Research at LECA aims to address critical issues related to global change, biodiversity loss and chronic pollution. Our skills are focused on ecology, environment and evolution. In accordance with the very definition of biodiversity, our study scales range from (populations of) genes to ecosystems and landscapes, including the processes acting at each scale. Our originality comes from the model system on which we focus : the mountains. This choice was made for reasons of territorial coherence, but above all because these environments and the species that inhabit them are particularly sensitive and vulnerable to global environmental changes. We are one of the few laboratories in France to work on these environments. Our research is based on observation (short and long term), experimentation and modelling. Our work allows us to develop models that predict the response of biodiversity to change. We apply them to solve societal issues related to the valuation of ecosystem services, environmental management, and biodiversity conservation.
The AEEM platform is made up of two entities. The "Environmental Analyses" part allows to characterize the physical and chemical properties and biological activities of different substrates or matrices. The "Molecular Ecology" part makes DNA characterization techniques (intra- and inter-specific genetic diversity) available to researchers in ecology.
Methods :
AE : elemental (C/N) and automated photometric analysers (nitrate/ammonium/nitrite/calcium/chloride/orthophosphate), muffle furnace, pH meter, mills, precision scales, ultrasonic bath, ovens, root scanner
EM : molecular marking (intra- and inter-specific genetic diversity) environmental DNA by metabarcoding (soil, sediment, water, faeces)
This platform, shared with CARRTEL, LIBM and EDYTEM, supports the research activities of member laboratories for molecular biology analysis techniques.
Methods : extraction of rare and/or ancient DNA, classical and gradient PCR, qPCR, nucleic acid and protein electrophoresis (western-blot...)
This technical platform enables the acquisition of physicochemical data (on soils, leachates, litter, plants) as part of the environmental analysis of the functional response of plants to herbivory pressure and its consequences on soils and biogeochemical cycles.
Methods : extraction of metabolites from various substrates (mechanical or nitrogen grinding, extraction under reflux, Soxhlet, agitation, SPE), column purification (Sephadex) of raw extracts, chromatographic (HPLC-DAD) and colorimetric analysis of plant metabolites (UV-visible spectrophotometry), field monitoring of plant metabolism (Hansatech, Dualex)
The members of this platform contribute to the realization and implementation of field campaigns (prospecting, sampling, botanical surveys...) as well as to their follow-up.
Methods : environmental measurements (temperature, humidity, light, biogeochemistry, biomass, C/N, enzymatic activity, etc.), high-frequency field sensors, sampling, botanical surveys, functional traits, ecosystem mapping, etc.)
The experiments carried out on the platform concern LECA’s research associated with the ecophysiology and ecotoxicology of amphibians in relation to ecological imbalances (pollution, temperature, UV, altitude). The EXAM platform is made up of two parts : a part providing accommodation for the amphibians and exposure of the animals and a part intended for the study of the physiological consequences of these disturbances.
Méthodes : housing of amphibians, exposure to abiotic parameters (physical or chemical), monitoring of individuals and populations (functional traits, sex ratio, reproduction, physiology), metabolic disorders (glucose metabolism tests, glycogen assay, ELISA tests, enzymological tests, etc.), histology (tissue sections, classic and specific staining, immunomarkings, etc.)
This platform allows breeding and experimentation on tropical insects in a confined environment (P2 containment standards). It includes several independent insectariums for which temperature, hygrometry and photoperiod parameters can be rigorously controlled.
Méthodes : breeding, bioassays with insecticides, experiments on mosquitoes (physiology, sexing, cross-breeding, selection and experimental evolution, etc.)
This technical platform carries out analyses on different biological supports (nucleic acids, proteins and molecules) applied to ecology. Biological models are isolated organisms (plants, animals, fungi, bacteria) taken in the field or cultivated in the laboratory.
Methods : molecular biology (extraction/amplification/quantification of DNA, Sanger sequencing, etc.) and biochemistry (extraction/purification/dosage of proteins, enzymology, fluorescence, etc.)
Methods : programming (awk, python, R, C++), GIS, remote sensing, databases, sequence/data analysis
This technical platform has been set up to allow ecologists to perform large-scale analysis of environmental DNA via a metabarcoding approach. DNA metabarcoding refers to high throughput DNA-based identification of multiple species from environmental DNA. The main applications consist in diet analysis from feces, in biodiversity assessment using soil or water samples, and in palaeo-environment reconstruction using lake sediments and permafrost samples.
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