Biodiversity and ecological functions of soils in rural and urban contexts et fonctions écologiques des sols dans des contextes ruraux et urbains

Challenges

Our research uses microorganisms (bacteria, fungi) and soil invertebrates (annelids, nematodes, springtails, beetles) as its primary subjects of study in order to:

• Characterize the taxonomic and functional diversity of soil communities in human-modified ecosystems
• Understand the fundamental link between the biological activity of organisms and their ecological functions
• Rehabilitate degraded soils through ecological engineering

To address these challenges, we rely on field approaches aimed at characterizing soil communities according to gradients of human impact. These approaches are coupled with the use of databases on the functional traits of soil meso- and macrofauna (BETSI). We also employ laboratory approaches by rearing model soil species (earthworms, enchytraeids, springtails, carabid beetles) to characterize the organisms' response to human-induced stresses.

Objectives

Our objectives are i) to study the impact of anthropogenic stressors on the coupling between micro and macroscopic trophic networks of soils in anthropized soils, ii) to predict the relationships between biodiversity and soil functioning by improving the consistency between experimental approaches, modeling and field reality and iii) to synthesize all this knowledge in reference frameworks allowing us to assess the degree of disturbance of the environments.

Examples of projects

• RMQS2 et RMQS Biodiversity Christian Mougin
• E-DIP Juliette Faburé
• Chaire Lab Environnement Vinci. Laure Vieublé-Gonod, Sophie Boulanger-Joimel

Staff involved

Researchers

Colette Bertrand; Sophie Boulanger-Joimel; Thérèse De Caldas; Juliette Faburé; Christian Mougin; Raphaël Royauté; Laure Vieublé-Gonod

Engineers & Technicians

Erell Naslain; Jean-Pierre Pétraud; Françoise Poiroux; Antoine Bamière ; Véronique Etiévant ; Antoine Tardif