of blog post discussing the “no-deforestation” requirements in relation to global forestry and agricultural commodities. Part I of this series examined the definitions of forest and deforestation whereas Part II focused on the...
Making sense of the “no-deforestation” discourse. Part II
by tm2side | Jan 28, 2021 | Uncategorized
This post is a continuation of last week's post on "Making sense of the 'no-deforestation' discourse". In today's post, we will attempt to answer three main questions; 1) why is deforestation bad, 2) what drives deforestation, and 3) are all forms of deforestation...
Making sense of the “no-deforestation” discourse.
by tm2side | Jan 21, 2021 | People and Nature
Since June last year, I have been involved in a number of discussions on forest and deforestation in West Africa. I have been quite surprised with the depth one has to go to gain a better appreciation of the deforestation conversation. In spite of this, producers...
The origin and genetic basis of plant spines
by tm2side | Jun 28, 2020 | Plant Science
Prickles on the stem of Solanum aculeatissimum Why do plant have spines? Spines are common in many terrestrial plants, habitats, and biomes. Why would plants produce spines and exactly what are their functions? These questions have for a long time fascinated both...