Biodiversity and ecosystem processes under global change

The key topics of our research activities are changes in species distribution and biodiversity in response to global change and their consequences on terrestrial ecosystem functioning. In our research projects we study mainly tree communities, soil microorganisms and soil macrofauna in temperate, mediterranean and tropical forest ecosystems. We use a variety of approaches including mathematical modeling and experimentation, both in the field and under controlled conditions. With these approaches we work towards a better understanding of species range shifts, biodiversity change and its impacts on the carbon and nutrient cycles, in response to rising atmospheric CO2, and changes in temperature and precipitation. Our models are process-based and we explicitly consider underlying mechanisms for the biodiversity – ecosystem functioning relationship. We coordinate and participate in a substantial number of national and international projects. These are listed below and the active link leads to more detailed information on these projects.
 

Key words:

Amazonian rainforest | Biodiversity-Ecosystem Functioning | Climate change | Decomposition | Elevated atmospheric CO2 | Functional diversity | Mechanistic modelling of tree species range shifts | Microbial Ecology | Nutrient cycling | PHENOFIT model | Phenology | Species distribution | Soil fauna |
 

Research projects:

European projects:

-  Biodiversity and biogeochemical cycles : a search for mechanisms across ecosystems « BioCycle »
-  Optional Program PEP725 Pan European Phenological Database of the EUMETNET Council under supervision of ECSN.
-  Functional significance of forest biodiversity in Europe « FunDivEUROPE »
 

French Research Agency:

- How does evolution affect extinction and species range dynamics in the context of global change? Implications for ecological forecasting. « EVORANGE »
- Scenarios of global change impacts on biodiversity based on innovative modelling approaches. « SCION »
- Climate change effects on Mediterranean biodiversity and consequences for ecosystem functioning« CLIMED»
 

Other projects:

-   A stoichiometric approach to biodiversity and biogeochemical cycles in the Amazonian forest.« StoichioDIVERSITY »
-   Ecological consequences of the Chernobyl accident.
-   Treeline trees in a CO2-rich world.
- Groupement de recherche CNRS 2968 Systèmes d’Information Phénologique pour la Gestion et l’Etude des Changements climatiques.
-   Programme de Sciences Participatives L’Observatoire Des Saisons