AEEM

Environmental Analyses - Molecular Ecology

Scientific manager : Frédéric BOYER, Stephen MULERO
Technical expertise : Cindy ARNOLDI, Christian MIQUEL, Delphine RIOUX

The AEEM platform comprises two entities. The "Environmental Analyses" section allows the physical and chemical properties and biological activities of different media or matrices to be characterised. The "Molecular Ecology" section makes DNA characterisation techniques (intra- and inter-specific genetic diversity) available to ecology researchers.

 

Environmental Analyses (AE)

Our expertise enables us to acquire data on the physical, chemical and biological properties of different media or matrices. Soils, sediments, vegetation and water represent the major part of our samples. The acquisition of data on pedoclimatic variables from our various study sites is also carried out using the equipment available at the technical platform.

To carry out environmental measurements, plant functional traits and microbiological activities, the AE technical platform has various measuring devices at its disposal :

  • Elementary analyser (C/N)
  • Automated photometric analyser
    (nitrate/ammonium/nitrite/calcium/chloride/orthophosphate)
  • Muffle furnace
  • pH meter
  • Grinders
  • Precision balance
  • Scale
  • Ultrasonic bath
  • Ovens
  • Root scanner

Molecular Ecology (EM)

The expertise developed by the platform’s staff makes molecular marking techniques (intra- and inter-specific genetic diversity) available to ecological researchers. A particular expertise concerns the analysis of environmental DNA by metabarcoding on various matrices such as soils, sediments, water or faeces.

The main strength of the platform lies in its specific organisation, which allows a massive production of quality data :

  • state-of-the-art equipment
  • automation of the computerised sample management
  • quality control at all levels

 

How the AEEM platform works

The techniques and methods developed are based on the scientific and technical expertise of Florian BOUCHER (MCF UGA), Cindy Arnoldi (AI UGA), Delphine Rioux (AI UGA) and Christian Miquel (IE CNRS) who supervise and manage the technical platform.

The primary vocation of the AEEM technical platform is to collaborate in research projects and to support scientific research, in particular through training in analytical methods that the AE platform staff can provide to LECA members and trainees who request it. The Collaboration tariff is then applied.

Subcontracting and punctual help should remain marginal as much as possible. Priority is therefore given to projects including the AEEM technical platform as a partner. This involvement of the platform and its staff during the setting up of research projects allows to adjust as well as possible the preparation of budgets as well as sampling strategies, sample processing and analysis, and even help in the writing of scientific publications (materials and methods, results...).
 

Who is involved ?

Research assistants :

– Cindy ARNOLDI
– Frédéric BOYER
– Christian MIQUEL
– Stephen MULERO
– Delphine RIOUX

 

Who is using it ?

Researchers / Professors :

– Florian BOUCHER
– Eric COISSAC
– Jean-Philippe DAVID
– Laurence DESPRES
– Arnaud FOULQUIER
– Laure GALLIEN
– Sébastien LAVERGNE
– Sandra LAVOREL
– Jesus MAVAREZ
– Bello MOUHAMADOU
– Tamara MUNKEMULLER
– François POMPANON
– Muriel RAVETON
– Wilfried THUILLER
– Glenn YANNIC

Research assistants :

– Ludovic GIELLY
– Amélie SAILLARD

 

What are the ongoing projects ?

Projects
248