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Source: FRB

[CALL FOR TENDER] the appointment of a service provider to carry out a literature review on the impacts of European seafood production-consumption chains on biodiversity and society

Under the objective “Connecting R&I programs, results and experts to policy” of the Biodiversa+ Partnership, the subtask 4.1.2 “Desk studies and production of knowledge syntheses” led by the French Foundation for Research on Biodiversity (FRB) is subcontracting a service provider to develop a evidence synthesis in order to review the state of knowledge on the impacts of European seafood production-consumption chains on biodiversity and society. The FRB will appoint the third party service provider – after the evaluation process – on February 7th, 2025. 

 

 

TO APPLY 

 

The deadline to apply to this call for tender is set at midnight 27th of January 2025.

 

All applications should be submitted in English and sent by email to :

 

More information : 

>> Desk study specifications  

>> Proposal form.  

[FRB-CESAB] Data Toolbox for Reproducible Research in Computational Ecology – 2024

Pre-registrations for this training course are open. 

Please beware, the number of places being limited, successful applications will be confirmed at the end of July.

 
 
The CESAB – Centre for Biodiversity Synthesis and Analysis – and the RT EcoStat organize the sixth edition of the training course “Data Toolbox for Reproducible Research in Computational Ecology”. The objective of this five-day course is to train young researchers in reproducibility, software development and version management tools (Git, GitHub, R Markdown, Quarto, renv, Docker), applied to biodiversity research. 

 

This training will be given in French and will take place from December 2nd to 6th 2024 at CESAB in Montpellier. Its price is 150 € for the week – lunch included. Transportation, accommodation and evening meals are at the charge of the participants.

 

 

A good mastering of the R software is required.

 

Find the training course on GitHub

 

 

List of speakers (in alphabetical order):
  • Iago BONNICI (CNRS ISEM)
  • Nicolas CASAJUS (FRB-CESAB)
  • François GUILHAUMON (IRD Entropie)
  • Aurélie SIBERCHICOT (UCBL LBBE)

[FRB-CESAB] Biodiversity data: From data collection to publication – 2024

Pre-registrations are now open!

To pre-register, fill out the form at the bottom of the page. Registrations will be confirmed after selection of candidates at the end of June.

 

The CESAB (Centre for Biodiversity Synthesis and Analysis), the French Biodiversity Data Hub (PNDB, Pôle National de Données de Biodiversité), and GBIF France (Global Biodiversity Information Facility for France) organize the first edition of the training course “Biodiversity data: From data collection to publication”. This five-day course aims to 1) contextualize the issues surrounding the understanding, sharing and (re)use of biodiversity data and metadata, and 2) enhance the skills of communities involved in one or more stages of the data cycle.

 

This training will be given in French and will take place from November 4th to 8th 2024, at CESAB in Montpellier. The fees cost 150 € for the whole week – lunches included. Commuting, accommodation and evening meals shall be borne by participants.

 

 

Find the training course on GitHub

 

 

A good mastering of the R software is required

 

 

List of organisers:

[Aires marines protégées] Des rares opportunités cartographiées à l’échelle globale

Les facteurs socio-économiques ayant plus d’influence que les facteurs environnementaux dans la mise en place des aires protégées, identifier les zones favorables et défavorables à l’implémentation de nouvelles aires protégées en tenant compte de ces critères permettra une stratégie de conservation plus réaliste et efficace.  

 

Pour obtenir ces cartes d’opportunités et de contraintes locales en conservation, le groupe de chercheurs comprenant des scientifiques de l’Université de Montpellier, de l’EPHE-PLS, du CNRS et du CEA a divisé la surface du globe en près d’un million de cellules de 10 x 10 km. Pour chacune de ces cellules ils ont obtenu des données relatives à des facteurs environnementaux mais aussi socio-économiques, en se basant sur plus de 18 bases de données mondiales différentes. Ces données ont servi à construire un modèle prédictif qui estime la probabilité qu’une zone du globe soit protégée en fonction des différents facteurs étudiés, qu’ils soient environnementaux (température, altitude, précipitations par exemple) ou socio-économiques (PIB, indice de développement humain, présence d’ONG locales etc.).

 

 

Résultats :

 

Même sans information sur la biodiversité d’une zone, il est possible d’inférer de manière très fiable la probabilité de présence d’une aire protégée en n’utilisant qu’un petit groupe de facteurs socio-environnementaux. Les facteurs socio-économiques montrent même une plus grande importance que les facteurs environnementaux dans ces modèles prédisant la mise en place de futures aires protégées. Par exemple l’indice de développement humain et le nombre d’ONG favorisent la présence d’aires protégées terrestres alors qu’en mer l’accessibilité et la dépendance aux stocks de poissons sont les principaux obstacles de blocage à la mise en place de nouvelles aires marines protégées.   

 

 

Ce modèle a ensuite été utilisé pour cartographier les zones où les besoins en conservation des vertébrés (poissons, mammifères et oiseaux) sont les plus urgents mais aussi celles où les facteurs socio-économiques limiteraient ou favoriseraient la mise en place d’une aire protégée. 

 

 

Retrouvez l'article

 

 

Pour aller + loin

 

Quid du devenir des zones de conservation prioritaires mais qui cumulent également les critères socio-économiques défavorable au statut d’aires protégées ? Bien souvent, les enjeux sociaux-économiques et les besoins des populations locales sont indissociables de la mise en place d’aires protégées. Ainsi, en Afrique et en Asie, certaines zones à haute valeur de conservation restent impossibles à protéger, face aux enjeux liés à l’utilisation des ressources naturelles. Implémenter les facteurs socio-économiques s’avère donc primordial pour optimiser la mise en place des zones de protection, dont les décisions actuelles se concentrent majoritairement sur les facteurs environnementaux qui influencent la biodiversité. Encore une preuve qu’assurer des conditions sociales et économiques minimales est un prérequis pour la mise en place de stratégies de conservation efficaces et durables.  

 

 

Aux acteurs et décideurs politiques maintenant de prendre pleinement la mesure des actions nécessaires pour parvenir à l’objectif de 30% d’aires protégées d’ici à 2030.  

 

Cette étude est le fruit d’un travail collaboratif animé par la FRB et son Cesab (Centre de synthèse et d’analyse sur la biodiversité) au sein des groupes Pelagic et Parsec. Ce travail a été permis grâce aux financements de la ZSL, du WWF, de l’Université de Montpellier et aux Cesabbatic de Jessica Meeuwig et Tom Letessier.   

[FRB-CESAB] Biodiversity knowledge synthesis: an introduction to meta-analyses and systematic reviews – 2024

Pre-registrations are now open (in French)!

To pre-register, fill in the form at the end of the page. Beware, the number of places being limited, successful applications will be confirmed in June.

 

The CESAB – Centre for Biodiversity Synthesis and Analysis – of the FRB is offering the second edition of the following training course: “Biodiversity knowledge synthesis: an introduction to meta-analyses and systematic reviews“. This five-day course aims to train researchers on the methods and techniques of meta-analyses and systematic reviews/maps applied to the field of biodiversity.

 

In addition, it will be an opportunity to become familiar with the various  different tools available, both bibliographic (e.g., WOS; Zotero/Mendeley/Endnote) and statistical (R packages: metaDigisitise, metafor…), necessary for undertaking a review and meta-analysis.

 

The training course will be given in French and will take place from 30th September to October 4th 2023 at CESAB, in Montpellier. The price will be 150 € for the week, including lunch. Travel, accommodation and evening meals are at the expense of the participants. 

 

 

 

Find more about the course on GitHub

 

 

 

A good command of R software is required, but it is not necessary to have previous experience in meta-analyses or systematic reviews.

In addition, a good level of French and English is required

 

 

List of organisers (in alphabetical order):

This list includes the people who contributed to the organisation of the training course (O) and the speakers in 2024 (S).

 

[FRB-CESAB] Newsletter 11 CESAB – September 2024

A few words from Denis Couvet, President of the FRB, and Nicolas Mouquet, Scientific Director of CESAB

 

The CESAB – Centre for the Synthesis and Analysis of Biodiversity – is an original, innovative program of the FRB, internationally recognized thanks to the work of an entire team and the support of the founding members of the FRB and the Ministry in charge of research. It provides researchers with a space and time to contribute to addressing the challenges related to biodiversity loss and to implement transformative change. The complexity of these challenges has led the FRB and its board of directors to focus on intermediation, which means connecting knowledge, researchers, and research with stakeholders and society. Innovation is also needed in this area so that knowledge circulates and is embraced by both public and private decision-makers. We can envision the FRB being a driving force in accelerating this flow of knowledge, particularly through the projects funded or hosted by the CESAB, which produce groundbreaking and highly relevant knowledge. This is because the young researchers recruited come from diverse backgrounds and countries, because the project leaders at CESAB are top-level researchers, because the FRB encourages translating these findings into societal issues, and because of its unique position in the research world. Its links with stakeholders make the FRB and its CESAB a laboratory where innovation in science-based messaging is fostered. Next December, two major reports will be published by the IPBES: the first on transformative change, and the second on the Biodiversity Nexus, which includes biodiversity, food, climate, water, and health. It will be interesting to explore how the projects and research results published within the CESAB framework contribute to the intermediation of the key messages from these reports.

Denis Couvet, President of the FRB and Professor at the MNHN

 

 

We are at a key stage in the trajectory of the CESAB, which is now asserting itself as a major player in biodiversity research. We have reached true maturity, with the stabilization of numerous research groups (over 30 active groups in 2024; 500 researchers involved) producing scientific syntheses of remarkable scope. This positive dynamic also extends to our postdoctoral researchers, several of whom have secured research positions, such as Aurore Receveur from the MAESTRO group, now a research scientist at IRD, Kevin Hoeffner from the LANDWORM group, now a research scientist at INRAE, and Aaron Sexton from the NAVIDIV group, now an assistant professor at Cornell University. Congratulations to them!

At the same time, we launched the CESABinars, a new format of virtual exchanges that has been very successful. These webinars provide a platform where our researchers can share their progress and engage with the international scientific community, further strengthening our network and impact. We are also organizing an international conference in Montpellier in December with the FISHGLOB group, “Fish Biodiversity Facing Global Change.” Finally, we will be welcoming a new data scientist dedicated to the groups formed through the Synthesis call “Human Pressures and Impacts on Terrestrial Biodiversity,” in partnership with MTECT and OFB, where more than 10 groups are creating a true ecosystem within the CESAB. The coming months promise to be just as exciting, with the selection of new groups as part of our 2024 General Call for Synthesis Projects. But it will be in 2025 that we reach a new milestone with the launch of “IdeaShare,” an innovative project call format designed to stimulate creativity and explore new research avenues.

This positive momentum is made possible thanks to the FRB team dedicated to the CESAB, the true driving force of our center. Their expertise, dedication, and passion are at the heart of our success. Thank you to them! We invite you to follow these exciting developments and continue to actively participate in the life of the CESAB.

Nicolas Mouquet, Scientific Director of the CESAB and Research Director at CNRS

 

 

More informations about the CESAB

 

 

[CALL FOR TENDER] Appointment of a service provider to carry out a report on the best solutions for data interoperability and data storage in Europe.

Under the objective “Harmonise databases and data interoperability” of Biodiversa+, the European Biodiversity Partnership is subcontracting a service provider to undertake a report on the best solutions for data interoperability and data storage in Europe.

 

TO APPLY

 

The deadline to apply to this call for tender is set at on the 25th of September 2024 – 10:00 am (CEST).

 

For any questions on the application process, please reach out to :

 

More information :

>> Call for tender

>> Application form

[FRB-CESAB] Analyzing ecological network data – 2024

The CESAB – Centre for Biodiversity Synthesis and Analysis – and the ANR EcoNet are organizing the first edition of the workshop “Analyzing ecological network data”. The objective of this five-day course is to train young researchers in analyzing ecological network data. The course covers a general introduction to networks, classical metrics (including modularity, nesteness, clustering), null models, generative models (including SBM), multilayer networks, as well as an overview of newer techniques (such as embedding). Each topic is explored through lectures followed by practicals.

 

The training course, in English, will take place from the 22nd to the 26th of April 2024 at the CESAB in Montpellier. The price is 150 € for the week, including lunches. Travel, accommodation and evening meals are at the expense of the participants.

 

Thanks for your interest, pre-registrations are now closed.

Please note, the number of participants being limited, acceptance of applications will be confirmed in February. 

 

List of organizers (by alphabetical order):

[FRB-CESAB] Theory-driven Analysis of Ecological Data – 2024

 

The CESAB – Centre for Biodiversity Synthesis and Analysis – and the GdR TheoMoDive organize the third edition of the training course “Theory-driven Analysis of Ecological Data”. The objective of this five-day course is to train young researchers in building and analyzing mathematical models that will help them better understand ecological data. By contrast with purely statistical models, this course emphasizes a process-driven approach based on ecological theory. The course covers a general introduction to ecological modeling and thematic sessions focused on three topics of interest (time series, spatial data, interaction networks). Each topic is explored through mathematical models as well as inferential and predictive approaches, with a mix of courses and practical.

 

The training course, in English, will take place from the 11th to the 15th of March 2024 in the CESAB premises in Montpellier. The price is 150 € for the week, including lunch. Travel, accommodation and evening meals are at the expense of the participants.

 

 

Find the training course on GitHub

 

 

Pre-registrations are now closed. If you have already pre-registered, please note that the number of places is limited.

Your registration will be confirmed in January after assessment of your application.

A good knowledge of the R software is required.

 

List of organizers (by alphabetical order):

  • Vincent CALCAGNO (INRAE, ISA) 
  • Emanuel FRONHOFER (CNRS, ISEM) 
  • Isabelle GOUNAND (CNRS, iEES-Paris) 
  • Claire JACQUET (CNRS, ISEM) 
  • Sonia KEFI (CNRS, ISEM)
  • François MASSOL (CNRS, CIIL) 

[FRB-Cesab] Newsletter 10 CESAB – January 2024

Editorial

CESAB_inviter les chercheurs

 

Faced with the booming of environmental challenges, the need to carry out rigorous and independent synthesis on biodiversity data has never been so high. With CESAB, the Foundation for Biodiversity Research is proud to offer a place where this synthesis is made possible, with the support of its founding members. We can now provide the scientific community with regular calls for proposals, combining “classical” SYNTHESIS calls and DATASHARE calls. The latter opened in 2023 and has proved very popular among the scientific community, once again showing its maturity regarding the importance of bringing together open access biodiversity databases to the biggest number.

 

We’d also like to celebrate the success of Sandra Lavorel, former member of FRB’s scientific council and member of CESAB DIVGRASS group, who recently won the prestigious CNRS gold medal, and Lucie Mahaut, post-doc for the FREE2 group, and winner of the young researcher award for the French society of ecology and evolution. These prizes are showcasing the cutting edge biodiversity research carried out in France, the maturity level of its scientific community and its recognition by the most regarded scientific bodies, an excellence to which FRB and its CESAB, are contributing.

 

Finally, FRB’s and CESAB’s heads would like to address their warmest wishes to the whole of CESAB’s team, which constitutes the buzzing heart of our center. Their expertise, engagement and passion, contribute to making CESAB a dynamic and innovative place for biodiversity research: they are the pillars of our successes and advances. To all, huge thanks for your constant work and engagement in our mission. Finally, we’d like to warmly welcome Maija Mikkola, who recently joined our administrative team, welcome Maija!

 

Together, the FRB and its CESAB, thanks to the continuous support and its founding members and partners, will continue its mission and provide the scientific community with the direct and indirect means to advance biodiversity synthesis, which is key to the wider community of stakeholders. The key role of data synthesis and biodiversity knowledge makes CESAB more relevant than ever.

 

 

Plus d'informations sur le Cesab

 

[Appel à candidatures] En vue de compléter le conseil scientifique de la FRB

Le Conseil scientifique :

 

  • Fournit un avis sur les grandes orientations et le programme d’action annuel de la FRB.
  • Assure une fonction de veille scientifique et constitue une force de proposition en ce qui concerne les thématiques, les enjeux de connaissances et les fronts de sciences dans le champ de la recherche sur la biodiversité.

 

Selon leurs expertises et disponibilités, ses membres :

 

  • Contribuent aux appels à projets et /ou aux projets pilotés par la FRB (par ex. rédaction, évaluation, comité de pilotage…).
  • Contribuent aux demandes d’informations des ministères (par ex. « biodiversité et démographie », « biodiversité et changement climatique »…) et aux saisines de la FRB (par ex. « prospective pour la recherche française sur la biodiversité », « intégrité écologique », « affichage environnemental »…).

 

Il est appuyé par l’équipe de la FRB dans ces activités.
Ils agissent comme “tête de réseau” au sein de leurs communautés respectives. Ils assurent un lien avec d’autres instances scientifiques.

 

Le Conseil scientifique dialogue avec le Comité d’orientation stratégique (Cos) de la FRB ainsi qu’avec l’Assemblée des parties prenantes (APP) et le Conseil d’administration. Le programme de travail du CS est complété par les sujets d’auto-saisine.

 

POUR CANDIDATER

Les candidatures sont à transmettre avant le 9 mars 2024, minuit CET.

 

1/ Renseigner le formulaire de candidature accessible ici (clic) ou sur le site web FRB – ww.fondationbiodiversite.fr

 

2/ Envoyer un CV et une lettre de motivation aux adresses suivantes :
aurelie.delavaud@fondationbiodiversite.fr, cc cecile.thiaucourt@fondationbiodiversite.fr

 

COMPOSITION

 

Le Conseil scientifique est pluridisciplinaire. Il est composé de 20 membres français ou étrangers (francophones). Ses membres sont nommés intuitu personæ, reconnus pour leurs savoirs et compétences dans les domaines d’action de la FRB.

 

Compétences, expertises et disciplines complémentaires recherchées :

 

Compte-tenu du caractère systémique de la biodiversité et de la diversité des sciences, sont souhaitées des personnes ayant des compétences et expertises dans des domaines variés : fonctionnement des écosystèmes et dynamiques de la biodiversité, socio-écosystèmes et gestion durable de la biodiversité…
A titre d’exemple, peuvent être citées les disciplines telles : santé, sciences politiques, climatologie, sociologie, hydrologie, philosophie, géographie, géologie, droit, économie, écologie. Les croisements disciplinaires sont privilégiés.

 

Parmi les profils recherchés, la valence « santé » et la valence « sciences politiques » sont particulièrement souhaitées. Mais les candidatures portant d’autres thèmes seront analysées avec grand intérêt, sachant que 4 personnes doivent être recrutées.

 

FONCTIONNEMENT

 

Les membres sont nommés par le Conseil d’administration sur proposition du Président de la Fondation. Le mandat est établi pour une durée de 4 ans. La mandature actuelle court de décembre 2021 à décembre 2025. Les membres peuvent être renouvelés une fois.

 

La présidence et la vice-présidence sont élues par les membres du CS en son sein. Ophélie RONCE préside le conseil et Philippe BILLET co-préside le conseil de la mandature actuelle.

 

Le conseil scientifique se réunit en session plénière 4 fois par an. Il est attendu des membres qu’ils assistent régulièrement aux plénières et qu’ils soient disponibles pour réaliser les rôles et activités du conseil, incluant des consultations, voire réunions spécifiques, intersessions.

 

Indemnités et frais de déplacements

 

Les fonctions de membre du conseil scientifique sont exercées à titre gratuit. Ces fonctions ouvrent droit à la prise en charge des déplacements (transport, hébergement, frais de bouche) selon les règles applicables au sein de la FRB.

[CALL FOR TENDERS] the appointment of a service provider to carry out a literature review on how the effectiveness of terrestrial protected areas is measured.

Under the objective “Connecting R&I programs, results and experts to policy” of the Biodiversa+ Partnership, the subtask 4.1.2 “Desk studies and production of knowledge syntheses” led by the French Foundation for Research on Biodiversity (FRB) is subcontracting a service provider to develop a evidence synthesis on the subject of biodiversity monitoring in the support of the evaluation of protected area effectiveness. The FRB will appoint the third-party service provider – after the evaluation/selection process – on February 6th, 2023.

 

The deadline to apply to this call for tender is set at midnight 27th of January 2023.

 

All applications should be submitted in English and must follow the application form, and be sent by email to Joseph LANGRIDGE (joseph.langridge@fondationbiodiversite.fr) before this deadline with Cécile MANDON (cecile.mandon@fondationbiodiversite.fr) in copy.

La date de clôture des candidatures pour ce marché est fixée au 27 janvier 2024 à minuit.

 

More information: 

[FRB-CESAB] Data Toolbox for Reproducible Research in Computational Ecology – 2023

Pre-registrations for this training course are now closed. 

Please beware, the number of places being limited, successful applications will be confirmed in September 2023.

 
 
The CESAB – Centre for Biodiversity Synthesis and Analysis – and the RT EcoStat organize the fourth edition of the training course “Data Toolbox for Reproducible Research in Computational Ecology”. The objective of this five-day course is to train young researchers in reproducibility, software development and version management tools (Git, GitHub, R Markdown, Quarto, renv, Docker), applied to biodiversity research. 

 

This training will be given in French and will take place from November 20 to 24th, 2023 at CESAB in Montpellier. Its price is 150 € for the week – lunch included. Transportation, accommodation and evening meals are at the charge of the participants.

 

 

 

 

Find the training course on GitHub

 

 

List of speakers (in alphabetical order):
  • Iago BONNICI (CNRS ISEM)
  • Nicolas CASAJUS (FRB-CESAB)
  • François GUILHAUMON (IRD Entropie)
  • Aurélie SIBERCHICOT (UCBL LBBE)

[FRB-CESAB] Biodiversity knowledge synthesis: an introduction to meta-analyses and systematic reviews – 2023

Pre-registrations for this training course are now closed.

 

The CESAB – Centre for Biodiversity Synthesis and Analysis – of the FRB is offering the second edition of the following training course: “Biodiversity knowledge synthesis: an introduction to meta-analyses and systematic reviews“. This five-day course aims to train young researchers on the methods and techniques of meta-analyses and systematic reviews/maps applied to the field of biodiversity.

 

In addition, it will be an opportunity to become familiar with the various  different tools available, both bibliographic (e.g., WOS; Zotero/Mendeley/Endnote) and statistical (R packages: metaDigisitise, metafor…), necessary for undertaking a review and meta-analysis.

 

The training course will be given in French and will take place from 2 to 6 October 2023 at CESAB, in Montpellier. The price will be 150 € for the week, including lunch. Travel, accommodation and evening meals are at the expense of the participants. 

 

 

Find the training course on GitHub

 

 

Proficiency in R software is required but no experience in meta-analysis or systematic review is necessary.

 

List of organizers (by alphabetical order):

Autres intervenants (Guest speaker) : Frédéric GOSSELIN (INRAE)

[FRB-CESAB] Newsletter 9 CESAB – July 2023

A word from Claire SALOMON, CESAB’s deputy director

FRB - Claire Salomon

Since its creation in 2010 within the Foundation for Biodiversity Research (I was there!), CESAB has passed several milestones. Firstly seen as a non-identified, yet relevant, object by some in the biodiversity research community, CESAB appeared very abstract to others. The first few groups who stayed at CESAB sometimes doubted themselves of the added-value of gathering in “one place, one time for biodiversity research”. Yet, results were quick to emerge and far beyond our hopes! New networks were created, young researchers acquired an international experience, not to mention all the publications at the cutting edge of research. The biodiversity crisis and IPBES have also, unfortunately, shed light on the relevance of synthesis centers, increasing the appeal of the industry and stakeholders. The number of co-funding opportunities, requests and projects grew from year to year, bringing closer together stakeholders and the scientific community and vice versa.

 

From the 4 initial CESAB groups, we have now reached 30 today, corresponding to a community of 450 researchers of all nationalities spending two weeks a year at CESAB offices. To ensure the best possible working conditions during the entire length of the projects, CESAB is necessarily run by teams from the FRB in Montpellier and Paris, with a new administrative support this year to maintain the same quality of work. CESAB is also a cohort of post-docs, and will welcome four new members at the start of the academic year within the groups ACOUCENE, BIOFOREST, FOOD-WEBS and IMAPCTS. And to keep all this work consistent, CESAB’s scientific committee keeps an oversight and anticipation of the scientific work conducted, the administrative council of the Foundation and its funding members drive the development of the center and give us the means to act via a wide variety of calls for proposals: from the DATASHARE to OPEN calls, not to mention targeted calls.

 

 

More information about CESAB

 

[BISON project] The results will be presented on 6 June at an international seminar

Transport infrastructure is one of the drivers of global economic development. It is also one of the main causes of climate change and biodiversity decline. In order to meet the targets of the Paris Agreement, heavy investments are being made to make infrastructure more resilient and sustainable. However, the impact on biodiversity is much less well known and understood by the sector. In light of growing global concern about biodiversity loss, new regulations and approaches with higher biodiversity standards are expected in the wake of the COP15 negotiations.

In order to address concerns about the integration of biodiversity into transport infrastructure development, there has so far been no general consensus on how to create a biodiversity-friendly transport sector based on research.

 

After two and a half years of work, under the joint auspices of the European Commission, the Council of Europe and the United Nations Environment Programme-led Sustainable Infrastructure Partnership (SIP), the members of the BISON consortium are organising an international seminar that will bring together a range of actors and stakeholders at national, regional and international levels to engage in a dialogue on the topic of infrastructure and biodiversity.

The main results of the BISON project will be presented on 6 June. A whole day will be dedicated to the links between the results of the BISON project and the wider sustainable infrastructure community.
In collaboration with SIP and international partners, the joint seminar on 7 June will explore ways to integrate research findings into policy making and investment decisions, and to catalyse next steps.

 

The event will be held in a hybrid format to facilitate dissemination, but speakers will be present. For more information, please visit the BISON website.

[Call for proposals FRB-MTE-OFB 2022] Nine projects selected within the call “Impacts on terrestrial biodiversity in the Anthropocene”

As part of the implementation of the national “terrestrial biodiversity monitoring” programme carried out by the French Biodiversity Office (OFB), which aims to measure, identify and monitor the influence of human activities on biodiversity and the best practices to be promoted, the Ministry of Ecological Transition (MTE) and the French Foundation for Research on Biodiversity (FRB) launched a call for research projects on the “Impacts on terrestrial biodiversity in the Anthropocene“. 

 

Three types of projects are funded by this 2022-call:

 

SYNTHESIS PROJECTS

 

  • Discar – Population consequences of human DISturbance on small CARnivores ; Olivier Gimenez (CNRS) and Sandrine Ruete (OFB),
  • Dragon – Dragonflies as bellwether for the human impact on interface ecosystems ; Colin Fontaine (CNRS) and Reto Schmuki (UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology),
  • Motiver – Developing agri-environmental Indicators to MOnitor The Impact of human-driven landscape changes on biodiVERsity in European farmland ; Gaël Caro (Univ de Lorraine) and Ronan Marrec (Univ de Picardie)

 

These 3-years projects will develop syntheses of ideas and/or concepts, analyses of existing data, and will focus on factors affecting the state, evolution and dynamics of biodiversity.

 

SYNERGY PROJECTS

 

  • Comepi – COmprendre les patrons de biodiversité et leurs impacts fonctionnels, MEsurer des indicateurs pour PIloter les habitats par la gestion anthropique ; Anne BONNIS (CNRS)
  • Indicators – Plant reproductive strategies as new diversity indicators – proof of concept in agricultural landscapes ; Sylvain GLEMIN (CNRS)
  • Pppirec – Pollinisateurs, Pesticides, et Paysages : Indicateurs de Réponses, des Espèces aux Communautés ; Nicolas DEGUINES (CNRS, Université de Poitiers)
  • Rodexpo – Anticoagulant rodenticides in rodent communities sampled along a gradient of forest anthropisation : exposure and resistance ; Virginie LATTARD (Vet-Agrosup)

 

These 1-year projects will provide complementary answers to a question that emerges from research projects that has been finalized or is underway and will help stakeholders with indicators and practices to be promoted or abandoned to preserve biodiversity.

 

SYSTEMATIC REVIEWS PROJECTS

 

  • Desybel – A SYstematic review on the impact of anthropogenic noise on terrestrial biodiversity ; Yorick REYJOL (MNHN)
  • Tres-Pratic – Trait-based responses of soil fauna to agricultural practices & agricultural management strategies: a systematic review and meta-analysis ; Mickael HEDDE (Inrae)

 

[Call for proposals] Two calls on biodiversity opening «DataShare» and «Anthropogenic pressures and impacts on terrestrial biodiversity»

Two calls for proposals will fund 1 to 3-years research projects on biodiversity.

 

Call for proposals DataShare 2023

 

The aim of this DATASHARE joint call is to accelerate the sharing of open-access and large scale ‘novel’ biodiversity related datasets. This call complements classical biodiversity synthesis calls, which aim at fostering the analysis of existing data and the synthesis of ideas and concepts, with a specific focus on data compilation and sharing. It can be considered as a preliminary step, but not mandatory, before submitting a research proposal to a classical biodiversity synthesis call (e.g. CESAB, sDiv, NCEAS). 

 

For its second 2023 edition, the DATASHARE joint call will fund four 2-year projects.

 

More information

 

 

Call for proposals Anthropogenic pressures and impacts on terrestrial biodiversity 2023

 

As part of the implementation of the national “terrestrial biodiversity monitoring” programme carried out by the French Biodiversity Office (OFB), which aims to measure, identify and monitor the influence of human activities on biodiversity and the best practices to be promoted, the Ministry of Ecological Transition (MTE) and the French Foundation for Research on Biodiversity (FRB) are launching a call for research projects on the “Anthropogenic pressures and impacts on terrestrial biodiversity“. The call aims to characterize the positive, negative or non-existent impacts of human activities and induced pressures on the state and dynamics of terrestrial biodiversity.

 

The results of the research funded by the programme should help to strengthen the actions of society as a whole, to halt the decline of biodiversity and promote sustainable human development. 

 

This call for proposals will allow the funding of:

  • 3 data SYNTHESIS projects of three years – these projects should develop syntheses of ideas and/or concepts, analyses of existing data, and should focus on factors affecting the state, evolution and dynamics of biodiversity.
  • 4 to 6 one-year SYNERGY projects – these projects should provide complementary answers to a question that emerges from a research project that has been finalized or is underway, and should help stakeholders with indicators and practices to be promoted or abandoned to preserve biodiversity.
  • 1 to 2 SYSTEMATIC REVIEW projects of two years – these projects must present an inventory of human practices that have an impact on biodiversity and a summary of the state of knowledge on the impacts considered.

 

More information

[FRB-CESAB] Theory-driven Analysis of Ecological Data – 2023

 

The CESAB – Centre for Biodiversity Synthesis and Analysis – and the GdR TheoMoDive organize the second edition of the training course “Theory-driven Analysis of Ecological Data”. The objective of this five-day course is to train young researchers in mathematical modelling (differential equations, Lotka Volterra, Jacobian matrices), and in the statistical links between models and biodiversity data.

 

The training course, in English, will take place from the 3rd to the 7th of April 2023 in the CESAB premises in Montpellier. The price is 100 € for the week, including lunch. Travel, accommodation and evening meals are at the expense of the participants. 

 

 

Find the training course on GitHub

 

 

A good knowledge of the R software is required.

 

List of organizers (by alphabetical order):
  • Vincent CALCAGNO (INRAE, ISA) 
  • Emanuel FRONHOFER (CNRS, ISEM) 
  • Isabelle GOUNAND (CNRS, iEES-Paris) 
  • Claire JACQUET (CNRS, ISEM) 
  • Sonia KEFI (CNRS, ISEM)
  • François MASSOL (CNRS, CIIL) 

 

[Press release] Blue Justice: a new movement in favor of coastal communities, often excluded from decisions in conservation

Posted on by Cécile Thiaucourt

Coastal communities are on the frontline of three important and accelerating global change processes: climate change, “blue economy” development, and the rapid expansion of area-based conservation initiatives – a phenomena recently coined as ‘triple exposure’. While these change processes and the approaches used to address them (e.g., climate adaptation projects) can support sustainability and well-being in some cases, in others these external processes can converge to amplify vulnerabilities and inequalities. Moreover, pre-existing environmental or political social injustices may increase the vulnerability of people to change processes, and may decrease their capacity to adapt to, or benefit from, interactive impacts of ‘triple exposure’. This topic is described in an article published in One Earth on February 17th 2023, by the interdisciplinary research group Blue Justice, funded by the French Foundation for Biodiversity Research (FRB) within its Centre for the Synthesis and Analysis of Biodiversity (CESAB). This group represents a global network of researchers and practitioners to examine the linkages between ocean conservation, climate change, and equity. The authors argue that social justice and local resilience must be prioritized in order to address the negative impacts of ‘triple exposure’, and reach the objectives of effective and equitable climate adaptation, blue economy, and conservation initiatives.

 

In order to achieve this shift towards social justice and resilience, David Gill, Assistant Professor at Duke University, and his colleagues recommend that climate, economic, and conservation actors seek to:

  • Tackle the root causes of vulnerability, namely pre-existing social injustices;
  • Use participatory systems approaches to improve the understanding of the local context and potential unintentional consequences of suggested initiatives;
  • And develop inclusive partnerships between diverse actors for the capacity and coordination to facilitate effective and more equitable design and implementation.

 

In a fast changing world, these strategies, applied together and adapted to the local context, provide an opportunity to develop coastal initiatives that support wellbeing, justice, and resilience of coastal communities.

 

These measures become all the more significant during catastrophes.

To illustrate their recommendations, the authors identify several examples, including some linked to catastrophes. In 2020, while international efforts were constrained by the pandemic related border closures, an oil spill happened in Mauritius, causing severe impacts on local reefs and threatening the livelihoods of those who depend on them. A local NGO activated its network of volunteers within the community and opened their doors to available resources – necessary for the first clean-up actions.The perceived institutional vacuum for a clean up response in the immediate aftermath of the spill led to strong community engagement in the making of artisanal booms and their deployment at sea. Government institutions did not hinder and instead provided support to the volunteer groups until clean up companies were appointed formally and official clean up efforts began. This shows the importance of inclusive partnerships in tackling environmental or human-caused stressors.

 

The Blue Justice working group gathers an international panel (North America, UK, France, Australia, Fiji, Italy, Spain etc.) of specialists in marine biology, conservation biology, social science and environmental law.

 

Link to the article

Justice bleue : un nouveau mouvement en faveur des communautés côtières, exclues des prises de décision en matière de conservation

Les communautés côtières sont en première ligne de deux facteurs importants et croissants du changement global : le changement climatique, le développement économique, qui peuvent interagir avec la possible expansion de la conservation par zone, conduisant à ce que certains auteurs appellent la « triple exposition ». Si les stratégies visant à maximiser les avantages sociaux des politiques d’adaptation à ces trois facteurs diffèrent, des processus externes peuvent parfois converger pour amplifier les vulnérabilités et les inégalités. Les injustices sociales préexistantes peuvent augmenter la sensibilité des populations aux changements sociaux, environnementaux et politiques, et peuvent limiter leur capacité à s’adapter ou à bénéficier des impacts interactifs de ce qui est parfois appelé “la triple exposition”.

 

Dans un article publié dans la revue One Earth le 17 février 2023, le groupe de recherche en socio-écologie Blue Justice, financé par la Fondation pour la recherche sur la biodiversité (FRB) au sein de son Centre de synthèse et d’analyse de la biodiversité (Cesab), soutient, au-delà de la reconnaissance d’une telle “triple exposition”, que les agences de mise en œuvre externes ne peuvent pas atteindre efficacement et équitablement les objectifs d’adaptation climatique, économiques et de conservation sans donner la priorité à la justice sociale et au renforcement de la résilience en générale.

 

Pour faire avancer cette orientation vers la justice et la résilience, Joachim Claudet – chercheur CNRS, David Gill, chercheur à Duke University (États-Unis), Jessica Blythe – chercheuse à Brock University (Canada), porteurs du projet Blue Justice, recommandent que les acteurs du climat, du développement et de la conservation ambitionnent :

  • de s’attaquer aux causes profondes de la vulnérabilité, à savoir les injustices sociales préexistantes ;
  • d’utiliser des approches systémiques participatives pour améliorer la compréhension du contexte local et des conséquences potentielles (non) intentionnelles des initiatives proposées ;
  • et de développer et tirer parti de partenariats inclusifs entre divers acteurs pour faciliter la conception et la mise en œuvre collaboratives des stratégies identifiées.

 

Dans un monde en mutation rapide, ces stratégies, appliquées ensemble et adaptées au contexte local, offrent une opportunité de développer des initiatives côtières qui soutiennent le bien-être, la justice et la résilience des populations côtières.

 

Des mesures qui prennent tout leur sens lors de catastrophes naturelles

 

Pour illustrer leurs recommandations, les auteurs mettent en avant plusieurs exemples, notamment en lien avec les catastrophes naturelles. Ainsi, en 2020, alors que les efforts internationaux étaient mobilisés par la pandémie, une marée noire est survenue à l’île Maurice. C’est un groupe d’ONG locales qui s’est mis en place pour activer son réseau de bénévoles et fournir les ressources nécessaires aux premières actions de nettoyage. Le vide institutionnel initialement ressenti a contribué à la large mobilisation des communautés locales pour la fabrication et le déploiement d’un filtre “anti-marée” dans la mer. Loin d’entraver cet engagement, les institutions gouvernementales ont ensuite fourni du soutien aux groupes bénévoles jusqu’à ce que des services spécialisés de nettoyage soient formellement mobilisés et que les efforts officiels commencent. Ceci illustre donc bien l’importance des partenariats inclusifs dans la lutte face aux pressions environnementales.

 

Le projet Blue Justice réunit un panel international (Amérique du Nord, Angleterre, France, Australie, Fidji, Italie, etc.) de spécialistes en biologie marine, biologie de la conservation, socio-écologie et lois environnementales.

 

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[FRB-CESAB] Newsletter 8 CESAB – January 2023

A word from Nicolas MOUQUET, CESAB’s scientific director

Left: graph showing the number of research groups hosted by the CESAB and the yearly calls for proposals. Right: bar showing the cumulated funds secured towards CESAB projects since its arrival in Montpellier in 2019.

The year of 2022 has been particularly prosperous for the CESAB. We have:

 

  • Gained in maturity. After the move to Montpellier in 2019, we’ve explored several patterns for the synthesis groups with news partners. This has enabled us to considerably increase the number of active groups from 8 in 2019 to 28 in 2023. We are now working on consolidating this model to make it self-sustaining in the long-run.
  • Started up again with in person meetings. The COVID period has allowed us to improve our ability to guide groups in their online work, but also to see the limits of what is conceivable online. Biodiversity data synthesis is a human adventure above all, made of contacts and surprises, which mostly take place when groups gather and live together during an entire week!
  • Renewed the scientific council of the CESAB, which has very quickly been involved in the assessment of the applications for the call for proposals.
  • Finally, we’ve experimented the setup of a new call for proposals, the Datashare, which focuses on the gathering of biodiversity data and should be reconducted in 2023.

 

I am convinced that 2023 will be a pivotal year for us to reach another stepping stone in our development, with initiatives already in preparation, and, I hope, the realisation of a joint call for proposals with several synthesis centres supported by Biodiversa+.

In the past four years since the arrival of the CESAB in Montpellier, more than 6 million euros have been secured for the synthesis of data on biodiversity, thereby allowing 474 academics to work in the best possible conditions.

 

In addition to the synthesis groups, we organise three annual workshops from which 115 PhD students and post-docs have benefitted. In 2023, a new workshop will be introduced on artificial intelligence and biodiversity.

This enthusiasm is possible thanks to the unconditional support of the FRB, its founding members, our partners and the FRB staff involved in the CESAB, whose professionalism and efficiency most often go hand in hand with benevolence and cheerfulness! I thank them dearly for what they bring to the CESAB with its scientific community in particular and biodiversity in general.

 

Happy new year 2023!

 

 

Learn more about CESAB

 

[Course] Opening of pre-registration for the training course “Theory-driven Analysis of Ecological Data” – 2023

This 5-days training course, organized by the CESAB and the GdR TheoMoDive aims to train young researchers in mathematical modelling (differential equations, Lotka-Volterra, Jacobian matrices), and the statistical links between models and biodiversity data. 

 

The training course, in English, will take place from the 3rd to the 7th of April 2022 in the CESAB premises in Montpellier. Its price is 100 € for the week, including lunch. Travel, accommodation and evening meals are at the expense of the participants. 

 

You can pre-register for this course by filling in the form available on the event page until Wednesday 8th of February at midnight (CET). As the number of places is limited, registrations will be confirmed in February. 

 

 

Pre-registration and programme

[Call for tenders] The appointment of a service provider to carry out a literature review on NBS and transformative change

Under the objective “Connecting R&I programs, results and experts to policy” of the Biodiversa+ Partnership, the subtask 4.1.2 “Desk studies and production of knowledge syntheses” led by the French Foundation for Biodiversity Research (FRB) is subcontracting a service provider to develop a evidence synthesis in order to review the state of knowledge on the capacity of Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) to induce transformative change for the sustainable use and management of biodiversity. The FRB will appoint the third party service provider – after the evaluation/selection process – on February 6th, 2023.

 

The deadline to apply to this call for tender is set at midnight 27th of January 2023. All applications should be submitted in English and sent by email to Joseph LANGRIDGE (joseph.langridge@fondationbiodiversite.fr) before this deadline with Cécile MANDON (cecile.mandon@fondationbiodiversite.fr) in copy.

 

More information:

 

Desk study specifications

 

 

[Call for projects FRB-CESAB 2022 and DataShare] Five projects selected

Five innovative projects have been selected for the synthesis of ideas and concepts and the analysis of currently existing biodiversity data.

 

Three in the context of the call for proposals FRB-CESAB 2022. The selected projects will be funded for a duration of three years, including the recruitment of a post-doctoral researcher for two years, the organisation of 6 meetings at the CESAB, the promotion of results, and a logistical, technical and administrative support.

 

 

  • Bioforest

 

Interactions between tree Biodiversity, Forest dynamics and climate in managed tropical forests: a pan tropical approach.

Principal Investigators: Maria PEÑA-CLAROS (Wageningen University, NL), et Camille PIPONIOT (Cirad, France)

 

 

 

  • Food-Webs

 

Food-webs in the Anthropocene: a stable isotope synthesis to understand the global response of freshwater ecosystems.

Principal Investigators: Julien CUCHEROUSSET (CNRS, France), and Michelle JACKSON (Oxford University, UK)

 

 

 

  • Rivage

 

Revisit Island Vulnerability during the Anthropocene Geologic Era.

Principal Investigators: Céline BELLARD (Paris-Saclay University, France), et Daniel KISSLING (Amsterdam University, NL)

 

 

AAP_DATASHARE_web

 

Two in the context of the call for proposals DataShare. The selected projects will be funded for a duration of two years.

 

 

  • Islets

 

ISland Leaf Ecophysiological Trait Synthesis.

Principal investigators: Kasey BARTON (Hawaii University, United States), et Claire FORTUNEL (IRD, France)

 

 

 

  • Phenofish

 

Creating a global database of fish functional traits: integrating physiology and ecology across aquatic ecosystems.

Principal investigators: Sébastien BROSS (Toulouse University, France), et Nicolas LOISEAU (CNRS, France)

 

[FRB-CESAB] Data Toolbox for Reproducible Research in Computational Ecology – 2022

 
The CESAB – Centre for Biodiversity Synthesis and Analysis – and the GdR EcoStat organize the fourth edition of the training course “Data Toolbox for Reproducible Research in Computational Ecology”. The objective of this five-day course is to train young researchers in reproducibility, software development and version management tools (Git, R Markdown, renv, Docker), applied to biodiversity research. The RStudio IDE will be used throughout the training.

 

This training will be given in French and will take place from November 28 to December 2, 2022 at CESAB in Montpellier. Its price is 200 € for the week – lunch included. Transportation, accommodation and evening meals are at the charge of the participants.

 

The GdR EcoStat offers financial support to those whose funds available through the supervisor/laboratory would not be sufficient. These scholarships are primarily intended for PhD students and post-doctoral fellows. In order to benefit from these grants, the participant must belong to a laboratory member of the GdR. The amount of the financial support granted will depend on the number of applications. 

 

 

Find the training course on GitHub

 

 

List of speakers (in alphabetical order):
  • Iago BONNICI (CNRS ISEM)
  • Nicolas CASAJUS (FRB-CESAB)
  • François GUILHAUMON (IRD Entropie)
  • Aurélie SIBERCHICOT (UCBL LBBE)

[FRB-CESAB] Biodiversity knowledge synthesis: an introduction to meta-analyses and systematic reviews – 2022

The CESAB – Centre for Biodiversity Synthesis and Analysis – of the FRB is offering the first edition of the following training course: “Biodiversity knowledge synthesis: an introduction to meta-analyses and systematic reviews“. This five-day course aims to train young researchers on the methods and techniques of meta-analyses and systematic reviews/maps applied to the field of biodiversity.

 

In addition, it will be an opportunity to become familiar with the various  different tools available, both bibliographic (e.g., WOS; Zotero/Mendeley/Endnote) and statistical (R packages: metaDigisitise, metafor…), necessary for undertaking a review and meta-analysis.

 

The training course will be given in French and will take place from 3 to 7 October 2022 at CESAB, in Montpellier. The price will be 350 € for the week, including lunch. Travel, accommodation and evening meals are at the expense of the participants. 

 

 

Find the training course on GitHub

 

 

Proficiency in R software is required but no experience in meta-analysis or systematic review is necessary.

 

List of organizers (by alphabetical order):

 

Other speakers: Dakis-Yaoba OUEDRAOGO, Romain SORDELLO, Frédéric GOSSELIN.

[FRB-CESAB] Newsletter 7 CESAB- Septembre 2022

A word from Verena TRENKEL and François MASSOL, co-presidents of CESAB scientific committee

 

The 22 members of the new CESAB Scientific Committee (CS) have recently started their work for a four-year term. We are honored to lead this multidisciplinary (and parity!) committee as co-presidents. This is the first time that the CESAB CS is led by a co-chair and we intend to demonstrate that two co-chairs are more than the sum of two. We would like to start this mandate by thanking the CS members for their trust and the FRB for the freedom and the human and financial means made available to the CS to carry out efficiently the evaluation and monitoring of projects.

 

Our co-presidency comes at a time when the support of the FRB, the founding members and the collaboration with other funders allow CESAB to expand its role as a catalyst for science and international collaborations. 22 projects are underway at CESAB and many more are to come. The dynamics of the projects at CESAB and its partnerships with other institutions around the world, largely driven by its director Nicolas Mouquet, is a sign of good health and we are proud to be able to contribute to it in the four years to come. The international training courses offered by CESAB, notably on reproducibility, the use of theories and meta-analyses in ecology and environmental sciences, are also the mark of a stronger involvement of CESAB in the scientific ecology landscape. Finally, other CESAB activities, such as hosting researchers on sabbatical or conference days around a project, also contribute to CESAB’s influence in the context of research on biodiversity and the environment, both in France and internationally.

 

The CS is currently following the 2022 CESAB call for proposals which will allow, at the end of the evaluation procedure, three new projects to gather and compare their data and ideas. Other calls for projects are already open, including an FRB-MTE-OFB call “Impacts on Biodiversity in the Anthropocene” and an FRB-TULIP-PNDB-BiodivOc call “Datashare”. As in previous years, CESAB will fund about 15 projects that will contribute to building scientific consensus on a large number of crucial issues in view of the current climate and ecological crisis. To meet the challenges posed by the Agenda 2030 and its 17 sustainable development goals, the contributions of CESAB projects will be needed.

 

Without wishing to give away too much about the program of the future CS meetings, and beyond the management of calls for projects, we can already announce that the CS will be thinking about new ideas to contribute to the advancement of science, based on the synthesis of data, models, concepts… One of our wishes is also to create more opportunities to disseminate the results of Cesab projects to the public. Let’s hope that the next four years of the CS will allow us to work in this direction.

 

We wish you all a good start to the new school year and look forward to seeing you soon at Cesab.

Verena Trenkel and François Massol

 

 

More information about CESAB

 

[Press release] A new method to assess ecosystem vulnerability and protect biodiversity

Posted on by Marie-Claire Danner

Setting appropriate conservation strategies is a challenging goal, especially because of the complexity of threats and responses from species, and budget limitations. To overcome this challenge, the team of scientists, including researchers from CNRS, IFREMER, IRD and international organizations, has simulated the response of species communities to a wide range of disturbances, providing a robust estimation of their vulnerability, in a world where future threats are diverse and difficult to predict.

 

Quantifying the vulnerability of biodiversity is crucial to safeguard the most threatened ecosystems. Published in Nature Communications on the 1st of September 2022, this new tool stands out from previous work as it estimates the degree to which functional diversity, that is biodiversity and associated ecosystem functions, is likely to change when exposed to multiple pressures. It was developed as part of two projects funded by the French Foundation for Research on Biodiversity (FRB) within its Centre for Biodiversity Synthesis and Analysis (CESAB) and with the support of Electricité de France (EDF) and France Filière Pêche (FFP).

 

The team of 20 scientists used repeated computer simulations of disturbances on species communities to calculate the ecosystem’s vulnerability. From climate change and land use changes to pollution or resource overexploitation, these disturbances simulate the impacts of a large range of potential threats on species communities. “By simulating all possible scenarios, even the worst ones, explains Arnaud Auber, researcher at IFREMER and first author of the publication, we are able to identify the most vulnerable ecosystems from a functional view-point. Moreover, we can now estimate their vulnerability by taking into account unknown, unpredictable or poorly documented pressures, which is a major advance over previous work.” This safer approach offers decision-makers the possibility to classify various sites according to their associated functional vulnerability, which is now urgently needed to move forward adaptive management of biodiversity.

 

In this study, the functional diversity of communities was made central to the calculation of vulnerability. Overall, biodiversity conservation has mainly focused on taxonomic diversity (e.g., the number of species in an ecosystem). However, recent studies including work from the FREE project, have shown that examining functional diversity can provide a more precise assessment of whether or not an ecosystem is functioning properly. Indeed, a species may have the same function as another (e.g. the same preys or reproductive cycle) and so if one species disappears, another may still fulfil its role in the ecosystem. But if all species sharing the same essential function disappear, the ecosystem will become less functionally diverse, less resilient to threats and thus more vulnerable. In other words, taxonomic diversity in an ecosystem is important but not sufficient to properly assess ecosystem vulnerability. Parrotfishes for example, are one of the only fish species that can directly feed on corals. If they disappear, an essential component of the carbon cycle in coral reefs will be lost. Functional and taxonomic diversity are therefore complementary and should be used together to better guide decision-makers in identifying priority areas for biodiversity protection.

 

This new approach can be applied to all ecosystems, whether marine, terrestrial or freshwater. “As an example, explains Arnaud Auber, we applied our functional vulnerability framework to the past temporal dynamics of the North Sea fish community. Using fish abundance data and species traits linked to ecosystem functioning such as fecundity, offspring size and feeding mode, our tool revealed a high functional vulnerability of fish communities in the North Sea. However, we found a significant decrease in functional vulnerability throughout the last four decades, dropping from 92 to 86%. During the same period, the North Sea fishing pressure had decreased, following the Common Fisheries Policy, with a progressive decrease in catch quotas and improvement in gears’ selectivity.”

 

Finally, this tool is open access and can be used to predict ecosystem vulnerability using for example future climate change scenarios or to compare different ecosystems. This highlights the need for synthesis as we continue to improve our understanding of the complexity of nature. Only when put together will data and knowledge help quantify the impact of multiple threats on the world’s ecosystems and assist decision-makers in rationalizing ecosystem management and conservation actions in an uncertain future.

 

Reference

 

Arnaud Auber1, Conor Waldock2,3, Anthony Maire4, Eric Goberville5, Camille Albouy6,7, Adam C. Algar8, Matthew McLean9, Anik Brind’Amour10, Alison L. Green11, Mark Tupper12,13, Laurent Vigliola14, Kristin Kaschner15, Kathleen Kesner-Reyes16, Maria Beger17,18, Jerry Tjiputra19, Aurèle Toussaint20, Cyrille Violle21, Nicolas Mouquet22,23, Wilfried Thuiller24, David Mouillot23,25. “A functional vulnerability framework for biodiversity conservation”. 2022. Nature Communications. doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-32331-y/

Une nouvelle méthode pour évaluer la vulnérabilité des écosystèmes et protéger la biodiversité

Définir des stratégies de conservation appropriées est un objectif difficile à atteindre, notamment en raison de la complexité des menaces et des réponses des espèces, ainsi que des limitations budgétaires. Pour surmonter ce défi, l’équipe de scientifiques, dont des chercheurs du CNRS, de l’Ifremer, de l’IRD et d’organisations internationales, a simulé la réponse des communautés d’espèces à un large éventail de perturbations, pour fournir une estimation robuste de leur vulnérabilité dans un monde où les menaces futures sont diverses et difficiles à prévoir.

 

Quantifier la vulnérabilité de la biodiversité est crucial pour sauvegarder les écosystèmes les plus menacés. Publié dans Nature Communications le 1er septembre 2022, ce nouvel outil se distingue des travaux précédents car il estime le degré de changement de la diversité fonctionnelle, c’est-à-dire la biodiversité et les fonctions associées des écosystèmes, lorsqu’elle est exposée à des pressions multiples. Il a été développé dans le cadre de deux projets financés par la Fondation pour la recherche sur la biodiversité (FRB) au sein de son Centre de synthèse et d’analyse de la biodiversité (Cesab) et avec le soutien d’Électricité de France (EDF) et de France Filière Pêche (FFP).

 

Pour calculer la vulnérabilité des écosystèmes, l’équipe de 20 scientifiques a utilisé des simulations répétées par ordinateur de perturbations sur des communautés d’espèces. Qu’il s’agisse du changement climatique, de changement d’usage des terres, de pollution ou de surexploitation des ressources, ces perturbations simulent les impacts d’un large éventail de menaces potentielles sur les communautés d’espèces. « En simulant tous les scénarios possibles, même les pires, explique Arnaud Auber, chercheur à l’Ifremer et premier auteur de la publication, nous sommes en mesure d’identifier les écosystèmes les plus vulnérables d’un point de vue fonctionnel. De plus, nous pouvons désormais estimer leur vulnérabilité en tenant compte des pressions inconnues, imprévisibles ou mal documentées, ce qui constitue une avancée majeure par rapport aux travaux précédents. » Cette approche, plus sûre, offre aux décideurs la possibilité de classer plusieurs sites en fonction de la vulnérabilité fonctionnelle qui leur est associée, et ainsi de permettre une gestion adaptative de la biodiversité.

 

Dans cette étude, la diversité fonctionnelle des communautés a été placée au centre du calcul de la vulnérabilité. Historiquement, la conservation de la biodiversité s’est principalement concentrée sur la diversité taxonomique (par exemple, le nombre d’espèces dans un écosystème). Cependant, des études récentes, dont des travaux du projet Free, ont montré que l’étude de la diversité fonctionnelle peut fournir une évaluation plus précise du fonctionnement d’un écosystème. En effet, une espèce peut avoir la même fonction qu’une autre (par exemple, les mêmes proies ou le même cycle de reproduction) et donc si une espèce disparaît, une autre peut toujours remplir son rôle dans l’écosystème. Mais si toutes les espèces partageant une même fonction essentielle disparaissent, l’écosystème deviendra moins diversifié sur le plan fonctionnel, moins résilient aux menaces et donc plus vulnérable. En d’autres termes, la diversité taxonomique dans un écosystème est importante mais pas suffisante pour évaluer correctement la vulnérabilité de l’écosystème. Les poissons-perroquets, par exemple, sont l’une des seules espèces de poissons qui peuvent se nourrir directement de coraux. S’ils disparaissent, une composante essentielle du cycle du carbone dans les récifs coralliens sera perdue. La diversité fonctionnelle et la diversité taxonomique sont donc complémentaires et doivent être utilisées ensemble pour mieux guider les décideurs dans l’identification des zones prioritaires pour la protection de la biodiversité.

 

Cette nouvelle approche peut être appliquée à tous les écosystèmes, qu’ils soient marins, terrestres ou d’eau douce. « À titre d’exemple, explique Arnaud Auber, nous avons utilisé notre outil de vulnérabilité fonctionnelle pour étudier la dynamique temporelle passée de la communauté de poissons de la mer du Nord. En utilisant les données sur l’abondance des poissons et les traits des espèces liés au fonctionnement de l’écosystème, tels que la fécondité, la taille de la progéniture et le mode d’alimentation, notre outil a révélé une vulnérabilité fonctionnelle élevée des communautés de poissons de la mer du Nord. Cependant, nous avons constaté une diminution significative de la vulnérabilité fonctionnelle au cours des quatre dernières décennies, passant de 92 à 86 %. Au cours de la même période, la pression de pêche en mer du Nord a diminué, suite à la politique commune de la pêche (en anglais Common Fisheries Policy), avec une diminution progressive des quotas de capture et une amélioration de la sélectivité des équipements. »

 

De plus, cet outil est en libre-accès et peut être utilisé pour prédire la vulnérabilité des écosystèmes en utilisant par exemple les scénarios de changement climatique ou pour comparer différents écosystèmes. Cette étude souligne le besoin de synthèse alors que nous cherchons à démêler la complexité de la nature. Ce n’est qu’une fois réunies que les données et les connaissances permettront de quantifier l’impact des multiples menaces qui pèsent sur les écosystèmes et d’aider les décideurs dans leurs actions de gestion et de conservation de la biodiversité dans un avenir incertain.

 

Référence de l’article

 

Arnaud Auber1, Conor Waldock2,3, Anthony Maire4, Eric Goberville5, Camille Albouy6,7, Adam C. Algar8, Matthew McLean9, Anik Brind’Amour10, Alison L. Green11, Mark Tupper12,13, Laurent Vigliola14, Kristin Kaschner15, Kathleen Kesner-Reyes16, Maria Beger17,18, Jerry Tjiputra19, Aurèle Toussaint20, Cyrille Violle21, Nicolas Mouquet22,23, Wilfried Thuiller24, David Mouillot23,25. “A functional vulnerability framework for biodiversity conservation”. 2022. Nature Communications. doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-32331-y/

[Course] Opening of the 2022 training course – Data Toolbox for Reproducible Research in Computational Ecology

The CESAB and the GdR EcoStat organize the third edition of the training course “Data Toolbox for Reproducible Research in Computational Ecology“. The objective of this five-day course is to train young researchers in reproducibility, software development and version management tools, applied to biodiversity research.

 

This training will be given in French and will take place from November 28 to December 2, 2022 at CESAB in Montpellier. Its price is 200 € for the week – lunch included. Transportation, accommodation and evening meals are at the charge of the participants.

 

You can pre-register for this course by filling in the form available on the event page until Tuesday 26th of July at midnight (CEST). As the number of places is limited, registrations will be confirmed during in September. 

 

 

Pre-registration and programme

[FRB-CESAB] From species to functions: towards a paradigm shift for biodiversity conservation?

The working group FREE, from the FRB’s Centre for the Synthesis and Analysis of Biodiversity (CESAB), invites you to Montpellier for a conference in English on Thursday the 16th of June 2022 at 2pm, entitled “From species to functions: towards a paradigm shift for biodiversity conservation?”

 

This conference will present a new facet of biological rarity – functional rarity – and will lay the foundations for biodiversity and rarity conservation policies, revisited in the light of functional ecology. The working group FREE has largely contributed to the development of the conceptual basis of functional rarity and has proposed global analyses attempting to identify areas of the globe with a significant proportion of ecologically unique species.

 

 

During this conference, a group of international researchers will discuss the direct and major implications of this research for biodiversity conservation policies.

 

 

 

The conference will be held in the afternoon and will be preceded, in the morning, by a training workshop dedicated to the use of R packages that allows to calculate various functional rarity and diversity index and to map them. The workshop will be in English, free, and lunch will be included. Any other costs should be covered by the participants. A good knowledge of the R software is required.

 

[Call for proposals] Two calls on biodiversity opening «DataShare» and «Impacts on terrestrial biodiversity in the Anthropocene»

Two calls for proposals will fund 1 to 3-years research projects on biodiversity. deadline on the 22nd of September 2022.

 

Call for proposals DataShare 2022

 

The aim of this DATASHARE joint call between the CEntre for the Synthesis and Analysis of Biodiversity (CESAB) of the French Foundation for Biodiversity Research (FRB), the Laboratory of Excellence (LabEX) TULIP, the National Center for Biodiversity Data (PNDB) and the challenge BiodivOc, supported by the Occitanie region and the University of Montpellier is to accelerate the sharing of open-access and large scale ‘novel’ biodiversity related datasets. This call complements classical biodiversity synthesis calls, which aim at fostering the analysis of existing data and the synthesis of ideas and concepts, with a specific focus on data compilation and sharing. It can be considered as a preliminary step, but not mandatory, before submitting a research proposal to a classical biodiversity synthesis call (e.g. CESAB, sDiv, NCEAS).

 

For its first 2022 edition, the DATASHARE joint call will fund two 2-years projects.

 

More information

 

 

Call for proposals Impacts on terrestrial biodiversity in the Anthropocene 2022

 

As part of the implementation of the national “terrestrial biodiversity monitoring” programme carried out by the French Biodiversity Office (OFB), which aims to measure, identify and monitor the influence of human activities on biodiversity and the best practices to be promoted, the Ministry of Ecological Transition (MTE) and the French Foundation for Research on Biodiversity (FRB) are launching a call for research projects on the “Impacts on terrestrial biodiversity in the Anthropocene “. The call aims to characterize the positive, negative or non-existent impacts of human activities and induced pressures on the state and dynamics of terrestrial biodiversity.

 

The results of the research funded by the programme should help to strengthen the actions of society as a whole, to halt the decline of biodiversity and promote sustainable human development. 

 

This call for proposals will allow the funding of:

  • 3 data SYNTHESIS projects of three years – these projects should develop syntheses of ideas and/or concepts, analyses of existing data, and should focus on factors affecting the state, evolution and dynamics of biodiversity.
  • 4 to 6 one-year SYNERGY projects – these projects should provide complementary answers to a question that emerges from a research project that has been finalized or is underway, and should help stakeholders with indicators and practices to be promoted or abandoned to preserve biodiversity.
  • 1 to 2 SYSTEMATIC REVIEW projects of two years – these projects must present an inventory of human practices that have an impact on biodiversity and a summary of the state of knowledge on the impacts considered.

 

More information

Taxation of Agricultural Land in Europe: A Comparative Approach

Posted on by Robin Almansa

Within the European Union (EU), agriculture is the subject of a long-standing, well-established and well-known common policy with the largest budget (386.6 billion euros for the period 2021-2027, i.e. 32% of the European budget). It is also affected by the internal market policy. In addition, various EU environmental directives apply to agricultural land. This is the case for biodiversity (Birds Directive, Habitats Directive, Environmental Liability Directive), environmental assessment (Projects Directive, Plans and Programmes Directive), water (Water Framework Directive, Nitrates Directive, Sewage Sludge Directive, Floods Directive, etc.). The EU is also party to several international conventions in the field of biodiversity that concern agricultural land (Convention on Biological Diversity, Bern Convention, Bonn Convention, Ramsar Convention, etc.).

 

Although European agriculture is subject to this threefold harmonization process, the rules for taxing agricultural land seem to differ quite a lot from one state to another. However, taxation affects several aspects of agricultural and environmental policies. It can encourage or discourage the profitability of agriculture, encourage the practice of a particular type of agriculture that is more or less favorable to biodiversity, and encourage or discourage a change in the use of agricultural land. Taxation of agricultural land therefore has multiple effects, both on the agricultural land itself and on agricultural, land use, urban planning and environmental policies. Moreover, within the debates on possible biodiversity policy strategies, the taxation of agricultural land and its modalities may favor one option or another.

For these different reasons, a comparative analysis of the taxation of agricultural land in Europe seemed useful to the French Foundation for Biodiversity Research.

 

The note is available in the downloadable resources section.

 

[CALL FOR TENDERS] Desk study on the role of biodiversity in Nature-Based Solutions

Under the objective “Connecting R&I programs, results and experts to policy” of the Biodiversa+ Partnership, the subtask 4.1.2 “Desk studies and production of knowledge syntheses” led by the French Foundation for Research on Biodiversity (FRB) is subcontracting a service provider to develop a scoping review in order to summarise the state of knowledge on the role of biodiversity in Nature-Based Solutions (NBS). The FRB will appoint the service provider – after the evaluation/selection process – on July 1st, 2022.

 

The deadline to apply to this call for tender is midnight 22nd of June. All applications should be submitted in English and sent by email to :

Joseph LANGRIDGE <joseph.langridge@fondationbiodiversite.fr> before this deadline with Cécile MANDON <cecile.mandon@fondationbiodiversite.fr> in copy.

 

 

[Course] Opening of pre-registration for the training course “Biodiversity knowledge synthesis: an introduction to meta-analyses and systematic reviews” – 2022

This new five-day course, organised by the CESAB – Centre for Biodiversity Synthesis and Analysis – of the FRB,  aims to train young researchers on the methods and techniques of meta-analyses and systematic reviews/maps applied to the field of biodiversity.
 
The training course will be given in French and will take place from 3 to 7 October 2022 at CESAB, in Montpellier.

 

You can pre-register for this course by filling in the form available on the event page until Friday 24th of June 2022 at midnight (CEST). As the number of places is limited, registrations will be confirmed in July. 

 

 

Pré-inscription et programme

[FRB-CESAB] Theory-driven Analysis of Ecological Data – 2022

 

The CESAB – Centre for Biodiversity Synthesis and Analysis – and the GdR TheoMoDive organize the first edition of the training course “Theory-driven Analysis of Ecological Data”. The objective of this five-day course is to train young researchers in analyzing ecological data using theory-driven approaches. 

 

The training course, in English, will take place from the 16th to the 20th of May 2022 in the CESAB premises in Montpellier. Price is 150 € for the week, including lunch. Travel, accommodation and evening meals are at the expense of the participants. 

 

 

Find the training course on GitHub

 

 

A good knowledge of the R software is required.

 

List of organizers (by alphabetical order):
  • Vincent CALCAGNO (INRAE, ISA) 
  • Emanuel FRONHOFER (CNRS, Isem)
  • Isabelle GOUNAND (CNRS, iEES-Paris) 
  • François MASSOL (CNRS, CIIL) 

 

Others speakers: Matthieu BARBIER, Maxime DUBART, Claire JACQUET, Benjamin ROSENBAUM.

[Call for proposals FRB-MTE-OFB 2021] Eight projects selected within the call “Impacts on terrestrial biodiversity in the Anthropocene”

As part of the implementation of the national “terrestrial biodiversity monitoring” programme carried out by the French Biodiversity Office (OFB), which aims to measure, identify and monitor the influence of human activities on biodiversity and the best practices to be promoted, the Ministry of Ecological Transition (MTE) and the French Foundation for Research on Biodiversity (FRB) launched a call for research projects on the “Impacts on terrestrial biodiversity in the Anthropocene“. 

 

Three types of projects are funded by this 2021-call:

 

SYNTHESIS PROJECTS

 

  • ACOUCENE, led by Jean-Yves BARNAGAUD (EPHE, France) and Solène CROCI (CNRS, France) – Towards a silent spring? Modeling and projecting the impacts of the Anthropocene on soundscapes with birds as an acoustic ecological indicator
  • IMPACTS, led by Wilfried THUILLER (CNRS, France) and Franziska SCHRODT (University of Nottingham, United Kingdom) – French biodiversity in the Anthropocene – impacts and drivers of spatial and temporal response
  • LANDWORM, led by Daniel CLUZEAU (University of Rennes, France) and Céline PELOSI (INRAE, France) – Impact of Land use and management on earthworm communities
  • SPATMAN, led by Isabelle BOULANGEAT (INRAE, France) and Mohamed HILAL (INRAE, France) – What role for the spatial organisation of human societies to modulate their pressures on biodiversity?

 

These 3-years projects will develop syntheses of ideas and/or concepts, analyses of existing data, and will focus on factors affecting the state, evolution and dynamics of biodiversity.

 

SYNERGY PROJECTS

 

  • FUNINDIC, led by Cyrille Violle (CEFE-CNRS, France) – Functional rarity as a marker of land use intensification and ecosystem functions in French permanent grasslands: towards new indicators for the monitoring and conservation of the French flora.
  • INTERFACE, led by Céline Clauzel (University Paris Diderot, France) – Multi-habitat network modelling for integrated conservation of interface environments.
  • LANBIO, led by Cendrine Mony (University of Rennes, France) –  Effect of human-driven landscape modification on biodiversity in bocage landscapes: toward integrative indicators. 

 

These 1-year projects will provide complementary answers to a question that emerges from research projects that has been finalized or is underway and will help stakeholders with indicators and practices to be promoted or abandoned to preserve biodiversity.

 

SYSTEMATIC MAP PROJECT 

 

  • SOLAIRE-BP, led by Yorick Reyjol (UMS PatriNat OFB-CNRS-MNHN, France) – Systematic overview of literature about the impacts of renewable energy : photovoltaic and biodiversity.

 

This 1-year project is a preliminary step to the “systematic review” and will  focus on pressure-impact links related to human practices in order to highlight whether the impacts on biodiversity are well established or suffer from a lack of data or literature.

The post-2020 Global biodiversity framework – Analysis of the draft framework by FRB

Posted on by Pauline Coulomb

This report provides scientific insight into the elements under discussion within the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

It considers the draft framework in its official version of July 2021. The relevance of the four strategic goals, 21 action targets and associated indicators is examined in the light of the latest scientific work. This document was prepared by the French Foundation for Biodiversity Research (FRB) at the request of the Foreign Affairs Ministry. 

[FRB-CESAB] Newsletter 6 CESAB – January 2022

A WORD FROM BRUNO FADY, PRESIDENT OF CESAB’S SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE

 

It is worth recalling that CESAB is an infrastructure of the FRB, a unique and original tool in the French research landscape. It is one of the rare scientific tools that have been created in the world over the last 30 years, based on the observation that the data generated, and collected during short-term projects, that classically finance research in ecology and biodiversity, are not very well used (Baron et al., 2017). We can only welcome this decision, given the scientific production of the working groups funded with the CESAB, the career path of the young scientists who have been part of and are often the core of these working groups, and the recognition of the work published by many private and institutional actors to improve biodiversity protection (see “CESAB in a Zoom in 2021”). 

 

The Covid-19 pandemic pointed out that scientific advances are not the work of an isolated individual, of an (unrecognized) genius who emerges in the midst of a crisis, but rather the work of collectives, manipulating and analyzing data that must be compiled and verified, re-testing and re-verifying hypotheses and concepts. A scientific fact only really becomes so when it finally emerges as an evidence, a consensus (in the statistical sense of the term) for the whole scientific community. At a time when the scientific approach and its results are being questioned by part of society, and beyond a relevant (re)development of data, concepts and their analysis for its scientific discipline, the role of CESAB is to disseminate scientific facts to better understand and protect biodiversity. 

 

After two mandates as president of the CESAB scientific committee, it is time for me to hand over. I would have gladly extended my mandate for a longer period of time as the dynamism of CESAB is so strong, reminding me a little of the enthusiastic state of mind that reigned when it was created more than 10 years ago. But, fortunately, our statutes do not allow it and a new scientific committee will be created in 2022. 

 

The CESAB is now a French institution, widely recognized. Scientists working in the field of ecology and biodiversity are not mistaken, they apply each year in greater numbers to the FRB-CESAB calls for proposals. I hope that the founding members of the FRB, the French public authorities and biodiversity stakeholders will continue to actively support the CESAB, financing at least several working groups per year and the structure itself. With France’s reaffirmed commitments to biodiversity protection at the World Conservation Congress in Marseille in September 2021, I have no doubt that this will be the case. 

 

Happy New Year to all, welcome to the new scientific committee and long live the CESAB.  

Bruno Fady

 

 

More information about CESAB

 

[Course] Opening of pre-registration for the training course “Theory-driven Analysis of Ecological Data” – 2022

This new 5-days training course, organized by the CESAB and the GdR TheoMoDive aims to train young researchers in analyzing ecological data using theory-driven approaches. 

 

The training course, in English, will take place from the 16th to the 20th of May 2022 in the CESAB premises in Montpellier. Price is 150 € for the week, including lunch. Travel, accommodation and evening meals are at the expense of the participants. 

 

You can pre-register for this course by filling in the form available on the event page until Monday 14th of February at midnight (CET). As the number of places is limited, registrations will be confirmed in March. 

 

 

Pre-registration and programme

[FRB-CESAB] Data Toolbox for Reproducible Research in Computational Ecology – 2021

The CESABand the GdR EcoStat organize the third edition of the training course “Data Toolbox for Reproducible Research in Computational Ecology“. The objective of this five-day course is to train young researchers in reproducibility, software development and version management tools (e.g. R, git, markdown, tidyverse, docker), applied to biodiversity research.

 

Price is 300 € for the week, including lunch. Travel, accommodation and evening meals are at the expense of the participants. Grants may be awarded to some participants (for an amount not exceeding the registration fee): one grant from the FRB and one grant from the GdR EcoStat (for students belonging to a laboratory member of the GdR). The training course, in French, took place from the 29th of November to the 3rd of December 2021 in the CESAB premises in Montpellier. 

 

The training course can be credited for students registered in the following doctoral schools:

  • GAIA (Montpellier)
  • EGAAL (Rennes)
  • ABIES (Paris)
  • Sciences and agrosciences (Avignon)
  • SEVAB (Toulouse) 
  • Sciences de l’environnement (Aix en Provence)
 
List of speakers (in alphabetical order):
  • Nicolas CASAJUS (FRB-CESAB)
  • Stéphane DRAY (CNRS LBBE)
  • Olivier GIMENEZ (CNRS Cefe)
  • Loreleï GUÉRY (CIRAD PHIM)
  • François GUILHAUMON (IRD Marbec)
  • Nina SCHIETTEKATTE (EPHE Criobe)

Lake Temperatures in the Time of Climate Change

Posted on by Marie-Claire Danner

People depend on lakes for many ecosystem services such as water, food, transportation, and recreation, but these services are at an unknown level of risk because we do not understand how lakes are affected by climate change. A network of 39 scientists from 20 countries on five continents are collaborating to put long-term and high-frequency data to work to understand, predict, and communicate the role and response of lakes in our changing global environment. This work was partly funded by the John Wesley Powell from U.S. Geological Survey and the Foundation for Research on Biodiversity (FRB), through the research projects GEISHA of the FRB’s Center for Biodiversity Synthesis and Analysis (CESAB).

 

Many of the scientists hypothesized that storms would have strong impacts on water temperature and water column mixing, based on a prior synthesis study. However, the team’s most recent study found that wind- and rainstorms do not cause major temperature changes in lakes.

 

They examined how wind- and rainstorms affected lake temperature across 18 lakes and 11 countries using meteorological and water column temperature data and found minimal changes to lake temperature from storms. In fact, they found that day-to-day changes in lake temperature during non-storm periods were often more extreme than storm-induced temperature changes. As expected, storms impacted the temperature of deep lakes less than shallow lakes because more energy is needed to mix layers of water with different temperatures in deep lakes than in shallow lakes. For example, storm-induced temperature changes in Lake Superior (average depth almost 500 feet) will be smaller than in Lake Okeechobee (average depth about 10 feet).

 

 

A storm rolls over Lake Superior. Photo credit: Jessica Wesolek, Lake Superior State University’s Center for Freshwater Research and Education

 

“Because storm-induced changes to lake temperature were minimal overall, storm-induced changes in other environmental conditions such as nutrient concentrations or light may have larger impacts on lake animals and plants,” said Jonathan Doubek, Assistant Professor at Lake Superior State University in the School of Natural Resources & Environment and the Center for Freshwater Research and Education, who joined the network while at the University of Vermont. These findings represent concrete progress in understanding how lakes are weathering storms.

 

“Professor Doubek’s study highlights the usefulness of high-frequency data: we were able to discover that the effect of storms on lake temperatures may not be as strong as we previously believed,” said Dr. Jason Stockwell, Professor and Director of the Rubenstein Ecosystem Science Laboratory at the University of Vermont.

 

The team of scientists has begun analyzing the impact of storm-related changes in nutrient concentrations and light availability on organisms using the same global dataset and has recently had a proposal funded to help continue this work into the future. “The power of global collaborative teamwork to pool data and ideas is improving our understanding about how our planet functions and may function in the future,” Stockwell said. “We need this information to protect ecosystem and human health.”

[Call for proposals FRB-MTE-OFB] Opening of the call «  Impacts on terrestrial biodiversity in the Anthropocene »

As part of the implementation of the national “terrestrial biodiversity monitoring” programme carried out by the French Biodiversity Office (OFB), which aims to measure, identify and monitor the influence of human activities on biodiversity and the best practices to be promoted, the Ministry of Ecological Transition (MTE) and the French Foundation for Research on Biodiversity (FRB) are launching a call for research projects on the “Impacts on terrestrial biodiversity in the Anthropocene “. The call aims to characterize the positive, negative or non-existent impacts of human activities and induced pressures on the state and dynamics of terrestrial biodiversity.

 

The results of the research funded by the programme should help to strengthen the actions of society as a whole, to halt the decline of biodiversity and promote sustainable human development. 

 

This call for proposals will allow the funding of:

  • 3 data SYNTHESIS projects of three years – these projects should develop syntheses of ideas and/or concepts, analyses of existing data, and should focus on factors affecting the state, evolution and dynamics of biodiversity.
  • 4 to 6 one-year SYNERGIE projects – these projects should provide complementary answers to a question that emerges from a research project that has been finalized or is underway, and should help stakeholders with indicators and practices to be promoted or abandoned to preserve biodiversity.
  • 2 to 4 one-year SYSTEMIC MAP projects – a preliminary step to the “systematic review”, these projects will have to focus on pressure-impact links related to human practices in order to highlight whether the impacts on biodiversity are well established or suffer from a lack of data or literature.

 

 

More information

[Press release] Stewardship by Indigenous and local communities is the key to successful nature conservation

Posted on by Marie-Claire Danner

In the run-up to the 15th United Nations Conference on Biodiversity, several States have committed to creating protected areas on at least 30% of their land and sea territories by 2030. This tendency to focus on the proportion of land and sea to be protected in order to preserve biodiversity obscures more fundamental questions: how conservation is done, by whom and with what outcomes. These questions are crucial for effective biodiversity conservation.

 

Lead author, Dr Neil Dawson of University of East Anglia (UEA) School of International Development, was part of an international team conducting a systematic review that found conservation success is “the exception rather than the rule” – but research suggests the answer could be equitable conservation, which empowers and supports the environmental stewardship of Indigenous Peoples and local communities. This global review of evidence takes advantage of a growing number of studies looking at how governance – the arrangements and decision making behind conservation efforts – affects both nature and the well-being of Indigenous Peoples and local communities.

 

The work is part of the JustConservation research project funded by the French Foundation for Research on Biodiversity (FRB) within its Centre for Biodiversity Synthesis and Analysis (CESAB), and was initiated through the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s Commission on Environmental, Economic and Social Policy (IUCN CEESP). It is the result of collaboration between 17 scientists, including researchers from the European School of Political and Social Sciences (ESPOL) at the Catholic University of Lille and the University of East Anglia. The findings are published on 02/09/2021 in the journal Ecology and Society.

 

Dr Dawson said: “This study shows it is time to focus on who conserves nature and how, instead of what percentage of the Earth to fence off. Conservation led by Indigenous Peoples and local communities, based on their own knowledge and tenure systems, is far more likely to deliver positive outcomes for nature. In fact, conservation very often fails because it excludes and undervalues local knowledge and this often infringes on rights and cultural diversity along the way.”

 

International conservation organisations and governments often lead the charge on conservation projects, excluding or controlling local practices, most prominently through strict protected areas. The study recommends Indigenous Peoples and local communities need to be at the helm of conservation efforts, with appropriate support from outside, including policies and laws that recognise their knowledge systems. “Furthermore, it is imperative to shift to this approach without delay” Dr Dawson said. “Current policy negotiations, especially the forthcoming UN climate and biodiversity summits, must embrace and be accountable for ensuring the central role of Indigenous Peoples and local communities in mainstream climate and conservation programs. Otherwise, they will likely set in stone another decade of well-meaning practices that result in both ecological decline and social harms. Whether for tiger reserves in India, coastal communities in Brazil or wildflower meadows in the UK, the evidence shows that the same basis for successful conservation through stewardship holds true. Currently, this is not the way mainstream conservation efforts work.”

 

From an initial pool of over 3,000 publications, 169 were found to provide detailed evidence of both the social and ecological sides of conservation. Strikingly, the authors found that 56 per cent of the studies investigating conservation under ‘local’ control reported positive outcomes for both human well-being and conservation. For ‘externally’ controlled conservation, only 16 per cent reported positive outcomes and more than a third of cases resulted in ineffective conservation and negative social outcomes, in large part due to the conflicts arising with local communities.

 

However, simply granting control to local communities does not automatically guarantee conservation success. Local institutions are every bit as complex as the ecosystems they govern, and this review highlights that a number of factors must align to realize successful stewardship. Community cohesion, shared knowledge and values, social inclusion, effective leadership and legitimate authority are important ingredients that are often disrupted through processes of globalisation, modernisation or insecurity, and can take many years to re-establish. Additionally, factors beyond the local community can greatly impede local stewardship, such as laws and policies that discriminate against local customs and systems in favour of commercial activities. Moving towards more equitable and effective conservation can therefore be seen as a continuous and collaborative process.

 

Dr  Dawson said: “Indigenous Peoples’ and local communities’ knowledge systems and actions are the main resource that can generate successful conservation. To try to override them is counterproductive, but it continues, and the current international policy negotiations and resulting pledges to greatly increase the global area of land and sea set aside for conservation are neglecting this key point. Conservation strategies need to change, to recognize that the most important factor in achieving positive conservation outcomes is not the level of restrictions or magnitude of benefits provided to local communities, but rather recognising local cultural practices and decision-making. It is imperative to shift now towards an era of conservation through stewardship.”

 

CP_JustConservation_2021_fig

Figure: The central and inseparable role of Indigenous Peoples and local communities in equitable and effective biodiversity conservation

Biodiversité : au-delà des surfaces à protéger, comment et par qui doit se faire sa conservation ?

Les facteurs à l’origine du succès de projets de conservation sont encore difficiles à identifier. Ces dernières années plusieurs études ont ainsi cherché à comprendre le fonctionnement de la conservation.  Mais, c’est la première fois qu’une équipe de recherche internationale a étudié la manière dont la gouvernance – la gestion et la prise de décision en matière de conservation –  affecte à la fois la nature et le bien-être des peuples autochtones et les communautés locales.

 

Ces travaux sont en partie issus du projet de recherche JustConservation financé par la Fondation pour la recherche sur la biodiversité (FRB) au sein de son Centre de synthèse et d’analyse sur la biodiversité (Cesab) et ont  été initiés par la Commission des politiques environnementales, économiques et sociales de l’Union internationale pour la conservation de la nature (CPEES de l’UICN). Ils sont le fruit de la collaboration entre 17 scientifiques, dont des chercheurs de l’École européenne de sciences politiques et sociales (ESPOL) de l’Université Catholique de Lille et de l’Université de East Anglia (UK). Ils font l’objet d’une publication, parue le 02/09/2021 dans la revue Ecology and Society.

 

Après avoir passé en revue plus de 3 000 publications, les chercheurs en ont identifié 169 traitant de l’influence de différentes formes de gouvernance sur les résultats de la conservation. Ils révèlent un contraste frappant entre les résultats issus de la conservation sous le contrôle « local » des peuples autochtones et communautés locales, et les résultats de la conservation menée sous le contrôle « extérieur » des États, des ONGs et des entreprises privées. 56 % des études sur la conservation sous contrôle « local » montrent des résultats positifs, tant pour le bien-être humain que pour la conservation. Pour la conservation sous contrôle « extérieur », seul 16 % des études rapportent des résultats positifs et plus d’un tiers ont abouti à une conservation inefficace et des résultats sociaux négatifs. La principale explication de cette différence réside dans le fait que la conservation contrôlée localement peut produire une gestion active et collective de l’environnement. Lorsque les valeurs et les pratiques locales sont respectées et que les communautés locales jouent un rôle central dans la conservation, une vision commune du paysage peut être établie. Cela génère alors une mobilisation pour préserver, restaurer et défendre l’environnement.

 

Les résultats de cette étude véhiculent donc un message optimiste : une conservation équitable, qui renforce et soutient l’intendance environnementale des peuples autochtones et des communautés locales, est la principale voie vers une conservation efficace à long terme de la biodiversité, en particulier lorsqu’elle est soutenue par des lois et des politiques plus larges.

 

La reconnaissance et le soutien des institutions locales nécessitent une réorientation des activités des organisations et des gouvernements qui dominent actuellement les efforts de conservation au niveau mondial. Dr Neil Dawson, premier auteur de l’étude, conclut ainsi : “qu’il s’agisse de réserves de tigres en Inde, de communautés côtières au Brésil ou de prairies de fleurs sauvages au Royaume-Uni, les preuves sont bien là : il est essentiel que les négociations politiques actuelles, en particulier celles de la Convention des Nations unies sur la diversité biologique (CDB), reconnaissent le rôle central des peuples autochtones et des communautés locales dans la lutte contre le changement climatique et pour la conservation de la biodiversité” 

 

CP_JustConservation_Fig

Figure : Le rôle central et indissociable des peuples autochtones et des communautés locales dans la conservation équitable et efficace de la biodiversité. Dans le sens des aiguilles d’une montre : Bien-être des peuples autochtones et des communautés locales – des communautés autonomes avec des valeurs partagées, des institutions et une autorité respectée soutiennent l’action collective de conservation ; Conservation efficace – intendance locale : autorégulation de l’utilisation des ressources, résistance aux menaces extérieures, adaptation au changement ; Gouvernance équitable de la conservation – reconnaissance des institutions et des droits locaux, contrôle des décisions locales, établissement de la confiance et résolution des conflits, responsabilité. L’illustration a été créée par Andy Wright www.madebyawdesign.com. Les images proviennent du réseau MIHARI http://mihari-network.org (discours d’une pêcheuse et reboisement de la mangrove à Belo-sur-Mer, dans le sud-ouest de Madagascar), et Holladay Photo (communauté Kahana, Koolauloa, Oahu, pratiquant une pêche traditionnelle hawaïenne appelée Hukilau).

 

[Press release] A better protection of marine megafauna through social networks and artificial intelligence

Posted on by Marie-Claire Danner

Scientists from three joint research units (MARBEC, ENTROPIE and LIRMM) have just published a study using the latest technological advances to identify charismatic species of the marine megafauna of New Caledonia: dugongs, turtles and sharks. This work, entitled “Leveraging social media and deep learning to detect rare megafauna in video surveys” and published in the international journal Conservation Biology, is partly the result of the Pelagic research project financed by the Foundation for Research on Biodiversity (FRB) within its Centre for Biodiversity Synthesis and Analysis (Cesab), and is based on the collection of aerial videos financed by the Explorations de Monaco.

[FRB-CESAB] Newsletter 5 CESAB – July 2021

A WORD FROM THE SCIENTIFIC DIRECTOR

 

We are living crazy times! The world is struggling with a major pandemic for more than a year, with dramatic consequences in terms of human lives lost and economic costs. But paradoxically, this crisis reduced (temporally) our impact on the planet, and thus might have also some positive consequences on biodiversity. Now that our economies are starting over, the question is now much we will have learned from the Covid crisis and its side-effects on the environmental crisis, so we do not go back to the business-as-usual GIEC scenario and end up losing on both sides.  

  

The scientific community took the opportunity of the Covid crisis to experiment how science could be made through virtual interactions. Synthesis centers have been at the forefront of this “experimentation” as our core activity is to gather scientists from all over the world. We had to rapidly adapt to supporting fully virtual working groups and after a year we can conclude that virtual meetings, while providing a bridge during the pandemic, cannot replace intense, in-person immersion meetings (Srivastava et al., 2021). Science and particularly synthesis science is also about social interactions between people : these direct interactions fuel collective and creative thinking needed for groups to work on what is planned, and more importantly imagine the unplanned. But, as scientists and more importantly environmental scientists, we must be at the forefront of the paradigm shifts our societies need to go through, to mitigate the environmental crisis. We are thus thinking of re-organizing biodiversity synthesis centers in regional hubs where research teams within each geographic region could meet simultaneously as in-person working groups. These “regional hubs” would also coordinate virtually with each other among synthesis centers. This will not preclude the need to gather whole groups within the lifetime of a project but might significantly reduce the amount of travels and thus the carbon impact of the synthesis working groups. This reorganization of our scientific models will take some time but the price is worth to pay!  

 

Biodiversity collapse

© Graeme Mackay  

 

The Covid crisis cannot make us forget about the ongoing environmental crisis, it should rather exemplify how humanity can work together to solve a global crisis; it should also exemplify how much costly it is to solve a crisis when the crisis is at its climax. The environmental and biodiversity crisis, are not at their climax, they are only beginning. Let’s hope that we will pay the price needed to stop these crisis before we cannot afford to pay it anymore …   

  

These last six months have been particularly busy for the CESAB team and groups. This newsletter reflect this rich activity and the best is yet to come with many new groups starting this year and next. I would like here to thanks thoroughly the CESAB and FRB staff as well as the CESAB scientific committee for the incredible work they already have achieved this year; and thanks the whole FRB and its founders to make all this possible. With the 4 projects funded in the 2020 call and the upcoming 2 projects funded via our France-Brazil joint call, the CESAB will host 20 active groups by 2022. This strong and positive dynamics reflect our collective willingness to fulfill the need for synthesis in biodiversity science as well as the incredible quality and maturity of the scientific community on this fundamental issue. Synthesis will help us tackle the biodiversity crisis before it reaches its climax and I am proud that, at its small scale, the CESAB is helping toward this aim.  

  

Nicolas Mouquet 

 

 

More information about CESAB

 

[Call for proposals FRB-CESAB 2020] Four projects selected

Four innovative projects relating to the synthesis of ideas and concepts and the analysis of existing data, were selected by the scientific committee from the call for proposals FRB-CESAb 2020. They will improve scientific knowledge of biodiversity and demonstrate how we can use this knowledge to better protect it. 

 

The selected projects are funded for a period of three years, including: the recruitment of a post-doctoral student for two years, the organization of six meetings of the working group at CESAB and the promotion and publication of the results. The CESAB also provides logistical, technical and administrative support.

 

Global redistribution of biodiversity: A macro- and eco-evolutionary approach to understand species vulnerability to global changes

PIs: Gaël GRENOUILLET – Université de Toulouse (France) and Lise COMTE – Illinois State University (USA)

 

Supporting climate resilience through equitable ocean conservation

PIs : Joachim CLAUDET – CNRS (France), David GILL – Duke University (USA) and Jessica BLYTHE – Brock University (Canada)

 

Understanding power dynamics in stakeholder participation: integrating theory and practice for effective biodiversity conservation

PIs: Juliette YOUNG – INRAE (France) and James BUTLER – CSIRO (Australia)

 

Synthesis of Neotropical Tree Biodiversity with Plot Inventories

PIs: Jérôme CHAVE – CNRS (France) and Adriane ESQUIVEL MUELBERT – Université de Birmingham (United Kingdom)

The polecat, this big outsider

Posted on by Robin Almansa

Its bad reputation precedes it. It is accused of smelling, of “screaming loudly”, and more recently of sexism through the character of Pepe the Polecat. But, the polecat, this small mustelid, we know little or nothing about it. This is the observation made by researcher Sébastien Devillard and his team, who received the Barbault and Weber “Involved Ecology” grant in 2021 to fill this knowledge gap: “The polecat is a species that is difficult to observe and study because it is a cryptic and nocturnal animal. It lives in low density territories where males and females only cross paths during reproduction”, explains the researcher.

 

The Curriculum of the polecat is therefore quite short. As an adult, this small mustelid weighs between 600 grams and 1.5 kg, has the diet of an omnivore, mainly meat, and lives in open and wooded areas, often near wetlands. “However,”, continues Sébastien Devillard, “we have noticed that for the past 30 or 40 years, the wetlands, and riparian forests, which are its preferred habitat, have been steadily deteriorating. In all likelihood, that this had and continues to have an impact on the populations of this species.”

 

If its conservation status is not considered to be at risk by IUCN, it is once again due to a lack of knowledge on this topic according to the researcher: “When IUCN does not have the exact number of individuals living in a territory to monitor its temporal evolution, it looks to see if the distribution area of this species has decreased independently of the population densities. However, the polecat is still present in Europe over a distribution area that seems stable, which is why IUCN has not classified it as a threatened species. “However, local studies carried out by naturalists using photographic traps, or by national organizations responsible for collecting signs of presence, such as visual observations or roadside kills, suggest that the number of such signs of presence has been steadily declining for the last twenty years, particularly in wetlands.” To change its conservation status and justify the implementation of in situ conservation programmers, scientists will have to adopt a conservation biology approach that will study the polecat’s space use and population size.

 

The research team is therefore committed to understanding how this small mustelid uses and selects its habitat, in particular its dependence on wetlands and protected areas. At the Pierre Vérots Foundation estate in Ain, the research team plans to fit three polecats with GPS collars to track their movements and identify the determinants of their use of space. “This is a world first, stresses the researcher. For a long time, we were limited by the size of GPS collars, which required large batteries to operate and ensure sufficiently long tracking to obtain useful information. “In ecology, the rule is that animals cannot be fitted with collars that exceed 3 to 5% of their weight. Until then, only larger mammals, from a few kilograms up to giraffes or elephants, benefited from this type of tracking to respect the ethical and animal welfare dimension. The miniaturization of batteries has changed the situation: “Once the polecats are fitted with the equipment, we will be able to go out into the field every week to download the data, which will give us extremely detailed and unprecedented information on the use of space by this species.”

 

The technique is revolutionary in many ways. Previously, the data collected came from VHF radio collars. To locate the individuals studied, the scientists had to visit the area several times a week and triangulate by positioning themselves at three different locations to pick up the signal from the radio collars. “This classic radio-tracking technique did not allow for more than two or three locations per week. Thanks to the GPS collars, this team of scientists will now be able to obtain data on the polecat’s occupation of space and on its pace of activity throughout the day.

 

This project is only the first step in a larger ambition: “If we manage to show that this device works, we will be able to expand our study area and fit more animals.” The goal? To obtain more data and carry out survival analyses, which will then enable demographic models to estimate the size of the population locally and the rate of population growth. At the same time, researchers want to deploy a photo-trapping protocol to estimate local polecat density. Scientists will thus be able to propose new arguments for the study of its conservation status and perhaps also change the way our society looks at this small, discreet mustelid.

[Course] Opening of the 2021 training course – Data Toolbox for Reproducible Research in Computational Ecology

The CESAB and the GdR EcoStat organize the third edition of the training course “Data Toolbox for Reproducible Research in Computational Ecology“. The objective of this five-day course is to train young researchers in reproducibility, software development and version management tools, applied to biodiversity research.

 

The training course will take place from the 29th of November to the 3rd of December 2021 in the CESAB premises in Montpellier. The course will be in French. The training course can now be credited for students registered in specific doctoral schools, you can find the list on the event page.

 

You can pre-register for this course by filling in the form available on the event page until Saturday 31st July at midnight (CEST). As the number of places is limited, registrations will be confirmed during the first week of September. Note that the course can now give you credit in specific French doctoral schools. 

 

 

Pre-registration and programme

[FRB-CESAB] Opening of the joint call SYNERGY with SinBiose / FAPESP / CEBA on biodiversity in the neotropical realm

In partnership with SinBiose, FAPESP, and LabEX CEBA, the French Foundation for Biodiversity Research (FRB) opens a call for research projects through its Center for Biodiversity Synthesis and Analysis (CESAB), to fund two innovative research projects on biodiversity in the neotropical realm. The submitted projects can be in the fields of natural sciences and/or social and human sciences and should aim at developing the synthesis of ideas and concepts and/or the analysis of existing data.

 

The selected projects will be funded for a period of three years, including: the recruitment of a post-doctoral fellow based in Brazil and working on the project for two years, the organization of four meetings (two in France, at CESAB in Montpellier and two in Brazil in the state of São Paulo) and the promotion and publication of the results. Logistical, technical and administrative support will also be provided.

 

  • Pre-proposal deadline : 30th July 2021, 12:00 CEST

 

 

More information

[FRB-CESAB] Behind the WOODIV paper: the Euro-Mediterranean trees in a database

From the Spanish fir (Abies pinsapo), endemic species in Andalusia, to the Golden oak (Quercus alnifolia) in Cyprus, the Mediterranean Basin is home to emblematic species. These trees have always fascinated the people around them and the botanists. Yet, the Mediterranean trees are comparatively less well-known than their northern relatives.

 

Anne-Christine Monnet, member of the FRB-CESAB project WOODIV, present in an article about the scientific publication “WOODIV, a database of occurrences, functional traits, and phylogenetic data for all Euro-Mediterranean trees”, published in March 2021 in Scientific data, how Agathe Leriche, principal investigator of the WOODIV project, and Frédéric Médail, project member, gathered scientists and botanists in order to combine data and knowledge on Mediterranean trees from sparse national databases to one high-quality standardized dataset.

 

 

Read the article

[FRB-CESAB / CIEE] Earth’s ecosystems in a time of global change: Six ecologists discuss challenges and solutions

The Canadian synthesis center CIEE-ICEE  organized, with the help of the FRB-CESAB, the French Embassy in Vancouver and the University of British Columbia, a 1h30 conference on Wednesday, April 7, 2021 at 16:00 PT (Pacific Time) – 01:00 French time.

 

The six panelists of “Earth’s ecosystems in a time of global change: Six ecologists discuss challenges and solutions” are Bastien Mérigot (Montpellier University) – principal investigator of the FRB-CESAB/ CIEE project FISHGLOB, Nicolas Loeuille (Sorbonne Université), Shawn Leroux (Memorial University of Newfoundland), William Cheung (University of BC), Nancy Shackell (Bedford Institute of Oceanography), and Isabelle Gounand (Sorbonne Université) – principal investigator of the FRB-CESAB/ CIEE project RED-BIO.

 

The recorded panel discussion is now available below. 

 

 

 

[Call for proposals FRB-CESAB / ITTECOP] The projects NAVIDIV and BRIDGE selected

Two projects were selected by the scientific committee from the joint call for proposals FRB-CESAB / ITTECOP on the theme “Territorial approach to biodiversity: transport infrastructures, natural and agricultural environments”.

 

Inland navigation infrastructures and biodiversity: impacts and opportunities for waterwayscape management

PIs : Alienor JELIAZKOV – INRAE (France) and Jean-Nicolas BEISEL – ENGEES/CNRS (France)

 

Building a bridge between river corridors, roadsides and field margins: how landscape interactions modulate taxonomic and functional plant diversity

PIs: Eric TABACCHI – CNRS-INEE (France) and Guillaume FRIED – ANSES (France)

 

Both projects will, among others, evaluate the impacts of these infrastructures on biodiversity and analyse the economic, socio-technical and political factors that contribute to the deployment of these infrastructures and the extent to which they take biodiversity into account.

[Press release] Study in Nature: Protecting the Ocean Delivers a Comprehensive Solution for Climate, Fishing and Biodiversity

A new study published in the prestigious peer-reviewed scientific journal Nature today offers a combined solution to several of humanity’s most pressing challenges. It is the most comprehensive assessment to date of where strict ocean protection can contribute to a more abundant supply of healthy seafood and provide a cheap, natural solution to address climate change—in addition to protecting embattled species and habitats.

 

An international team of 26 authors – including researchers from Ifremer and the University of Montpellier and with the CNRS – identified specific areas that, if protected, would safeguard over 80% of the habitats for endangered marine species, and increase fishing catches by more than eight million metric tons. The study is also the first to quantify the potential release of carbon dioxide into the ocean from trawling, a widespread fishing practice—and finds that trawling is pumping hundreds of millions of tons of carbon dioxide into the ocean every year, a volume of emissions similar to those of aviation. This work was partly funded by the Foundation for Research on Biodiversity (FRB), EDF and the Total Foundation, through the FREE and PELAGIC research projects of the FRB’s Center for Biodiversity Synthesis and Analysis (CESAB).

 

 

Read the full press release

 

[Press release] Study in Nature: Protecting the Ocean Delivers a Comprehensive Solution for Climate, Fishing and Biodiversity

Posted on by Marie-Claire Danner

A new study published in the prestigious peer-reviewed scientific journal Nature today offers a combined solution to several of humanity’s most pressing challenges. It is the most comprehensive assessment to date of where strict ocean protection can contribute to a more abundant supply of healthy seafood and provide a cheap, natural solution to address climate change—in addition to protecting embattled species and habitats.

 

An international team of 26 authors – including researchers from Ifremer and the University of Montpellier and with the CNRS – identified specific areas that, if protected, would safeguard over 80% of the habitats for endangered marine species, and increase fishing catches by more than eight million metric tons. The study is also the first to quantify the potential release of carbon dioxide into the ocean from trawling, a widespread fishing practice—and finds that trawling is pumping hundreds of millions of tons of carbon dioxide into the ocean every year, a volume of emissions similar to those of aviation. This work was partly funded by the Foundation for Research on Biodiversity (FRB), EDF and the Total Foundation, through the FREE and PELAGIC research projects of the FRB’s Center for Biodiversity Synthesis and Analysis (CESAB).

 

“Ocean life has been declining worldwide because of overfishing, habitat destruction and climate change. Yet only 7% of the ocean is currently under some kind of protection,” said Dr. Enric Sala, explorer in residence at the National Geographic Society and lead author of the study, Protecting the global ocean for biodiversity, food and climate.

 

“In this study, we’ve pioneered a new way to identify the places that—if strongly protected—will boost food production and safeguard marine life, all while reducing carbon emissions,” Dr. Sala said. “It’s clear that humanity and the economy will benefit from a healthier ocean. And we can realize those benefits quickly if countries work together to protect at least 30% of the ocean by 2030.” 

 

To identify the priority areas, the authors—leading marine biologists, climate experts, and economists—analyzed the world’s unprotected ocean waters based on the degree to which they are threatened by human activities that can be reduced by marine protected areas (for example, overfishing and habitat destruction). They then developed an algorithm to identify those areas where protections would deliver the greatest benefits across the three complementary goals of biodiversity protection, seafood production and climate mitigation. They mapped these locations to create a practical “blueprint” that governments can use as they implement their commitments to protect nature.

 

The study does not provide a single map for ocean conservation, but it offers a first-in-kind framework for countries to decide which areas to protect depending on their national priorities. However, the analysis shows that 30% is the minimum amount of ocean that the world must protect in order to provide multiple benefits to humanity.

 

“There is no single best solution to save marine life and obtain these other benefits. The solution depends on what society—or a given country—cares about, and our study provides a new way to integrate these preferences and find effective conservation strategies,” said Dr. Juan S. Mayorga, a report co-author and a marine data scientist with the Environmental Market Solutions Lab at UC Santa Barbara and Pristine Seas at National Geographic Society.

 

The study comes ahead of the 15th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, which will gather end of 2021 in Kunming, China. The meeting will bring together representatives of 190 countries to finalize an agreement to end the world’s biodiversity crisis. The goal of protecting 30% of the planet’s land and ocean by 2030 (the “30×30” target) is expected to be a pillar of the treaty. The study follows commitments by the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, the European Commission and others to achieve this target on national and global scales.

 

“Solutions with multiple benefits are attractive to people and leaders alike. Our pioneering approach allows them to pinpoint the places that, if protected, will contribute significantly to three big problems at once—food security, climate change, and biodiversity loss.  Our breakthrough in methodology can bring multiple benefits to nature and people,” said Dr. Sala.

 

 

 

 

[FRB-CESAB] Newsletter 4 CESAB – January 2021

A WORD FROM THE NEW FRB’S PRESIDENT: DENIS COUVET

 

FRB-Denis-Couvet-HD

Denis Couvet

The French Foundation for Biodiversity Research’s ambition is to better understand the dynamics of biodiversity, in interaction with those of societies. Its vocation is to build, with all actors, public and private, civil society, approaches based on nature and therefore biodiversity. Another main concern is to know how to anticipate the impacts, opportunities and unexpected effects… of these approaches, in an integrative and systemic framework. The synthesis center created by the FRB, CESAB, is a tool of excellence to meet these different objectives.

 
By bringing together the best international scientific teams around scientific synthesis, combining data, models and concepts, the work of CESAB should enable us to better understand the functioning of biodiversity, its state and its dynamics, from local to global scales. By shedding some light on the organization of ecological systems and socio-ecosystems, CESAB should help us address the complexity of these systems and the conditions of their resilience.
 
For the coming year, I hope that the FRB’s team, which I have had the honor of chairing since January 1, and the scientific community will be able to work collectively on ambitious developments and exciting actions. 
 
Denis Couvet,
President of the French Foundation for Biodiversity Research
 
The FRB-CESAB team’s would like to collectively thank Jean-François Silvain, president of the FRB for the last 7 years. His contribution to the CESAB was invaluable and we will miss his insight and guidance. 
 

 

More information about CESAB

 

The project MAESTRO was selected from the FRB-CESAB call for proposals with France Filière Pêche

The project Maestro was selected by the CESAB selection committee from the joint call for proposals between FRB-CESAB and France Filière Pêche. 

 

MAESTRO will be coordinated by Arnaud AUBER and Camille ALBOUY, both working at IFREMER, and will look into climate change effects on exploited marine communities.

 

The project will be based on the analysis and synthesis of existing data, as well as the modelling of the effects of climate change on the biodiversity of European fish stocks and associated fisheries (North-East Atlantic and Mediterranean). The project will contribute to a better understanding of the effect of climate change on fish resources and fisheries, to help develop adaptive fisheries management measures. 

 

 

More information about Maestro

The CESAB is still active!

Despite the health situation, which does not allow researchers to meet at the CESAB in Montpellier, the groups remain active and work remotely. This is the case this week for the participants of the projects FREE and RED-BIO. 

 

 

FREE – about functional rarity 

 

FREE began in 2018 and works on functional rarity: how to define this rarity, how to quantify it and how to identify its causes and consequences. FREE ‘s participants have recently published, in collaboration with researchers from different institutes, an article based on data collected within the project and in which they show that ecologically rare species of birds and terrestrial mammals are also the most threatened (see the press release “Double jeopardy for ecologically rare birds and terrestrial mammals“).

Led by Cyrille Violle (CNRS) and Caroline Tucker (University of Colorado, USA), the group met (online!) this week to catch up on the various work in progress within the project.

 

 

 

RED-BIO –  about spatial ecology and ecological networks 

 

RED-BIO started this year and the participants have not yet had the opportunity to hold their first meeting at the CESAB in Montpellier. However, they were able to organize their first virtual meeting with the support of the FRB’s CESAB team and the Canadian Institute for Ecology and Evolution (CIEE). This is an opportunity for the participants to discuss the project’s progress and its main research question: under which conditions, the interactions between biological communities and the environment could generate spatial heterogeneity in abiotic resources?

The participants cover a wide geographical range from Vancouver, Canada, to Montpellier, France, and this first meeting allowed to clearly see the diversity of ideas within the group, but above all to detect elements of convergence. This project was selected from the joint call SYNERGY in collaboration with the CIEE and is led by Isabelle Gounand (CNRS) and Eric Harvey (Université de Montréal).

 

Red-Bio_W1
First meeting of the Red-Bio group

 

These meetings allow the FRB-CESAB’s groups to continue working on their projects and several scientific articles have been published in the last few months, some of them in high impact journals as Nature Communication, Global Change Biology,… see all the articles here. CESAB’s main objective is to advance knowledge in order to improve our understanding of ecosystems and their biodiversity and thus ensure their effective management and conservation.

Two projects were selected from the FRB-CESAB call for proposals of systematic reviews

Two projects were selected by the steering and selection committee from the FRB-CESAB call for proposals of systematic reviews. Both projects will use systematic mapping, critical assessment and narrative synthesis of the corpus of selected texts. Expected outcomes are publications of review articles in international scientific journals.

 

  • Theme 1: State and future of marine biodiversity in a time of global change 

 

InDySem: Influence of ecological dynamics on production and demand for marine ecosystem services. A systematic review for decision-making.

PI : Eric THIEBAUT, Sorbonne University, Paris (France)

 

  • Theme 2, in partnership with Agropolis Fondation: Solutions for agro-ecological transition that conserve biodiversity 

 

Agri-TE (Agriculture Transition Evidence): Evidence-based synthesis of the impacts of agro-ecological transition at the global scale to support integrated modelling and decision-making

PI: Damien BEILLOUIN – CIRAD, HORTYS, Montpellier (France)

[FRB-CESAB] Second edition of the training course “Data Toolbox for Reproducible Research in Computational Ecology”

The FRB’s Center for the Synthesis and Analysis of Biodiversiry (CESAB) and the GDR EcoStat organised the second edition of the training course Data Toolbox for Reproducible Research in Computational Ecology online. The training took place from the 2nd to the 6th of November 2020. 

 

23 students, engineers and researchers from all over France were able to attend this training course online. 

 

Nicolas CASAJUS (FRB-Cesab), Stéphane DRAY (CNRS LBBE), Olivier GIMENEZ (CNRS Cefe), François GUILHAUMON (IRD Marbec), Nina SCHIETTEKATTE (EPHE Criobe) presented the essential tools for reproducible research (git/GitHub, rmarkdown, drake, R packages, etc.). Participants were also able to put into practice the knowledge acquired at the beginning of the training through projects in sub-groups on the Thursday and the Friday. 

 

Subscribe to the newsletter of the FRB and its CESAB to be kept informed about the next edition of the training course.

[FRB-CESAB] Data Toolbox for Reproducible Research in Computational Ecology – 2020

The CESAB and the GDR EcoStat organize the second edition of the training course “Data Toolbox for Reproducible Research in Computational Ecology“. The objective of this five-day course, in French, is to train young researchers in reproducibility, software development and version management tools (e.g. R, git, markdown, tidyverse, docker), applied to biodiversity research.

The registration fee is 100 € for the week and will be used to compensate the speakers. Students from laboratories member of the GDR EcoStat can apply for financial support from the GDR.

 

 

The training course took place from 2 to 6 November 2020.

 

 

 

You can access the training course’s slides as well as the R codes. 

 

List of speakers (in alphabetical order):

  • Nicolas CASAJUS (FRB-CESAB)
  • Stéphane DRAY (CNRS LBBE)
  • Olivier GIMENEZ (CNRS Cefe)
  • François GUILHAUMON (IRD Marbec)
  • Nina SCHIETTEKATTE (EPHE Criobe)

 

[FRB-CESAB] The training course ecoinfofair2020 is hosted at CESAB

Within the framework of the research infrastructure “National hub for biodiversity data” (in French PNDB: Pôle national des données de biodiversité), the research and actions in progress on making data FAIR – Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable – propose the implementation of products and services, around the biodiversity data, “as FAIR and open as possible”.

 

Thanks to the support of the DevLOG network (network of actors in the field of software development within Higher Education and Research), the PNDB is organizing workshops open to all, including an introductory training aspect.

 

This workshop takes place from October 19 to 21 from multiple remote sites (Concarneau, Paris and CESAB in Montpellier).

 

 

More information

[Call for proposal FRB-CESAB] The call for proposals is now open!

Through its Center for Biodiversity Synthesis and Analysis (CESAB), the French Foundation for Biodiversity Research opens a call for research projects, to fund at least three innovative projects relating to the synthesis of ideas and concepts and/or the analysis of existing data. The main aim of these projects should be to improve scientific knowledge of biodiversity and demonstrate how we can use this knowledge to better protect it. The submitted projects can deal with any topic related to biodiversity, in the fields of natural sciences or human and social sciences.

 

The selected projects will be funded for a period of three years, including: the recruitment of a post-doctoral student for two years, the organization of six meetings of the working group at CESAB and the promotion and publication of the results. The CESAB will also provide logistical, technical and administrative support.

 

  • Pre-proposal deadline: 1st December, 18:00 CET

 

 

More information

[Press release] Double jeopardy for ecologically rare birds and terrestrial mammals

Common assumptions notwithstanding, rare species can play unique and essential ecological roles. After studying two databases that together cover all known terrestrial mammals and birds worldwide, scientists from the CNRS, the Foundation for Biodiversity Research (FRB), Université Grenoble Alpes, and the University of Montpellier have demonstrated that, though these species are found on all continents, they are more threatened by human pressures than ecologically common species and will also be more impacted by future climate change.

 

Thus they are in double jeopardy. The researchers’ findings, published in Nature Communications on October 8th 2020, show that conservation programmes must account for the ecological rarity of species.

 

 

Read the full press release

[Press release] Double jeopardy for ecologically rare birds and terrestrial mammals

Posted on by Marie-Claire Danner

It has long been thought that rare species contribute little to the functioning of ecosystems. Yet recent studies have discredited that idea: rarity is a matter not only of the abundance or geographical range of a species, but also of the distinctiveness of its ecological functions. Because these functionally distinct species are irreplaceable, it is essential we understand their ecological characteristics, map their  distributions, and evaluate how vulnerable they are to current and future threats.

 

Using two databases that collect information on the world’s terrestrial mammals (4,654 species) and birds (9,287 species), scientists from the FRB’s Centre de Synthèse et d’Analyse de la Biodiversité (CESAB), CNRS research laboratories, Université Grenoble Alpes, the University of Montpellier, and partner institutes divided the earth’s surface into 50 × 50 km squares and determined the number of ecologically rare species within each. They showed that ecological rarity among mammals is concentrated in the tropics and the southern hemisphere, with peaks on Indonesian islands, in Madagascar, and in Costa Rica. Species concerned are mostly nocturnal frugivores, like bats and lemurs, and insectivores, such as small rodents. Ecologically rare bird species are mainly found in tropical and subtropical mountainous regions, especially in New Guinea, Indonesia, the Andes, and Central America. The birds in question are essentially frugivorous or nectarivorous, hummingbirds being an example. For birds and terrestrial mammals alike, islands are hotspots of ecological rarity.

 

The researchers also ranked these species according to their IUCN Red List status1 and found they made up the bulk of the threatened species categories. That is, ecologically rare mammals account for 71% of Red List threatened species (versus 2% for ecologically common mammals); and ecologically rare birds, 44.2% (versus 0.5% for ecologically common birds). For each species, they determined (i) anthropogenic pressure exerted; (ii) human development indexes (HDIs) of host countries; and (iii) exposure to armed conflicts. The last two of these elements shape conservation policies. The scientists observed that  human activity had a greater impact on ecologically rare mammals and birds than on more common species, and that these rare species were found in countries of every kind of profile, irrespective of HDI or the prevalence of warfare2 They used models to demonstrate that ecologically rare species will be the greatest victims of climate change, many of them facing extinction within 40 years.

 

This profiling of ecologically rare species makes it clear that current conservation efforts, even in zones already protected, are insufficient. Conservation strategies still too often ignore functional distinctiveness and focus instead on population sizes. But it is essential to take this distinctiveness into account, letting this knowledge guide steps taken to protect these rare species. As they are necessary for healthy ecosystems, a true paradigm shift in conservation policy is needed to ensure their survival.

 

 

For more information... some examples of ecologically rare species

 

 

[1] The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is a leading international NGO focused on nature conservation. It evaluates the risk of extinction faced by different species, assigning each to a particular category (e.g., ‘Least Concern’, ‘Near Threatened’, ‘Vulnerable’, ‘Endangered’, or ‘Extinct’).

[2] For example, the Philippines, where HDI is low and armed conflicts prevalent, are a hive for ecologically rare species (19 terrestrial mammals and 15 birds). Yet Australia, where HDI is high and armed conflict rare, is also home to many ecologically rare species (10 terrestrial mammals and 10 birds).

Rareté écologique des oiseaux et des mammifères terrestres : la double peine

Il a longtemps été supposé que les espèces rares contribuaient faiblement au fonctionnement des écosystèmes. Des études récentes ont cependant remis en cause cette hypothèse, la notion de rareté ne recouvrant pas seulement l’abondance ou l’étendue géographique des espèces, mais aussi l’originalité de leurs rôles écologiques. Ces espèces aux fonctions uniques étant irremplaçables, il est désormais fondamental de comprendre leurs caractéristiques écologiques, de cartographier leur distribution et d’évaluer leur vulnérabilité aux menaces actuelles et futures.

 

À partir de deux bases de données regroupant les espèces de mammifères terrestres (4 654 espèces) et d’oiseaux (9 287 espèces) à l’échelle mondiale, des scientifiques du Centre de synthèse et d’analyse de la biodiversité (Cesab) de la FRB, de laboratoires du CNRS, des universités Grenoble Alpes et de Montpellier et de leurs partenaires ont cartographié le nombre d’espèces écologiquement rares dans des zones géographiques de 50 km par 50 km à travers le monde. Ils ont démontré que la rareté écologique des mammifères se concentre dans les tropiques et dans l’hémisphère sud, avec des pics dans les îles indonésiennes, à Madagascar et au Costa Rica. Il s’agit surtout d’espèces nocturnes et frugivores (par exemple, les chauves-souris ou les lémuriens) ou insectivores (comme certains petits rongeurs). Les espèces d’oiseaux écologiquement rares se rencontrent principalement dans les régions montagneuses tropicales et subtropicales, en particulier en Nouvelle-Guinée, en Indonésie, dans les Andes et en Amérique centrale. Il s’agit essentiellement de espèces frugivores ou nectarivores (comme les oiseaux mouches). Dans les deux cas, la rareté écologique est largement surreprésentée dans les îles.

 

Les chercheuses et chercheurs ont également classé ces espèces en fonction de leur statut sur la liste rouge de l’UICN1. Ils ont ainsi constaté que les espèces écologiquement rares étaient surreprésentées dans les catégories menacées de l’UICN, tant pour les mammifères (71 %) que pour les oiseaux (44,2%) par rapport aux espèces écologiquement communes (2 % et 0,5 %, respectivement). Pour chaque espèce, ils  ont évalué leur exposition à l’impact anthropique, au développement humain (IDH) et aux conflits armés, ces deux derniers influençant les politiques de conservation. Ils ont constaté que les mammifères et les oiseaux écologiquement rares étaient plus touchés par l’influence humaine que les espèces plus communes et qu’ils étaient présents dans tous les types de pays, indépendamment de leur indice de développement ou du nombre de conflits2. Concernant l’influence du changement climatique, les scientifiques ont montré, à l’aide de modélisations, que les oiseaux écologiquement rares seront les plus touchés et que nombre d’entre eux risquent l’extinction d’ici 40 ans.

 

Ce « profilage » des espèces écologiquement rares met en évidence que leur préservation, même dans les zones actuellement protégées, n’est pas suffisante. La conservation des espèces est, aujourd’hui encore, trop souvent basée sur leur identité et leur statut démographique. Pourtant, la prise en compte de l’originalité de leurs rôles écologiques est essentielle et devrait aussi guider les actions de conservation. C’est un vrai changement de paradigme des politiques de conservation qu’il faut désormais mettre en oeuvre pour préserver ces espèces  essentielles au bon fonctionnement des écosystèmes.

 

 

Pour en savoir plus... des exemples d'espèces écologiquement rares

 

 

[1] L’Union internationale pour la conservation de la nature est l’une des principales organisations non gouvernementales mondiales consacrées à la conservation de la nature. Elle classe les espèces selon leur risque d’extinction, de « préoccupation mineure » à « éteint » en passant par « quasi menacée », « vulnérable » ou encore « en danger ».

[2] Par exemple, les Philippines possèdent un indice de développement humain (IDH) faible et un nombre élevé de conflits et sont considérées comme un point chaud de rareté écologique (19 espèces de mammifères et 15 d’oiseaux écologiquement rares) tout comme l’Australie qui, à l’inverse, possède un IDH élevé et un faible nombre de conflits et accueille respectivement 10 espèces de mammifères et d’oiseaux écologiquement rares.

 

[Call for proposals] The FRB-CESAB call on systematic reviews has been extended until the 9th of September

The FRB, through its Centre for the Synthesis and Analysis of Biodiversity (CESAB), is funding 2 postdoctoral researchers for up to 18 months, to carry out systematic reviews, using systematic mapping, critical assessment and narrative synthesis of the corpus of selected texts, in order to write a review article for an international scientific journal.

 

 

The project may go as far as either a completed lexicographical analysis or the extraction of statistical data from the corpus and their analysis (meta-analysis).

 

 

  •  Theme 1: State and future of marine biodiversity in a time of global change 
  • Theme 2, in partnership with Agropolis Fondation: Solutions for agro-ecological transition that conserve biodiversity 

 

Pre-proposals deadline : 9th September 2020, 23:59 CEST

More information can be found on the call page. 

The Link Between Covid-19 and Biodiversity: A Report Commissioned by the French Public Authorities

Posted on by Robin Almansa
The relevant ministries and research institutions members of the AllEnvi alliance (The National Alliance for Environmental Research) have solicited the FRB (The French Foundation for Biodiversity Research) and its Scientific Council to give the biodiversity science community’s perspective on the current crisis, and on the relationship between zoonotic diseases, biodiversity and ecosystem services.
 
In order to disseminate this synthesis to a non-French-speaking audience, an English version is now available.  

 

 

Les plantes adventices au service de l’agriculture : pourquoi sont-elles essentielles et comment les protéger ?

Longtemps considérées comme de « mauvaises herbes » pour la compétition qu’elles exercent sur les plantes cultivées, les plantes adventices se révèlent être en réalité de grandes alliées dans les écosystèmes agricoles. C’est ce que montre l’étude du projet Disco-Weed publiée le 28 mai 2020 dans Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems. À partir de données récoltées sur 184 parcelles cultivées de la Zone Atelier Plaine & Val de Sèvre, une plaine céréalière de 450 km² s’étendant autour du centre d’études biologiques de Chizé (CNRS/La Rochelle Université), les chercheurs ont montré que la diversité des plantes adventices, et en particulier les espèces rares, contribuaient à la fourniture simultanée de plusieurs fonctions écologiques (multifonctionnalité). En effet, les plantes adventices favorisent : le contrôle des ravageurs des cultures ; la fertilité du sol et des fonctions associées aux cycles du Carbone, de l’Azote et du Phosphore ; la pollinisation et le nombre d’espèces d’abeilles sauvages, un indicateur de la biodiversité.

 

Dans la seconde étude publiée le 8 juillet 2020 dans Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, les scientifiques ont cherché à comprendre les mécanismes à l’origine du maintien de la diversité de plantes adventices dans les parcelles agricoles pour favoriser leur présence. L’équipe a étudié la flore adventice dans 444 parcelles cultivées de la même Zone Atelier Plaine & Val de Sèvre. Dans ces différentes parcelles, les chercheurs ont montré que la diversité des adventices est plus importante dans les zones « d’interfaces », situées entre la bordure de parcelle et le premier rang de culture. L’étude montre pour la première fois qu’en plus de leur rôle de refuge pour la diversité de la flore adventice, ces zones non-cultivées agissent comme des ‘corridors’ (milieux reliant fonctionnellement entre eux  des habitats vitaux pour une espèce) entre les différentes parcelles d’un paysage agricole. L’étude montre aussi qu’une plus grande proportion d’agriculture biologique dans le paysage augmente la diversité de plantes adventices dans ces zones d’interfaces, en particulier dans les parcelles en céréales d’hiver. « La diversité des plantes adventices étant essentielle pour la fourniture de multiples fonctions écologiques, une gestion extensive de ces zones est une stratégie pour la préserver dans les paysages agricoles » souligne Sabrina Gaba, chercheuse à l’INRAE, auteure des deux publications et porteuse du projet Disco-Weed. L‘étude met en effet en évidence l’importance de :

  • conserver ces zones d’interfaces ;
  • et favoriser des paysages agricoles diversifiés, incluant des parcelles en agriculture biologique, pour assurer une plus grande diversité de plantes adventices dans les parcelles agricoles et ainsi la fourniture de multiples fonctions écologiques.
 
 

[FRB-CESAB] Newsletter 3 CESAB – July 2020

A WORD FROM THE CESAB SCIENTIFIC DIRECTOR

 

FRB Cesab Nicolas MouquetNicolas Mouquet

 

We have all been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. Even if it is too early to decipher the conditions that triggered the emergence of the coronavirus, it is, as other major epidemics, related to the environmental and biodiversity crisis we are experiencing.

 

Prevention could have been possible but they waited for the crisis to appear before acting. Prevention should be at the basis of our collective behavior, prevention and not fear! Prevention requires that we take the time to understand the world and synthesize complex information into meaningful and useful collective knowledge. What is true for the pandemics is true for the ongoing biodiversity crisis. The need for synthesis has never been so strong, synthesis is the only way of fueling appropriate actions. Furthermore, the timescale needed to achieve adequate and reliable synthesis is far longer than the rapid appearance of human-caused crisis. Synthesis must happen before!

 

Edward O. Wilson once said that the world would be run by “synthesizers, people able to put together the right information at the right time, think critically about it, and make important choices wisely”. For once, he was wrong, the world is not run by synthesizers, it is run by people that base their actions on incomplete information, are behind the limes, do not think critically and do not make wise choices ! This is why, today, we need synthesizers more than ever, and yet I do not see very much of collective effort to support synthesis in the agenda of research funding agencies. At our very small scale, synthesis centres, such as CESAB, are trying to promote the art of synthesis in biodiversity science but the level of funding we are receiving is inversely proportional to the importance of our mission.

 

After every crisis, we hear voices saying that the “world will never be the same again”. This is not true, a simple synthesis of crises during the 20th century show the exact opposite pattern. However, this does not mean that we have to give up, but rather that we need to understand and remember: we must synthesize !

 

Nicolas Mouquet

 

More information about CESAB

 

[Course] Opening of the 2020 course – Data Toolbox for Reproducible Research in Computational Ecology

The CESAB and the GDR EcoStat organize the second edition of the training course “Data Toolbox for Reproducible Research in Computational Ecology“. The objective of this five-day course is to train young researchers in reproducibility, software development and version management tools, applied to biodiversity research.

 

The training course will take place from 2 to 6 November 2020 in the CESAB premises in Montpellier. The course will be in French.

 

You can pre-register for this course by filling in the form available on the event page. Pre-registrations will close on Friday 17th of July at midnight (CEST). As the number of places is limited, registrations will be confirmed during the first week of September.

 

 

[Call for proposals] Opening of the joint call FRB-CESAB / ITTECOP

 

The FRB, with the support of ITTECOP programme, call on the scientific community to submit projects to the Centre for the Synthesis and Analysis of Biodiversity (CESAB), based on the analysis and synthesis of existing data on the theme “Territorial approach to biodiversity: transport infrastructures, natural and agricultural environments” at a European geographic level.

 

 

 

Pre-proposals deadline : 16th July 2020, 13:00 CEST

More information can be found on the call page. 

[Call for proposals] Opening of the joint call FRB-CESAB / France Filière Pêche

Climate change will have a lasting impact on the oceans and seas on a global scale. The impacts of these changes on marine fisheries have become a priority.  

 

FRB, with the support of France Filière Pêche, calls on the scientific community to submit projects to the Centre for the Synthesis and Analysis of Biodiversity (CESAB), based on the analysis and synthesis of existing data, as well as the modelling of the effects of climate change on the biodiversity of European fish stocks and associated fisheries (North-East Atlantic and Mediterranean).

 

The project will contribute to a better understanding of the effect of climate change on fish resources and fisheries, to help develop adaptive fisheries management measures. 

 

Pre-proposals deadline : 11 juin 2020, 13:00 (UTC+1)

More information can be found on the call page. 

Biomimétisme et biodiversité

Posted on by Robin Almansa

Le concept de biomimétisme ou bio-inspiration a été théorisé pour la première fois il y a une vingtaine d’année (cf. Janine Benyus : Biomimicry, Innovation Inspired by Nature). L’approche initiale défend une vision qui considère que cette démarche d’innovation « fait appel au transfert et à l’adaptation des principes et stratégies élaborés par les organismes vivants et les écosystèmes, afin de produire des biens et des services de manière durable, et rendre les sociétés humaines compatibles avec la biosphère ».

 

Le Biomimétisme identifie des solutions naturelles apparues au cours de l’évolution, c’est à dire des fonctions ou des rapports entre structures et fonctions chez les organismes vivants qu’il peut être intéressant de transposer à une fonction d’intérêt humain : sa finalité est de chercher, d’identifier et de d’industrialiser une solution à un problème humain.

 

Cette démarche est nécessairement interdisciplinaire, entre sciences fondamentales et sciences de l’ingénieur, et demande de la part des acteurs économiques la mobilisation de ressources significatives en matière de recherche et développement (R&D).

 

 

Le biomimétisme est la rencontre de plusieurs mondes, l’écologie,
les sciences de l’évolution, la biologie et l’ingénierie,
ou encore une interface entre sciences naturelles et industrie.

 

 

L’association Biomimicry Europa, créée en 2006 pour la promotion du biomimétisme, propose de distinguer trois niveaux d’inspiration : les formes biologiques, les matériaux et processus, les interactions.

 

En matière de recherche et développement, l’Allemagne a longtemps été en tête avec plus de 100 structures de recherche publiques impliquées et dix réseaux territoriaux spécialisés. Le Royaume-Uni et la Suisse sont aussi deux pays fortement impliqués en Europe.

 

En France, l’implication est plus récente, mais actuellement, plus de 175 équipes de recherche s’intéressent au sujet et plus de 100 entreprises font appel à cette démarche. Plusieurs Groupements de recherche (GDR) et Réseaux thématiques pluridisciplinaires (RTP) génèrent des initiatives structurantes autour de la chimie bio-inspirée, la mécanique des matériaux biologiques ou les micro-technologies inspirées des insectes. Le centre européen d’excellence en biomimétisme (Ceebios), créé en 2012, fédère un nombre croissant de grandes entreprises comme L’Oréal, LVMH, Engie, Vicat, Saint-Gobain, et bénéficie du soutien du ministère de la transition écologique et solidaire.

 

Les régions les plus impliquées en matière de R&D (compétences académiques) sont l’Ile-de-France, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes et Nouvelle-Aquitaine, puis, à un niveau sensiblement équivalent, Occitanie, Provence-Alpes-Côte-d’Azur et Grand-Est.

 

[FRB-CESAB] Newsletter 2 CESAB – January 2020

A WORD FROM THE CESAB SCIENTIFIC DIRECTOR

 

2020 will be the year of biodiversity! The biodiversity crisis has become central in the international agenda after the publication by the IPBES of the Global Assessment Report on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in 2019. 2020 will see major events with the IUCN world conservation congress to be held in Marseille in June and the COP15 Biodiversity in Kunming, among many others.

 

Biodiversity synthesis centres have fueled this dynamic by promoting the scientiflc synthesis on biodiversity and helping researchers to adapt to the exponential increase in available data and to the globalization of scientiflc ecology. We can be proud of what have been achieved but are also concerned about what still need to be done and how we will contribute to assess the knowledge gaps on biodiversity.

 

2019 have been a year of transition for the CESAB, we have moved to Montpellier and have created a new ecosystem, integrating many new partners, and experiencing new tools to promote biodiversity synthesis. We have launched joint calls with other synthesis centers (German sDiv, Canadian CIEE) and French scientiflc actors (AFB, Labex Cemeb), have organized a training course for young scientists on reproductibility in ecological data science and held an international conference on large scale conservation in Montpellier. This has been possible thanks to the help of the incredible FRB team dedicated to CESAB and more generally of the FRB, and to the dynamism of our many ongoing working groups.

 

2020 will be the year we consolidate this ecosystem, open new ambitious calls for synthesis groups and amplify the momentum. We now have the trust and support from our founding members and partners and are trying to work together to make CESAB contribute even more to the biodiversity synthesis!

 

Best wishes for this new year.

Nicolas Mouquet

 

More information about CESAB

 

[FRB-CESAB] Data Toolbox for Reproducible Research in Computational Ecology – 2019

The CESAB and the GDR EcoStat organize the training course “Data toolbox for reproducible research in computational ecology“. The objective of this five-day training is to train young researchers in reproducibility, software development and version management tools (e.g. R, git, markdown, tidyverse, docker), applied to biodiversity research.

 

 

The training course will take place from 2 to 6 December 2019 in the CESAB premises in Montpellier. The course will be in French. Price is 350 € for the week, including lunch. Travel, accommodation and evening meals will be at the expense of the participants. Students from laboratories member of the GDR EcoStat may apply for financial support from the GDR.

 
 
 
List of speakers (in alphabetical order):
  • Nicolas CASAJUS (FRB-CESAB)
  • Stéphane DRAY (CNRS LBBE)
  • Olivier GIMENEZ (CNRS Cefe)
  • Loreleï GUÉRY (IRD Marbec)
  • François GUILHAUMON (IRD Marbec)
  • Nina SCHIETTEKATTE (Criobe)

[FRB-CESAB] First CESAB training course

From 2 to 6 December, the FRB’s Center for the Synthesis and Analysis of Biodiversiry (CESAB) and the GDR EcoStat organised a training course entitled Data Toolbox for Reproducible Research in Computational Ecology.

 

 

17 students, engineers and researchers from all over France came to attend this training at CESAB’s premises in Montpellier.

 

Nicolas CASAJUS (FRB-Cesab), Stéphane DRAY (CNRS LBBE), Olivier GIMENEZ (CNRS Cefe), Loreleï GUÉRY (IRD Marbec), François GUILHAUMON (IRD Marbec), Nina SCHIETTEKATTE (EPHE Criobe) presented the essential tools for reproducible research (git/GitHub, rmarkdown, drake, R packages, etc.). Participants put into practice the knowledge acquired at the beginning of the training through projects in sub-groups. Everyone left satisfied with this experience.

 

Building on this success, a second edition will be organised in 2020. Subscribe to the newsletter of the FRB and its CESAB to be kept informed.

 

Formation Cesab décembre 2019

[FRB-CESAB] Challenges and opportunities in large-scale conservation

 

The working group Pelagic from the Centre for the Synthesis and Analysis of Biodiversity (CESAB) will hold a symposium in Montpellier on Friday the 29th of November 2019. During this symposium a group of international researchers will present the new challenges associated with monitoring both wildlife and human activities in protected areas using up to date technologies. 

 

 

Organizing Committee:
  • David MOUILLOT (University of Montpellier, FR)
  • Tom LETESSIER (Zoological Society of London, UK)
 

Speakers:

  • Jessica MEEUWIG (University of Western Australia, AU)
  • Tom LETESSIER (Zoological Society of London, UK)
  • Marc CHAUMONT (University of Nîmes, LIRMM, FR)
  • Ana NUNO (University of Exeter, UK)
  • Rachel JONES (Zoological Society of London, UK)

Analytic report on the use of DSI on genetic resources for food and agriculture

Posted on by Robin Almansa

The main findings of the report were therefore:

 

  • To propose an appellation to replace the term “digital sequence information” with “digital data on genetic resource sequences” or “digital sequence data”;
  • To define a typology following the chronology of the bioinformatics protocol for processing sequencer data outputs: raw data, cleaned data, analysed data;
  • To list the main applications of this digital data.

 

 

The report was launched during a seminar that took place on Monday, 8 October, at the House of Oceans in Paris. The seminar was attended by almost 50 people with different backgrounds (representatives of ministries, diplomats, researchers, industrialists, journalists). The seminar’s meeting minutes and the speakers’ presentations are available on the FRB website.

[FRB-CESAB] Two calls open early December 2019

  • Joint call FRB-CESAB / CIEE : launch December 3, 2019

Biodiversity in a time of global change

 

The Canadian Institute of Ecology and Evolution (CIEE) and the Centre for the Synthesis and Analysis of Biodiversity (CESAB) of the French Foundation for Biodiversity Research (FRB) offer a joint call for working groups that include researchers based primarily in Canada and France, on the topic “Biodiversity in a time of Global Change”.

 

Two working groups of eight researchers will be funded for two meetings each (the first one in 2020 in Vancouver – Canada; the second one in 2021 in Montpellier – France).

 

The full proposals should be sent by e-mail before 31/01/2020 and the selection will be made by the 06/03/2020.

 

  • Joint call FRB-CESAB / CeMEB: launch December 9, 2019

Short term stays for foreign researchers (2-3 months)

 

The CeMEB LabEx (Mediterranean Environment and Biodiversity Centre) and the Centre for the Synthesis and Analysis of Biodiversity (CESAB) of the French Foundation for Biodiversity Research (FRB) offer financial support for hosting 2 foreign researchers for short stays at the CESAB in Montpellier (from 2 months minimum to 3 months maximum).

 

The full proposals should be sent by e-mail before 12/03/2020 and the selection will be made by the 15/05/2020.

Call for an ambitious COP 15 Biodiversity and for bridging the Rio conventions

Posted on by Pauline Coulomb

The 15th Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) will be held in China at the end of 2020. Countries member of the convention will be invited to announce specific commitments to biodiversity conservation.

It would be dramatic if the different states gathered on this occasion could only agree on a lower common denominator in terms of commitments and actions and if the decisions of the COP were not up to the challenge of the collapse of biodiversity.

States must commit to clear, precise, multiple and quantifiable actions, giving priority to the rapid and effective reduction of major pressure factors, while developing large-scale protection actions in order to rapidly safeguard what remains of biodiversity and restore its broad capacity for evolution.

Private stakeholders must also support this approach by working on reducing their sector-specific pressures on biodiversity.

Finally, citizens must be the driving force behind a major change in the way we consume, perceive and use biodiversity.

 

The two platforms of global scientific expertise, which are considering the future of biodiversity (IPBES) and of climate (IPCC), generally agree on the urgent need to quickly revise unsustainable production processes that aggravate both biodiversity erosion and climate change.

 

IPBES points out in its global assessment of the state of biodiversity presented in May 2019, that biodiversity is diminishing at an increasing rate, leading to the degradation of soil and ecosystem functioning. As a result, the services that humans receive from biodiversity are also declining rapidly, threatening the future of our societies. The direct drivers behind this degradation of biodiversity are well known and their respective importance has been assessed: land-use change at the expense of poorly humanized ecosystems and biotopes; exploitation, and often overexploitation, of marine and land resources; increasing chemical and physical pollution; climate change; and the multiplication of invasive alien species. All these drivers are aggravating each other and are also reinforced by indirect drivers: human population growth and the full range of socio-economic and political processes that lead to unsustainable consumption of the planet’s resources.

IPBES stresses the multiple negative impacts of intensive agricultural production systems on biodiversity, two excesses of which are now well documented. On the one hand, the excessive use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers; and on the other hand, the increase in the production of plant-based proteins for animal feed which induces long-distance trade and relocates the negative impacts in regions with high biodiversity, such as tropical forests. Projections by 2050 show that without major lifestyle changes, the erosion of biodiversity and the loss of services that humans receive from the living world will continue.

 

Since the publication of the IPBES Global Assessment, the IPCC has produced a report on the links between climate change and land use, including through agricultural and forestry activities. The key messages of this report are consistent with those found in the IPBES assessment on land degradation and restoration published in 2018. The IPCC report highlights the importance of the contribution of the entire world food system to the production of greenhouse gases and recalls that changes in land cover, use and condition influence regional and global climates. It also recalls that climate change is a source of increased risks to the world food system and biodiversity, risks that will become even greater as food consumption, water needs and the consumption of multiple resources continue to increase. The IPCC calls for actions to adapt to and reduce climate change by highlighting the co-benefits that biodiversity can expect from them. The IPCC therefore calls for a sustainable management of soils and ecosystems as the only way to halt their degradation, maintain their productivity and contribute to the adaptation and the reduction of climate change. The IPCC emphasizes the need to reduce food waste and other waste while also accompanying the change in diets. Finally, the IPCC stresses the need to act quickly and to focus on the short term. It also highlights in its projections the need to increase forest areas.

 

In addition, the Conference of the Parties to the Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), the third of the Rio Conventions, was held in India in September 2019, calling for a halt to land degradation and for its restoration to preserve ecosystem functioning and services, and to enhance food security. In the New Delhi Declaration calling for investment in land conservation and for unlocking all opportunities for action, COP Desertification underlines the importance of taking into account land management solutions against global warming and for biodiversity conservation.

 

Finally, the New York Declaration on Forests initiative, initiated in 2014 by major research institutions, think-tanks and NGOs, noting the continuing deforestation, particularly of tropical rainforests, solemnly called for the protection and restoration of the world’s forests to preserve their biodiversity and carbon sequestration capacity, thus joining the COPs in their call for governments to engage in systemic change.

 

In all cases, the findings of these bodies relay the warnings made by scientists over a long period of time, and their recommendations have been acknowledged or endorsed by a majority of countries around the world. Therefore governments cannot say that the warning has not been given and that the urgency of the necessary actions in favor of biodiversity has not been highlighted. Some countries quickly made commitments, such as France which announced a significant increase in the area of national protected areas, a major initiative, but which only partially meets the needs for essential actions, particularly in the short term.

 

However, significant differences of opinion persist when it comes to strategies and options to restore biodiversity or to mitigate climate change.

 

This is the case, for example, of the inclusion of the large development of energy crop areas in the IPCC scenarios, which, on a large scale, would have a major negative impact on biodiversity – and to which IPBES drew the attention of decision-makers. The same applies to the development of BECCS (Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage) energy technologies or the development of intensive afforestation strategies. It is on these topics that exchanges between climate and biodiversity experts on one hand and between the various international strategic and political coordination mechanisms (UN conventions and agencies) on the other hand should be the most significant. It is crucial to recall that the fight against climate change is not an end in itself, but an urgent and indispensable means to enable the living, human and non-human, to continue their pathways of life and evolution. The fight against climate change cannot therefore be implemented by worsening the biodiversity situation. More than ever, FRB’s slogan, “biodiversity and climate, same fight”, remains clearly relevant.

 

Beyond COP 15 Biodiversity, COP Desertification or the forthcoming COP Climate, the Conferences of the Parties of the three Rio Conventions must move forward together. It raises the question of the necessary global coordination of actions that are likely to put the planet on a pathway ensuring both the future of human populations and of all living beings on mainland, islands and in the seas, without simple, caricatural solutions and while respecting freedoms and cultural differences.

Facing global challenges, it is no longer possible to continue to think in silos: climate on one hand, biodiversity or desertification on the other, and to allow solutions to emerge that will be poor compromises, not allowing all the major global challenges to be addressed simultaneously and with the same level of priority.

 

Several alternatives are possible to make solutions recommended by international bodies relevant to all the major challenges we are facing:

 

  • Merge the three Rio Conventions into a single Environment Convention that would address all environmental issues under the United Nations Environment Programme, UNEP. This would make possible to consider jointly and in full synergy the challenges of climate, land desertification and biodiversity, and to provide decision-makers with suggestions for commitments and actions that would not favor the solution of one problem at the expense of others. It would also provide a stronger direct link to an updated version of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, which could then be called the Goals for a Sustainable Planet. The scientific and technological subsidiary bodies (SBSTA and SBSTTA) of the conventions would also merge. Simultaneously, it should be decided whether or not to institutionalize the relationships between the scientific expertise platforms, IPCC and IPBES, and to ensure that the merger of the three conventions, by creating a very large structure that is difficult to manage in practice, does not break their current internal dynamics.
  • Maintain the three existing COPs and establish, under UNEP, a coordinating umbrella structure to harmonize and make the decisions of the COPs more coherent and reliable. This could be a simple structure combining the secretariats of the conventions and the heads of the associated scientific expertise structures. As in the previous option, international platforms of scientific expertise would be invited to collaborate much more effectively than at present. Such an umbrella structure must be operated with a strong need for reactivity.
  • Establish a new way of operating between the Conventions so that they rely on the work of all dedicated scientific and technological support bodies (SBSTA and SBSTTA) and international scientific expertise platforms, in particular IPCC and IPBES. This option would require institutionalizing an independent platform of scientific expertise on desertification, such as the Global Soil Partnership, currently under FAO.
  • Formally and rapidly establish operational collaboration between all scientific and technical support bodies and scientific expertise platforms such as the IPCC and IPBES so that no report from one or the other is published without having benefited from the validation of the other expert groups. This may involve the publication of joint reports or an assessment of the recommendations made to the states, with a systematic exclusion of solutions that would undermine the challenges of fighting climate change, biodiversity erosion or desertification. The latter option would be the easiest to implement and the conventions would be able to work from a base of expertise that is not necessarily common, but whose recommendations have been aligned as much as possible.

 

In any case, it is becoming urgent to promote strong scientific consensus that can form the basis of ambitious international decisions going beyond sectoral visions and political divisions affecting our future and the future of all life forms.

[CESAB] The project FAIR_Data hosted by CESAB

The CESAB of the FRB is an internationally renowned research structure whose objective is to implement innovative work to synthesize and analyse existing data sets in the field of biodiversity.

CESAB now offers researchers the opportunity to meet and make progress on their projects combining data synthesis and biodiversity. Today, it is inaugurating a new collaboration with the FAIR project by hosting a meeting.

The growing need to make research data ” Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable” (hence the principles of FAIR data) has led to the creation of a think tank within the Montpellier academic community. The objective of this group is to apply the principles of FAIR data and to develop procedures for their implementation in different disciplinary fields: biodiversity/ecology, agronomy, engineering sciences, human and social sciences. It was set up in spring 2019 at the initiative of LabEx CeMEB, NUMEV, Agro and the DigitAg convergence institute.

The Reflection Group is meeting today for the second time with the objective of designing a data management plan and identifying the relevant terminology resources (metadata, controlled vocabularies) to produce “FAIR” data sets.

 

 

Principal Investigator :

Eric GARNIER (CNRS)

 

Participants :

Cédric BOURRASSET – ATOS ; Sophie BOUTIN – Université de Montpellier ; Marie-Christine CORMIER SALEM – AGROPOLIS ; Olivier GIMENEZ – CNRS ; François GREGOIRE – ATOS ; Mylène JONQUET – LIRMM ; Carole KERDELHUE – INRA ; Anne LAURENT – Université Montpellier ; Emmanuel LE CLEZIO – Université Montpellier ; Nicolas MOUQUET – CNRS-FRB ; Loïc MAISONNASSE – ATOS ; Antoine OLGIATI – ATOS ; Andrea PARMEGGIANI – Université Montpellier  ; Pierre PERE – IRSTEA ; Pascal PONCELET – LIRMM ; Lionel TORRES – Université Montpellier ; Olivier TORRES – UPV.

 

[FRB-CESAB] Newsletter 1 CESAB – July 2019

A WORD FROM THE SCIENTIFIC DIRECTOR

 

FRB Cesab Nicolas Mouquet

Nicolas Mouquet


The CESAB has moved to Montpellier after 8 years of in Aix-en-Provence. 2018 has been a year of transition and we are still adjusting to our new environment in 2019! Moving has been an incredible challenge and I want to thank here the former CESAB director and staff as well as the FRB for having worked hard to make it happen.By bringing together the best international scientific teams around scientific synthesis, combining data, models and concepts, the work of CESAB should enable us to better understand the functioning of biodiversity, its state and its dynamics, from local to global scales. By shedding some light on the organization of ecological systems and socio-ecosystems, CESAB should help us address the complexity of these systems and the conditions of their resilience.
 
Moving to Montpellier is for the CESAB a great opportunity to evolve and match the new challenges of biodiversity science. There is a real need for us to secure more funding for open calls but also to open our calls and the CESAB to other actors concerned with biodiversity research and conservation. IPBES 7th Plenary in Paris has been an incredible catalyzer for biodiversity science, and I hope we will meet together the challenge we face to provide both an understanding of biodiversity dynamics and large-scale predictions of its fate in a changing world.
 

For us, these last months have been the occasion for rethinking our functioning and to test some new tools and initiatives, we have hired new staff, launched two specific calls: one with the AFB (French Agency for Biodiversity) and one joint call with the sDiv (German Biodiversity Synthesis Center), renewed our scientific comity, are working to propose formation for students, and have done our best to help the ongoing and new CESAB groups. This has been done in only few months, which illustrates our collective motivation to continue the CESAB and to help more than ever the scientific community working on biodiversity. I want here to thanks the new FRB staff dedicated to CESAB without whom I would never have survived to this first half of 2019 and all FRB team for their trust and help! I also want to make homage to Eric Garnier and Alison Specht, former scientific directors of the CESAB, who have worked to make the CESAB a leading research organization with a high scientific level and international influence.

 

Biodiversity centers are the right tools to meet the challenges we face with the biodiversity crisis. I really hope 2019 will be the year when public and private actors concerned with the state of biodiversity, will realize how much we have a collective responsibility to give these centers the means they need to support the science of biodiversity synthesis! 

 

Nicolas Mouquet

 
 

More information about CESAB

 

Le réchauffement climatique, un bouleversement pour les écosystèmes et les scientifiques

Posted on by Pauline Coulomb

Le changement climatique n’est pas un état problématique passager, mais bien une situation pérenne qu’il va falloir considérer dans sa globalité. Il nécessite une adaptation importante des écosystèmes et de ceux qui les étudient. Sous nos latitudes tempérées, ces changements prennent une signification particulière en modifiant la longueur relative des saisons. Or, l’arrivée du printemps rythme le cycle annuel de toute la biodiversité. La remontée printanière des températures s’accompagne d’une reprise explosive de la végétation. Les jeunes feuilles fournissent une nourriture de qualité pour une multitude d’invertébrés herbivores, aux premiers rangs desquels, les chenilles de papillons. Eux-mêmes sont alors consommés par des carnivores. Ce formidable accroissement de la biomasse va, en particulier, permettre aux prédateurs de se reproduire. Ce phénomène est cependant éphémère : les jeunes pousses tendres se chargent rapidement de tanin et deviennent indigestes. On assiste ainsi à un pic d’abondance de nourriture et chaque niveau de la chaîne alimentaire tente de se synchroniser sur le pic dont il dépend.

Biodiversity within the “Environment” theme of the 7th framework programme (2007-2010)

Posted on by Pauline Coulomb

At the European level, biodiversity research projects can be funded through a range of tools, including the seventh framework programme for research and development (FP7) in which the “Environment” theme is recognized as a major source of funding. Indeed, the European Commission provides important funding support for a range of research projects encompassing several sub-activities, including biodiversity, as part of this FP7 “Environment” theme.

 

 

Biodiversity, a cross-disciplinary topic, not identified as such in the FP7 “Environment” theme

 

Within the FP7, biodiversity appears in various sub-activities: “Pressures on environment & climate”, “Marine environments”, “Sustainable management of resources”…, but there is not a unique and delimited entry point for funding biodiversity research. Consequently, assessing the results of FP7 funding for the research community working on biodiversity and associated issues is complex.

To overcome this difficulty, the FRB conducted the present study – downloadable from the resources below – based on the results of the projects submitted to the FP7. The main goal of the study is to assess the importance of biodiversity among the FP7 “Environment” theme, through the sub-activities identified. Temporal trends of funding are also assessed for the 2007-2010 period, and the relative performances of the participating countries are compared.