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Research topics
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.
Our research is developed around eight scientific themes, and researchers-teachers-technical staff participate in several themes, while promoting the interface between disciplines :
BIOGEOCHEM — Biogeochemistry : linking biodiversity and nutrient cycling in permanent grasslands
Our work concerns the functional interactions between biodiversity and biogeochemical cycles (N, C, H2O). We develop functional representations of diversity in land surface models, characterize the effects of nutrient cycling on the role of biodiversity and their impact on ecosystem resilience.
Methods : remote sensing, climate sensors, multi-isotopic approaches, metabarcoding, metatranscriptomics, carbon exchanges, biogeochemical and soil surface models.
DIVADAPT — Adaptation, diversification and origins of biodiversity
We are studying the genetic basis of adaptation and speciation mechanisms (reproductive isolation, hybrid zones, as well as the evolutionary origins of biodiversity patterns (tempo and mode of species diversification, influence of environmental factors and key morphological innovations).
Methods : genome scans, genetic architecture, transcriptomics, phylogenies, comparative methods.
INTERSPE — Species interaction networks : a functional perspective
We study the spatio-temporal dynamics of large herbivore communities in response to biotic and abiotic factors, characterize the structure of interspecific networks and ecosystem functions (e.g. plant-herbivore/pollinators). Part of the activity involves modelling the links between environmental factors and ecosystem functioning.
Methods : long-term monitoring, behavioural observations, chemical ecology, genetics, metabarcoding, ecological network analyses, modelling.
MACROECO — Macroecology and rules for assembling metacommunities: applications to biodiversity modelling and conservation
Our studies aim to understand how history, environmental factors, and species coexistence processes shape community assemblages and ecosystems. We develop biodiversity models and statistical approaches to study biodiversity according to time, space and level of organization. We produce quantitative biodiversity scenarios (local to global scale) related to the conservation and management of protected areas.
Methods : transplant experiments, large-scale biodiversity surveys, metabarcoding, simulations, modelling.
MALBIO — Mathematics and algorithms for the study of biodiversity
Developments in mathematical and algorithmic methods are applied in the analysis of DNA meta-barcoding data (e.g., taxonomic assignment), assembly of low coverage genomes (e.g., organelle genomes from environmental DNA data), individual low coverage resequencing analysis in population genomics (e.g., detection of variants on non- model organisms).
Methods : clustering algorithms, supervised classifications, assembling algorithms, k-mer statistics, graph theory, statistical inference.
PALEOENV — Paleo-environments : long-term perspective of mountain ecosystem trajectories
The objective of this axis is to reconstruct the trajectories of human-nature interaction systems in order to identify the drivers of change. This involves, for example, assessing the impact of human activities on the dynamics and functioning of their environment, modelling the influence of these dynamics on the distribution of biodiversity (e.g. community development after glacial retreats).
Methods : environmental DNA metabarcoding, isotope geochemistry, ancient DNA.
SERVALP — Dynamics of socio-ecosystems in a changing world
This theme uses the coupling of ecological models for the quantification of ecosystem services (effects of climate and land use on biodiversity services, effects of biodiversity on ecosystem functioning). We identify the mechanisms that drive trade-offs and synergies between ecosystem services, develop integrated scenarios of land use, biodiversity and ecosystem services that combine participative construction and service modelling.
Methods : geostatistics, land use and multi-agents models, ecological network analyses, social valuation, participative research.
XPADE — Xenobiotic pressures : Adaptation and dysfunction of ecosystems
We study the impacts of multi-pollution on organisms and organs, the multi-generational scale impacts of pollutants under controlled conditions, the effects of pollutants under conditions of multiple environmental stresses in natural environment.
Methods : micro/meso-cosms, ecotoxicology, genomics & transcriptomics, metabarcoding, population dynamics modelling.