Ecology of Aquatic Plant Communities and the Impact of Multiple Pressures

ECOVEA

The ECOVEA team conducts research in aquatic plant community ecology in the context of multiple pressures.

Missions

Macrophyte
© Aurélien Jamoneau

Within the EABX unit, the research conducted by the ECOVEA team (Ecology of Aquatic Plant Communities and the Impact of Multiple Pressures) focuses on understanding the biodiversity and functioning of plant communities (macrophytes, phytoplankton, phytobenthos) in freshwater ecosystems, as well as their responses to natural and anthropogenic disturbances. In summary, the team's research activities revolve around the following themes: assessing exposure to contaminants, the impact of alterations to hydrological systems on plant communities at different biological organization levels, biodiversity, vulnerability, and adaptation to global changes.

 

 

Operationally, based on acquired knowledge, these works aim at producing tools for diagnosing the ecological status of water bodies. ECOVEA's expertise in bioindication, recognized at national and European levels, is also valued through strong involvement in supporting water policies by developing methods and tools for assessing the ecological quality of continental waters and supporting their operational implementation (knowledge and know-how transfer, contribution to policy guidance).

The in situ and experimental research activities of ECOVEA mobilize equipment, infrastructures, and staff from two platforms:

 

ECOVEA_puzzle

 

Research axes

Through in situ, experimental approaches, or data analysis, the team conducts research aimed at understanding the responses of aquatic plant biodiversity to global changes. By crossing the disciplinary fields of ecology and ecotoxicology, at complementary study scales ranging from molecules to communities (phytoplankton, biofilms, and macrophytes), the team addresses the following questions:

Anabaena_ChristopheLaplace
© Christophe Laplace-Treyture
  • Interspecific regulation capacities through molecules released into the environment by aquatic organisms, effects, and ecological role of allelopathic relationships.
  • Spatio-temporal dynamics of aquatic plant biodiversity in the context of global changes (artificialization of natural habitats, eutrophication of waters, biological invasions, and climate change).
  • Structure and response of aquatic plant communities to physical and chemical alterations of hydrosystems.
  • Ecotoxicological risks for organisms at the basis of trophic networks and impacts on key ecological functions.
  • Intracellular mechanisms involved in the response to toxic stress and altered metabolic pathways (including lipids).

 

Anabaena_SylviaMoreira
© Sylvia Moreira

Competencies

The team's identity relies on a strong interdisciplinarity coupling between environmental chemistry, ecotoxicology, and community ecology. We also have expertise in statistical analysis and modeling.

 

 

Disciplines

Physicochemistry, environmental chemistry of synthetic organic micropollutants, biochemistry, community ecology, functional ecology, plant hydrobiology, hydroecology, ecotoxicology, ecophysiology, lipidomics, metabolomics, macroecology, biostatistics, modeling.

 

Team composition

Head

  • MORIN Soizic, Aquatic Microbial Ecotoxicology, Research Director (HDR)

Permanent staff

Contract staff

Modification date: 05 September 2024 | Publication date: 18 June 2023 | By: MP