RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

• The use of pesticide products for crop protection is an important cause of the decline in biodiversity and ecosystem services efficiency. Earthworms play a major role in soil functioning through their bioturbation activities and organic carbon mineralization, and are sensitive to pesticide products. However, most current studies assume that pesticide tolerance is identical between individuals. Thus, the link between individual sensitivity to pesticides, trait expression, and impacts on soil functioning remains still poorly understood.

As part of the ANR project EEWORM (Eco-Evolutionary dynamics in earthWORMs exposed to pesticide mixtures), we seek to predict the impact of pesticides on the evolutionary trajectories of earthworms and to understand the resulting changes in soil functioning. Your objective will be to assess the link between intra-specific variation in life history traits of earthworms on carbon mineralization functions and soil macroporosity. In a second phase, you will conduct controlled exposures to environmental doses of pesticides in order to estimate the intensity and direction of selection on life history traits of earthworms. You will collaborate with soil biology experts who are partners in the project (EcoSys, IEES) and will also be able to participate in modeling work on eco-evolutionary dynamics that will result from the experimental phases of the project.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT

You will be co-supervised by Raphaël Royauté and Juliette Faburé at UMR EcoSys and hosted at the Campus Agro- Paris Saclay in Palaiseau. You will be affiliated to the Soil & Tox team which specializes in the pedological processes involved in soil health. You will work closely with the soil fauna technical for field-collection and organism maintenance in the laboratory. You will supervise research interns that will assist your experimental work. You will have the opportunity to conduct missions with the project partners at IEES Paris.

TRAINING AND REQUIRED SKILLS

• Recommended training: PhD in Ecotoxicology, Soil Ecology, or Behahioral Ecology,
• Knowledge required: laboratrory experimentations with soil organisms or measures of soil functions
• Appreciated experience: Strong interests for evolutionary ecology