Our group associate theoretical and experimental approaches to understand the dynamics of species diversity over short (ecological) and long (evolutionary) time scales.

Our approaches are multidisciplinary, mixing community and ecosystem ecology, biogeography, evolution, microbiology, conservation biology and modeling of complex systems.

We use different techniques and biological material :

(1) mathematical modeling,

(2) experimental evolution (with two systems : Pseudomonas fluorescens SBW25 and its lytic phage SBW25Φ2 and the protozoan Paramecium caudatum and its bacterial parasite Holospora undulata),

(3) data analyses on large-scale species distribution datasets (Birds, Fishes, Rodents and their parasites).
05.16.12

Our group currently seeks a post-doctoral scientist for a two-year position (applications by June 30th)

We are seeking a scientist with interest in ecosystem modeling to work on dryland vegetation models with the objective to develop and test indicators of desertification. For more information, please check the [...]

04.22.12

Diatom patch-size distributions and degradation in intertidal mudflats

Sonia Kéfi and colleagues published an article in Ecology:

Weerman, E.J., J. Van Belzen, M. Rietkerk, S. Temmerman, S. Kéfi, P.M.J. Herman, J. Van de Koppel. 2012. Changes in diatom patch-size distribution and degradation in spatially self-organized intertidal mudflat ecosystem. Ecology. 93:608–618.

This study investigates how the spatial organization of diatoms changes as an intertidal mudflat ecosystem approaches [...]

04.20.12

Réveil du dodo IV at Dijon (2-4th may)

Vincent Devictor and Julie Deter will be at the conservation science congress « le réveil du dodo IV » (Dijon, 2-4 may 2012, http://dodo.u-bourgogne.fr/)

Two talks:

- « Vers une approche multifacette de la conservation de la biodiversité  » by Devictor. Session 4 – La biologie de la conservation face aux changements globaux – jeudi 3 mai

- « Cartographie comparative des herbiers [...]

04.20.12

A rapid photographic method detects depth gradient in coralligenous assemblages

Julie Deter and colleagues have published a paper presenting a rapid photographic method for coralligenous assemblages sampling.

« A rapid photographic method detects depth gradient in coralligenous assemblages » by Julie Deter,  Pierre Descamp, Pierre Boissery, Laurent Ballesta, Florian Holon. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and  Ecology 418–419 (2012) 75-82.

Paper sent [...]

04.13.12

CAI, an index based on coralligenous assemblages for the ecological status assessment of Mediterranean French coastal waters

Julie Deter and colleagues have published a paper developping an index based on coralligenous assemblages for the
ecological status assessment of Mediterranean French coastal waters:

« A preliminary study toward an index based on coralligenous assemblages for the ecological status assessment of Mediterranean French coastal waters » by Julie Deter,  Pierre Descamp, Laurent Ballesta, Pierre Boissery, Florian Holon. Ecological Indicators [...]

04.04.12

Relating habitat and climatic niches in birds

Vincent Devictor and colleagues have published a paper investigating the relationships between habitat and climatic niches in birds:

Barnagaud, J-Y. Devictor, V. Jiguet, F. Barbet-Massin, M. Le Viol, I. & Archaux, F. (2012) Relating habitat and climatic niches in birds. PLoS ONE.7(3): [...]

04.04.12

Biotic homogenization in farmland dominated landscapes

Vincent Devictor and Colleagues have published a paper on the response of bird communities to changes in farmland practices at large spatial scale:

Doxa, A. Paracchini, M.L. Pointereau, P. Devictor, V. & Jiguet, F. (2012) Preventing biotic homogenization of farmland bird communities: the role of High Nature Value farmland. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment. 148, [...]

03.29.12

Experimental diversification in a fluctuating environment

Nicolas Mouquet, Oliver Kaltz and collegues have published a paper in Journal of Evolutionary Biology on the pattern of diversification of the bacteria Pseudomonas fluorescens SBW25 in a fluctuating environment.

Venail P.A., Kaltz O., Olivieri I., Pommier T. and Mouquet N. (2011) Diversification in temporally fluctuating environments: effect of the environmental grain in experimental [...]

03.14.12

More than a meal….

Sonia Kéfi and colleagues published an article in Ecology Letters:

Kefi, S., E. Berlow, E. Wieters, S. Navarrete, O. Petchey, S. Wood, A. Boit, L. Joppa, K. Lafferty, R. Williams, N. Martinez, B. Menge, C. Blanchette, A. Iles, U. Brose. 2012. More than a meal… Integrating non-feeding interactions into food webs. Ecology Letters. 15(4): 291-300.

In ecosystems, the [...]

01.23.12

Climate change impact on biodiversity

Vincent Devictor and colleagues have published a paper in Nature Climate Change on the climatic debts of birds and butterflies.

The paper shows a profound reorganization of birds and butterflies communities in face of climate changes. This paper also proposes a simple indicator of climate change impact [...]