Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Ecological Society of America
Résumé : Although niche-based and stochastic processes, including dispersal limitation and demographic stochasticity, can each contribute to community assembly, it is difficult to quantify the relative importance of each process in natural vegetation. Here, we extend Shipley's maxent model (Community Assembly by Trait Selection, CATS) for the prediction of relative abundances to incorporate both trait-based filtering and dispersal limitation from the larger landscape and develop a statistical decomposition of the proportions of the total information content of relative abundances in local communities that are attributable to trait-based filtering, dispersal limitation, and demographic stochasticity. We apply the method to tree communities in a mature, species-rich, tropical forest in French Guiana at 1-, 0.25- and 0.04-ha scales. Trait data consisted of species' means of 17 functional traits measured over both the entire meta-community and separately in each of nine 1-ha plots. Trait means calculated separately for each site always gave better predictions. There was clear evidence of trait-based filtering at all spatial scales. Trait-based filtering was the most important process at the 1-ha scale (34%), whereas demographic stochasticity was the most important at smaller scales (37-53%). Dispersal limitation from the meta-community was less important and approximately constant across scales (similar to 9%), and there was also an unresolved association between site-specific traits and meta-community relative abundances. Our method allows one to quantify the relative importance of local niche-based and meta-community processes and demographic stochasticity during community assembly across spatial and temporal scales.
ISSN: 0012-9658

hal-01032424
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01032424

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Wiley
Résumé : [b]1.[/b] Plant functional traits, in particular specific leaf area (SLA), wood density and seed mass, are often good predictors of individual tree growth rates within communities. Individuals and species with high SLA, low wood density and small seeds tend to have faster growth rates.[br/][br/][b]2.[/b] If community-level relationships between traits and growth have general predictive value, then similar relationships should also be observed in analyses that integrate across taxa, biogeographic regions and environments. Such global consistency would imply that traits could serve as valuable proxies for the complex suite of factors that determine growth rate, and, therefore, could underpin a new generation of robust dynamic vegetation models. Alternatively, growth rates may depend more strongly on the local environment or growth–trait relationships may vary along environmental gradients.[br/][br/][b]3.[/b] We tested these alternative hypotheses using data on 27 352 juvenile trees, representing 278 species from 27 sites on all forested continents, and extensive functional trait data, 38% of which were obtained at the same sites at which growth was assessed. Data on potential evapotranspiration (PET), which summarizes the joint ecological effects of temperature and precipitation, were obtained from a global data base.[br/][br/][b]4.[/b] We estimated size-standardized relative height growth rates (SGR) for all species, then related them to functional traits and PET using mixed-effect models for the fastest growing species and for all species together.[br/][br/][b]5.[/b] Both the mean and 95th percentile SGR were more strongly associated with functional traits than with PET. PET was unrelated to SGR at the global scale. SGR increased with increasing SLA and decreased with increasing wood density and seed mass, but these traits explained only 3.1% of the variation in SGR. SGR–trait relationships were consistently weak across families and biogeographic zones, and over a range of tree statures. Thus, the most widely studied functional traits in plant ecology were poor predictors of tree growth over large scales.[br/][br/][b]6.[/b] Synthesis. We conclude that these functional traits alone may be unsuitable for predicting growth of trees over broad scales. Determining the functional traits that predict vital rates under specific environmental conditions may generate more insight than a monolithic global relationship can offer.
ISSN: 0022-0477

hal-01204226
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01204226
DOI : 10.1111/1365-2745.12401
PRODINRA : 307144

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Wiley
Résumé : 1. Functional traits are posited to explain interspecific differences in performance, but these relationships are difficult to describe for long-lived organisms such as trees, which exhibit strong ontogenetic changes in demographic rates. Here, we use a size-dependent model of tree growth to test the extent to which of 17 functional traits related to leaf and stem economics, adult stature and seed size predict the ontogenetic trajectory of tree growth.[br/] 2. We used a Bayesian modelling framework to parameterize and contrast three size-dependent diameter growth models using 16 years of census data from 5524 individuals of 50 rain forest tree species: a size-dependent model, a size-dependent model with species-specific parameters and a size-dependent model based on functional traits.[br/] 3. Most species showed clear hump-shaped ontogenetic growth trajectories and, across species, maximum growth rate varied nearly tenfold, from 0.58 to 5.51 mm year(-1). Most species attained their maximum growth at 60% of their maximum size, whereas the magnitude of ontogenetic changes in growth rate varied widely among species.[br/] 4. The Trait-Model provided the best compromise between explained variance and model parsimony and needed considerably fewer parameters than the model with species terms.[br/] 5. Stem economics and adult stature largely explained interspecific differences in growth strategy. Maximum absolute diameter growth rates increased with increasing adult stature and leaf delta(13)C and decreased with increasing wood density. Species with light wood had the greatest potential to modulate their growth, resulting in hump-shaped ontogenetic growth curves. Seed size and leaf economics, generally thought to be of paramount importance for plant performance, had no significant relationships with the growth parameters.[br/] 6. Synthesis. Our modelling approach offers a promising way to link demographic parameters to their functional determinants and hence to predict growth trajectories in species-rich communities with little parameter inflation, bridging the gap between functional ecology and population demography.
ISSN: 0022-0477

hal-01032387
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01032387
DOI : 10.1111/j.1365-2745.2011.01883.x

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD CSIRO Publishing
Résumé :  
Leaf traits of tropical tree species display an important inter-specific diversity, as detected for instance in the large range of values of leaf mass : area ratio (LMA). They also demonstrate a large irradiance-elicited plasticity, but there is still debate whether this plasticity differs among species. To address this question, leaf traits were recorded on saplings from 12 rainforest tree species in French Guiana, grown under approximately 5, 10 and 20% relative irradiance. Fifteen structural and physiological leaf traits related to photosynthesis were measured. The irradiance-elicited plasticity was quantified using a relative distance plasticity index. A large inter-specific diversity was detected for all leaf traits. A principal component analysis opposed species with a large mass-based photosynthesis, respiration, N content and photosynthetic nitrogen use efficiency, to species with a large leaf mass : area ratio, LMA. The two pioneer species used in this study displayed the largest photosynthetic capacity (and lowest LMA) and ranked at one end of the species continuum. Relative irradiance affected almost all traits with the exception of mass-based photosynthesis.Aweak interaction was found between species and relative irradiance and the species ranking was maintained among relative irradiance treatments for the majority of the traits. A principal component analysis of the values of relative-distance plasticity index failed to reveal any consistent patterns of traits or species.Weconcluded that irradiance-elicited plasticity of leaf traits was similar among species irrespective ofLMA and successional status, despite the occurrence of a large inter-specific diversity for the investigated traits
ISSN: 1445-4408

hal-01032129
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01032129
DOI : 10.1071/FP09119

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Oxford University Press (OUP)
Résumé : International audience
Functional ecology has long considered the support function as important, but its biomechanical complexity is only just being elucidated. We show here that it can be described on the basis of four biomechanical traits, two safety traits against winds (SW) and self-buckling (SB), and two motricity traits involved in sustaining an upright position, tropic motion velocity (MV) and posture control (PC). All these traits are integrated at the tree scale, combining tree size and shape together with wood properties. The assumption of trait constancy has been used to derive allometric scaling laws, but it was more recently found that observing their variations among environments and functional groups, or during ontogeny, provides more insights into adaptive syndromes of tree shape and wood properties. However, over-simplified expressions have often been used, possibly concealing key adaptive drivers. An extreme case of over-simplification is the use of wood basic density as a proxy for safety. Actually, since wood density is involved in stiffness, loads and construction costs, the impact of its variations on safety is non-trivial. Moreover, other wood features, especially the microfibril angle (MFA), are also involved. Furthermore, wood is not only stiff and strong, but it also acts as a motor for MV and PC. The relevant wood trait for that is maturation strain asymmetry. Maturation strains vary with cell wall characteristics such as MFA, rather than with wood density. Finally, the need for further studies about the ecological relevance of branching patterns, motricity traits and growth responses to mechanical loads is discussed.
ISSN: 0022-0957

hal-00909904
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00909904
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00909904/document
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00909904/file/Integrative_biomechanics_for_tree_Fournier_al.pdf
DOI : 10.1093/jxb/ert279

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD
Résumé : International audience
Recent studies have shown that accounting for intraspecific trait variation (ITV) may better address major questions in community ecology. However, a general picture of the relative extent of ITV compared to interspecific trait variation in plant communities is still missing. Here, weconducted a meta-analysis of the relative extent of ITV within and among plant communities worldwide, using a data set encompassing 629 communities (plots) and 36 functional traits. Overall, ITV accounted for 25% of the total trait variation within communities and 32% of the totaltrait variation among communities on average. The relative extent of ITV tended to be greater for whole-plant (e.g. plant height) vs. organ-level traits and for leaf chemical (e.g. leaf N and P concentration) vs. leaf morphological (e.g. leaf area and thickness) traits. The relative amount of ITV decreased with increasing species richness and spatial extent, but did not vary with plant growth form or climate. These results highlight global patterns in the relative importance of ITV in plant communities, providing practical guidelines for when researchers should include ITV in trait-based community and ecosystem studies.
Ecology Letters

hal-01237101
https://hal-univ-rennes1.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01237101
DOI : 10.1111/ele.12508
PUBMED : 26415616

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Wiley
Résumé : International audience
BACKGROUND: African Americans with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) have a lower survival rate than whites. This study investigated the functional importance of ancestry-informative single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in HNSCC and also examined the effect of functionally important genetic elements on racial disparities in HNSCC survival. METHODS: Ancestry-informative SNPs, RNA sequencing, methylation, and copy number variation data for 316 oral cavity and laryngeal cancer patients were analyzed across 178 DNA repair genes. The results of expression quantitative trait locus (eQTL) analyses were also replicated with a Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) data set. The effects of eQTLs on overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were evaluated. RESULTS: Five ancestry-related SNPs were identified as cis-eQTLs in the DNA polymerase beta (POLB) gene (false discovery rate [FDR]<0.01). The homozygous/heterozygous genotypes containing the African allele showed higher POLB expression than the homozygous white allele genotype (P<.001). A replication study using a GEO data set validated all 5 eQTLs and also showed a statistically significant difference in POLB expression based on genetic ancestry (P=.002). An association was observed between these eQTLs and OS (P<.037; FDR<0.0363) as well as DFS (P=.018 to.0629; FDR<0.079) for oral cavity and laryngeal cancer patients treated with platinum-based chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. Genotypes containing the African allele were associated with poor OS/DFS in comparison with homozygous genotypes harboring the white allele. CONCLUSIONS: Analyses show that ancestry-related alleles could act as eQTLs in HNSCC and support the association of ancestry-related genetic factors with survival disparities in patients diagnosed with oral cavity and laryngeal cancer. (C) 2016 American Cancer Society.
ISSN: 0008-543X

hal-01519253
https://hal-univ-rennes1.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01519253
DOI : 10.1002/cncr.30457
PUBMED : 27906459

Éditeur(s) : Montpellier SupAgro
Résumé : One of the main challenges in ecology is to understand how global changes affect biodiversity and what are the consequences on ecosystem functioning. In this perspective, the functional diversity of communities is a cornerstone since it allows linking environment, community structure and ecosystem properties. The aim of this thesis is thus to improve the understanding of functional diversity dynamic (i) in relation to natural variability of environmental conditions and (ii) under anthropogenic disturbances. As a first step we have developed a new methodological framework allowing to (1) describe fish functional niches based on functional traits, and (2) to quantify functional diversity within (α) and among (β) sites thanks to new indices. In a second step we have studied the spatiotemporal dynamic of the functional structure of fish and nektonic communities from the Terminos lagoon (Mexico). This tropical estuarine ecosystem is an appropriate ecological model for our problematic as it is characterized by a strong environmental variability, a high biological diversity and is under a strong human pressure. We have put in light the stability of the functional and trophic structures of communities along environmental gradients, despite a very strong species turnover. This stability is determined by the dominance of a couple of functional groups inside which species are replacing each others according to their environmental preferences. However, at a long-term scale, we have demonstrated a functional diversity loss in a part of the lagoon despite an increase of species richness. This paradox has to be related to the decrease of species associated to seagrass and the increase of more estuarine species.
Un des enjeux majeurs de l'écologie est de comprendre comment les changements globaux affectent la biodiversité et quelles en sont les conséquences sur le fonctionnement des écosystèmes. Dans cette perspective, la diversité fonctionnelle des communautés est un outil clé permettant de lier l'environnement, la structure des communautés et les propriétés écosystémiques. L'objectif de cette thèse est donc d'améliorer la compréhension de la dynamique de la diversité fonctionnelle (i) face à des conditions environnementales naturellement variables et (ii) face à des perturbations d'origine anthropique. Dans un premier temps nous avons mis en place un socle méthodologie nous permettant de (1) définir la niche fonctionnelle des poissons à partir de traits fonctionnels et (2) de quantifier les diversités fonctionnelles intra (α) et inter (β) échantillons avec de nouveaux indices. Dans un second temps nous avons étudié la dynamique spatio-temporelle de la structure fonctionnelle des communautés ichtyologiques et nectoniques peuplant la lagune de Terminos (Mexique). Cet écosystème estuarien tropical est un modèle d'étude adapté à notre problématique car il présente une forte variabilité environnementale, une forte diversité biologique et est sous forte pression anthropique. Nous avons mis en évidence une stabilité de la structure fonctionnelle et trophique des communautés face aux gradients environnementaux très marqués, et donc malgré un fort taux de remplacement des espèces entre les communautés. Cette stabilité est due à la dominance de quelques groupes fonctionnels à l'intérieur desquels les espèces se remplacent suivant leurs preferendums environnementaux. Néanmoins, à plus long terme, nous avons démontré qu'une portion de la lagune avait subi une perte de diversité fonctionnelle et ce malgré une augmentation de la richesse spécifique. Ce paradoxe est à relier au remplacement des espèces inféodées aux herbiers de phanérogames par des espèces plus estuariennes.

Droits : info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/2008/these-6178.pdf
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00000/6178/

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Wiley
Résumé : Unveiling the genetic basis of local adaptation to environmental variation is a major goal in molecular ecology. In rugged landscapes characterized by environmental mosaics, living populations and communities can experience steep ecological gradients over very short geographical distances. In lowland tropical forests, interspecific divergence in edaphic specialization (for seasonally flooded bottomlands and seasonally dry terra firme soils) has been proven by ecological studies on adaptive traits. Some species are nevertheless capable of covering the entire span of the gradient; intraspecific variation for adaptation to contrasting conditions may explain the distribution of such ecological generalists. We investigated whether local divergence happens at small spatial scales in two stands of Eperua falcata (Fabaceae), a widespread tree species of the Guiana Shield. We investigated Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNP) and sequence divergence as well as spatial genetic structure (SGS) at four genes putatively involved in stress response and three genes with unknown function. Significant genetic differentiation was observed among sub-populations within stands, and eight SNP loci showed patterns compatible with disruptive selection. SGS analysis showed genetic turnover along the gradients at three loci, and at least one haplotype was found to be in repulsion with one habitat. Taken together, these results suggest genetic differentiation at small spatial scale in spite of gene flow. We hypothesize that heterogeneous environments may cause molecular divergence, possibly associated to local adaptation in E. falcata.
ISSN: 1010-061X

hal-01032412
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01032412
DOI : 10.1111/jeb.12069

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Wiley-Blackwell
Résumé :  
1. Despite considerable interest in the application of plant functional traits to questions of community assembly and ecosystem structure and function, there is no consensus on the appropriateness of sampling designs to obtain plot-level estimates in diverse plant communities. 2. We measured 10 plant functional traits describing leaf and stem morphology and ecophysiology for all trees in nine 1-ha plots in terra firme lowland tropical rain forests of French Guiana (N = 4709). 3.We calculated, by simulation, the mean and variance in trait values for each plot and each trait expected under seven sampling methods and a range of sampling intensities. Simulated sampling methods included a variety of spatial designs, as well as the application of existing data base values to all individuals of a given species. 4. For each trait in each plot, we defined a performance index for each sampling design as the proportion of resampling events that resulted in observed means within 5% of the true plot mean, and observed variance within 20%of the true plot variance. 5. The relative performance of sampling designs was consistent for estimations of means and variances. Data base use had consistently poor performance for most traits across all plots, whereas sampling one individual per species per plot resulted in relatively high performance. We found few differences among different spatial sampling strategies; however, for a given strategy, increased intensity of sampling resulted in markedly improved accuracy in estimates of trait mean and variance. 6. We also calculated the financial cost of each sampling design based on data from our 'every individual per plot' strategy and estimated the sampling and botanical effort required. The relative performance of designs was strongly positively correlated with relative financial cost, suggesting that sampling investment returns are relatively constant. 7. Our results suggest that trait sampling for many objectives in species-rich plant communities may require the considerable effort of sampling at least one individual of each species in each plot, and that investment in complete sampling, though great, may be worthwhile for at least some traits.
Functional Ecology

hal-01032175
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01032175
DOI : 10.1111/j.1365-2435.2009.01600.x

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Wiley
Résumé : 1. Niche theory proposes that species differences underlie both coexistence within communities and the differentiation in species composition among communities via limiting similarity and environmental filtering. However, it has been difficult to extend niche theory to species-rich communities because of the empirical challenge of quantifying niches for many species. This has motivated the development of functional and phylogeny-based approaches in community ecology, which represent two different means of approximating niche attributes. 2. Here, we assess the utility of plant functional traits and phylogenetic relationships in predicting community assembly processes using the largest trait and phylogenetic data base to date for any set of species-rich communities. 3. We measured 17 functional traits for all 4672 individuals of 668 tree species co-occurring in nine tropical rain forest plots in French Guiana. Trait variation was summarized into two ordination axes that reflect species niche overlap. 4. We also generated a dated molecular phylogenetic tree based on DNA sequencing of two plastid loci (rbcL and matK) comprising 97% of the individuals and 91% of the species in the plots. 5. We found that, on average, co-occurring species had greater functional and, to a lesser extent, phylogenetic similarity than expected by chance. 6. We also found that functional traits and their ordination loadings showed significant, albeit weak, phylogenetic signal, suggesting that phylogenetic distance provides pertinent information on niche overlap in tropical tree communities. 7. Synthesis. We provide the most comprehensive examination to date of the relative importance of environmental filtering and limiting similarity in structuring tropical tree communities. Our results confirm that environmental filtering is the overriding influence on community assembly in these species-rich systems.
ISSN: 0141-6707

hal-01032423
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01032423
DOI : 10.1111/j.1365-2745.2012.01966.x

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD
Résumé : One of the major challenges in forest ecology is to understand the ecology, physiology and potential responses of the> 250000 species of vascular plants of the planet through the categorization of this diversity into functional groups. This approach is essentially based on functional traits analysis, but few investigations were made in tropical areas. The aim of this study was to determine functional groups in two contrasted tropical ecosystems, dry (DF) and mountain rain (MRF) forest (respectively rainfall of 1 200 mm/year and 10 000 mm/year). Guadeloupe Island in FWI presents both these ecosystems spread over less 100 km. In a first time, we developed an original species typology based on 7 "soft" traits, easy to measure (stomatal density, leaf trichom density, chlorophyll content, leaf nitrogen content, specific leaf area, wood density, leaf area, plant height). The method was based on principal component analysis (PCA) and agglomerative hierarchical clustering (AHC) applied to these traits measured at the individual level (Blazy et al., 2009). In a second time, we evaluated the relevance of these soft trait-based groups compared to a typology based on 5 "hard" ecophysiological traits, more costly to quantify but with higher functional significance (difference between predawn and minimum leaf water potential, stomatal conductance, maximal carbon assimilation rate, leaf water potential at 90% of loss of stem hydraulic conductivity). When performed on the dominant canopy species in DF and MRF (a total of 13 species and 60 mature individuals), the typological approach based on soft traits seems relevant to discriminate groups with a distinct functional reality. Through both ecosystems, we obtained 4 homogenous groups. Two were exclusively composed by DF's or MRF's species, indicating that a functional strategy can be linked to specific environmental conditions. The two other groups showed a mix of DF and MRF species indicating that different functional strategies can coexist in the same environment. These mixed groups seem distinct by their ecophysiological features, particularly in term of hydraulic characteristics. One group was composed by drought tolerant species, water spender species, with a high xylem embolism resistance, whereas the second one was composed by water saver species, less resistant to embolism. Therefore, a determination of functional groups based on soft traits could be useful to model ecosystem's responses to environmental changes on a global scale.
Book of Abstracts - isem 2013 - Ecological Modelling for Ecosystem Sustainability
Toulouse, France

hal-00964668
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00964668

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Wiley
Résumé : International audience
Cross-species analyses of plant functional traits have shed light on factors contributing to differences in performance and distribution, but to date most studies have focused on either leaves or stems. We extend these tissue-specific analyses of functional strategy towards a whole-plant approach by integrating data on functional traits for 13 448 leaves and wood tissues from 4672 trees representing 668 species of Neotropical trees. Strong correlations amongst traits previously defined as the leaf economics spectrum reflect a tradeoff between investments in productive leaves with rapid turnover vs. costly physical leaf structure with a long revenue stream. A second axis of variation, the 'stem economics spectrum', defines a similar tradeoff at the stem level: dense wood vs. high wood water content and thick bark. Most importantly, these two axes are orthogonal, suggesting that tradeoffs operate independently at the leaf and at the stem levels. By simplifying the multivariate ecological strategies of tropical trees into positions along these two spectra, our results provide a basis to improve global vegetation models predicting responses of tropical forests to global change.
ISSN: 1461-023X

hal-00594040
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00594040

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD
Résumé : The forests of French Guiana occupy a central part of the region’s potential resource base, but as yet remain almost completely unexploited. This stems from the forestry industry struggling to valorize wood stocks of a high diversity with an extremely heterogeneous distribution. Indeed, identifying essences for future propagation is an issue of both environmental and socio-economic importance for the region. Bagassa guianensis Aubl. and Cordia alliodora (Ruiz & Pav.) Oken. go against conventional models, in that they display the life history characteristics of rapid growth and wood of high quality, and thus are species of high potential for future plantations. Firstly, our study of growth characteristics reveals a defined strategy half way between long-lived species and pioneer species. It is the variability of basic density of wood which is a key trait allowing for such a development, favoring rapid growth in initial years whilst allowing for tree longevity. Secondly, the analysis of a range of wood properties (shrinkage, modulus of elasticity, durability) in relation to tree growth confirms the technologic quality of the two species. It also enables the emergence of new results like the effect of extractives on wood stability, the control of growth as a result of basic density variation, the evolution of leaf traits throughout tree development or the improvement of trunk maintenance thanks to interlocked grain. The knowledge gained in relation to the developmental traits of these two species, and to the quality of their wood allows for the elaboration of plantation projects and what will be required for their success. The results of this study can orientate future studies on novel species for commercialization in French Guiana.
La ressource forestière en Guyane occupe une place maîtresse au sein de la région et est encore majoritairement préservée, mais la filière bois parvient difficilement à valoriser la biodiversité locale en raison de l’hétérogénéité de la ressource. Identifier les essences à planter demain représente aujourd’hui un enjeu à la fois environnemental, économique et social pour la Guyane. Bagassa guianensis Aubl. et Cordia alliodora (Ruiz & Pav.) Oken. vont à l’encontre des modèles usuels en associant vitesse de croissance et qualité du bois et sont identifiées comme prometteuses pour la plantation. Dans un premier temps, l’étude de la dynamique de croissance des deux espèces révèle un modèle écologique singulier, à la fois pionnières et longévives. La variabilité de l’infradensité dans l’arbre est l’élément clé qui permet un tel développement, favorisant une croissance rapide dans les premières années tout en assurant la longévité de l’individu. Dans une seconde partie, l’analyse d’un large panel de propriétés du bois (retrait, module, durabilité) en lien avec le développement de l’arbre confirme les qualités technologiques des deux espèces et permet l’émergence de résultats novateurs tels que le rôle des extractibles sur le retrait, le contrôle de la croissance grâce aux variations d’infradensité, l’évolution des traits foliaires au cours de l’ontogénie ou encore la mise en place de contrefil dans l’arbre pour assurer son maintien. La connaissance acquise vis-à-vis du mode de développement de ces deux espèces et des facteurs influençant la qualité de leur bois permet aujourd’hui de définir avec plus de précision le cadre d’un projet de plantation et les conditions de son succès. Les résultats de cette étude permettent finalement d’orienter la recherche de nouvelles espèces d’avenir pour la plantation en Guyane.
https://tel.archives-ouvertes.fr/tel-01338281

tel-01338281
https://tel.archives-ouvertes.fr/tel-01338281
https://tel.archives-ouvertes.fr/tel-01338281/document
https://tel.archives-ouvertes.fr/tel-01338281/file/Th%C3%A8se%20Julie%20Bossu.pdf

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Wiley
Résumé : 1. Functional traits provide insight into a variety of ecological questions, yet the optimal sampling method to estimate the community-level distribution of plant functional trait values remains a subject of debate, especially in species-rich forests. 2. We present a simulation analysis of the trait distribution of a set of nine completely sampled permanent plots in the lowland rain forests of French Guiana. 3. Increased sampling intensity consistently improved accuracy in estimating community-weighted means and variances of functional trait values, whereas there was substantial variation among functional traits and minor differences among sampling strategies. 4. Thus, investment in intensified sampling yields a greater improvement in the accuracy of estimation than does an equivalent investment in sampling design complication. 5. Notably, 'taxon-free' strategies frequently had greater accuracy than did abundance-based strategies, which had the additional cost of requiring botanical surveys. 6. We conclude that there is no substitute for extensive field sampling to accurately characterize the distribution of functional trait values in species-rich forests.
ISSN: 0269-8463

hal-01536541
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01536541
PRODINRA : 343202
DOI : 10.1111/1365-2435.12433

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Wiley-Blackwell
Résumé :  
Cross-species analyses of plant functional traits have shed light on factors contributing to differences in performance and distribution, but to date most studies have focused on either leaves or stems. We extend these tissue-specific analyses of functional strategy towards a whole-plant approach by integrating data on functional traits for 13 448 leaves and wood tissues from 4672 trees representing 668 species of Neotropical trees. Strong correlations amongst traits previously defined as the leaf economics spectrum reflect a tradeoff between investments in productive leaves with rapid turnover vs. costly physical leaf structure with a long revenue stream. A second axis of variation, the 'stem economics spectrum', defines a similar tradeoff at the stem level: dense wood vs. high wood water content and thick bark. Most importantly, these two axes are orthogonal, suggesting that tradeoffs operate independently at the leaf and at the stem levels. By simplifying the multivariate ecological strategies of tropical trees into positions along these two spectra, our results provide a basis to improve global vegetation models predicting responses of tropical forests to global change.
Ecology Letters

hal-01032142
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01032142
DOI : 10.1111/j.1461-0248.2010.01517.x

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD
Résumé : The functioning of ecosystems is based on the functional diversity, which is the complementto the species diversity. In the tropical rain forest, the saplings grow in the dense and stratifiedunderstorey. This thesis deals with the diversity of realisation of the support function by thesaplings in this context. The hypotheses are that the race through higher and so brighter levelsconstrains the mechanical security of the saplings with necessary biomass saving and need ofreorientation (gravitropism) and acclimation (mecanoperception and response) processes andthat diversity is thus structured by the species light-demand and affinity for the risk. Using awide sample of 16 species, at the Paracou station, relevant functional traits - risk of not-selfsupportingand gravitropic performance - are defined through adapted modellings whichcombine trunk shape, biomass distribution and wood properties. The traits values varybetween species and also with ontogeny and saplings environment. These variations are dueto elementary traits (shape, biomass, wood) with strong geometrical effects. The less selfsupportingspecies (low mechanical security) have the highest gravitropic performances andare also the most light-demanders. A species, Tachigali melinonii, distinguishes itself bystrong slendernesses and a frequent not-self-supporting habit letting suppose a strongadaptability to its mechanical environment. An experiment (growth response to staking),however, did not provide the expected results whereas the species with lower risks, Dicoryniaguianensis, reacted more.
Le fonctionnement des écosystèmes repose sur la diversité fonctionnelle, complément de ladiversité spécifique. En forêt tropicale humide, les jeunes arbres croissent en sous-bois denseet stratifié. Cette thèse porte sur la diversité de réalisation de la fonction biomécanique desoutien. Les hypothèses sont que la "course" vers les strates plus éclairées contraint lasécurité mécanique des jeunes arbres, avec de nécessaires économies de matière et recours àdes processus de réparation (gravitropisme) et d'acclimatation (mécanoperception et réponse),et que la diversité est donc structurée par le besoin en lumière et l'affinité pour le risque desespèces. Avec un échantillon de 16 espèces sur le dispositif de Paracou, des traits fonctionnelspertinents - risque de non-autoportance et performance gravitropique - sont définis au traversde modélisations adaptées qui combinent forme des troncs, répartition des masses etpropriétés du bois. Ces traits varient entre espèces mais aussi avec le développement etl'environnement des arbres. Ces variations sont dues aux variations des traits élémentaires(forme, masses, bois) avec de forts effets géométriques. Les espèces les moins autoportantes(faible sécurité) ont les plus fortes performances gravitropiques. Ce sont aussi les plusdemandeuses de lumière. Une espèce Tachigali melinonii se distingue par de fortsélancements et une fréquente non-autoportance laissant supposer une adaptabilité forte àl'environnement mécanique. Une expérimentation (réponse de croissance au tuteurage) n'acependant pas abouti aux résultats supposés puisque c'est au contraire l'espèce à faible risque,Dicorynia guianensis, qui s'est montrée plus réactive.
https://tel.archives-ouvertes.fr/tel-00272100

tel-00272100
https://tel.archives-ouvertes.fr/tel-00272100
https://tel.archives-ouvertes.fr/tel-00272100/document
https://tel.archives-ouvertes.fr/tel-00272100/file/TheseJaouen.pdf

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD
Résumé : il s'agit d'un type de produit dont les métadonnées ne correspondent pas aux métadonnées attendues dans les autres types de produit : ACTIVITY_REPORT
Understanding genomic evolution in wild populations is of particular importance because evolution is a central process in our understanding of populations’ history and their future response to global changes. In addition to fundamental knowledge, the study of populations’ evolution has wide applications such as conservation/restoration genetics or epidemiology. Indeed, genetic diversity is the ‘fuel’ for populations’ evolution and adaptation to new conditions, and estimating the extent and the geographic structure of genetic diversity, as well as identifying the evolutionary forces behind (demography, gene flow, and adaptation) are thus major challenges in the current context of global changes. [br/]A particular attention is currently devoted to the process of genetic divergence in wild populations, with emphases on gene flow, local adaptation, and their interactions. Indeed, adaptation in wild populations is supported in many species by many kinds of experiments based on both quantitative phenotypic traits and molecular data. However, the processes governing populations’ evolution are poorly understood in the tropical rainforest of Amazonia, and the relative influence of neutral and adaptive processes are continuously discussed. [br/]I am a young scientist interested in the process of genomic divergence in wild (tree) populations. I aimed at understanding how evolution structures the genetic diversity and governs molecular divergence in wild populations, with particular emphases on gene flow and local adaptation. During five years as a young scientist, I worked on answering the following questions, focusing on two tree species occupying vulnerable areas: mainly [i]Eperua falcata[/i] in Amazonia and, to a lesser extent, [i]Abies alba[/i] in the Mediterranean area.[br/][u]Scientific questions:[/u][br/]- Which evolutionary drivers are responsible of the structure of genetic diversity in wild populations occupying wide areas? This question was addressed at different geographical scales: from large (regional) to very local (microgeographic) scales. [br/]- What is the relative influence of neutral (gene flow, inbreeding) and adaptive drivers in the process of genetic divergence?[br/]- Is microgeographic adaptation possible in spite of extensive gene flow between populations occupying the extreme boundaries of an ecological gradient? [br/]- What is the extent of natural selection in the (whole) genome of wild populations? [br/][br/]My research work is at the interface between three promising disciplines: Evolutionary genomics (i.e. the study of populations evolution and the evolutionary drivers behind), Bioinformatics (i.e. the treatment of next-generation data), and Bayesian modelling (i.e. the empirical calibration of complex mechanistic model). I intend to take advantage of the recent advances in sequencing and informatic technologies to bring up to date the field of ecological genetics and evolutionary biology, by developing modern research strategies to study the process of genomic divergence in wild populations.
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01204218

hal-01204218
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01204218
PRODINRA : 286326

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier Academic Press
Résumé : International audience
Marines Protected Areas (MPAs) are commonly used around the world as management tools to promote the sustainable use of marine resources. It is assumed that MPAs secure human livelihoods and well-being by protecting marine ecosystems and ecosystem services. However, the links between ecological effects of MPAs and services have rarely been explored. Here we review the different impacts of MPAs on ecosystem functioning and service provision. Results highlight that empirical evidence for positive effects of MPAs on ecosystem service provision by coastal marine ecosystems is accumulating. Finally, we identified knowledge gaps on which future research efforts could focus and empower marine resource managers to make more informed decisions and maximize the value derived from their natural resource base.
Aquatic Functional Biodiversity: an Ecological and Evolutionary Perspective

ISBN : 978-0-12-417015-5
hal-01199217
https://hal-univ-perp.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01199217
DOI : 10.1016/B978-0-12-417015-5.00009-8

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé :  
Classifying species by shared life-history traits is important if common ecological response groups are to be identified among different species. We investigated how habitat area, local and regional factors shape plant communities in small isolated closed depressions, and how the species richness is related to the interplay between environmental factors and specific life-history trait combinations. In Central-Western Europe, 169 closed depressions were completely Surveyed for plant presence in two highly contrasted landscapes (forested and open landscapes). All species were clustered into 9 Emergent Groups based oil 10 life-history traits related to plant dispersal, establishment and persistence. Habitat areas were related to species presence using logistic regressions. Most Emergent Groups were more area-dependent in open than in forested landscapes, owing to heterogeneous light levels in forest weakening the species-area relationship. In open landscapes, Floating Hydrophytes were severely underrepresented in very small depressions, owing to the absence of waterfowl poulation. Local environmental and regional factors were related to species richness using Generalized Linear Models. In open landscapes, local environmental factors such as water conductivity or soil productivity are respectively the main predictors. In forested landscapes, the abundance of most Emergent Groups Was better predicted by regional factors, i.e., habitat connectivity and distance to the forest edge. Forested landscapes strongly impeded the closed depressions' colonization by the less mobile Emergent Groups Such as Large-seeded Perennials.
ISSN: 1146-609X

hal-01032144
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01032144
DOI : 10.1016/j.actao.2009.02.002