Species‐group responses improve our understanding of the effects of community dominants on subordinate species along a grazing gradient
AbstractQuestionsPlant communities have been shown to include several functional groups of species that may have contrasting responses to the effects of dominant neighbours, although potentially balancing at the community level. We aimed to assess the potential of species‐group vs community‐level responses of subordinate species to explain variation in the effects of the dominant shrub Artemisia sieberi on understorey species along a grazing intensity gradient in arid steppes of northeast Iran. We also aimed to assess whether species‐group responses help explain variation in community composition.LocationsAn Artemisia steppe community in Golestan National Park (northeast Iran).MethodsWe used the relative interaction index (RII) to quantify the effects of a shrub on the cover of the 12 most frequent subordinate species. We conducted a first principal component analysis (PCA) on species RII followed by cluster analysis to group species depending on their responses to the shrub, and a second PCA on subordinate species composition.ResultsAt the community level, subordinate species showed strong competition at the low grazing level, weak facilitation at the intermediate level and weak competition at the high grazing level; a unimodal pattern with a switch back to competition in extremely disturbed conditions that is inconsistent with ecological theories. However, species‐group analyses showed contrasting subordinate species responses, supporting either the decrease in competition with increasing disturbance scenario or the collapse of facilitation, but never a switch back to competition as predicted by recent facilitation theory along resource gradients. Moreover, these contrasting species‐group responses significantly explained community composition.ConclusionsOur study provides new evidence, along a grazing intensity gradient, that communities include different species groups with contrasting responses to dominant species.
(Applied Vegetation Science. vol. 27, n° 1402-2001, 01/04/2024)
EPOC, EPHE, PSL, UB, INSU - CNRS, CNRS
Density‐dependent effects of parasitism on the activity of a benthic engineer species: potential impact on ecosystem functioning
While parasitism is a common lifestyle on Earth, its importance for the functioning of marine ecosystems has been overlooked for a long time. In particular, parasites have significant potential to influence central ecological processes through their impacts on hosts that serve as ecosystem engineers. Using an ex situ experimental approach, we explored the effects of trematode parasites on the engineering bioturbation activity of a common and abundant bivalve along European Atlantic soft‐bottom coastlines, the peppery furrow shell Scrobicularia plana , as well as knock‐on effects for nutrient exchanges at the sediment–water interface (SWI). Trematodes negatively impacted the host's ability to transport sediment particles and solutes in a density‐dependent way, with parasite burden explaining 22–31% of the inter‐individual variability. This could be explained by parasitism impairing the bivalve physiological state and ability to burrow, as we observed a decrease in the condition index and the burrowing depth of the bivalves with an increase in the number of parasites they host. In contrast, the influence of S. plana on benthic biogeochemical fluxes did not vary significantly according to parasitic burden over a short time scale. Here, we focused on the effects of trematode parasites on the behaviour of S. plana alone, and thus excluded other macrofaunal organisms. We should next test whether trematodes modulate the structure and functioning of benthic communities dominated by S. plana to better understand and quantify the engineering role of parasites in soft‐bottom coastal environments.
(Oikos. vol. 2024, n° 0030-1299, pp. e10400, 01/04/2024)
AD2M, CNRS, SBR, SU, CNRS, STAMAR, INSU - CNRS, SU, CNRS, SBR, SU, CNRS, EPOC, EPHE, PSL, UB, INSU - CNRS, CNRS
How colloidal particles and macropores affect the leaching of PFAS from soils contaminated by firefighting foams
(27/03/2024)
GERS-LEE, EPOC, EPHE, PSL, UB, INSU - CNRS, CNRS, INRAE, IRSTV, BRGM, UA, ULR, Cerema, CNRS, INSIS - CNRS, IMT Atlantique, IMT, Nantes Univ, Nantes Univ - ECN, Nantes Univ, Nantes Univ - ENSA Nantes, Nantes Univ, Institut Agro, EMMAH, AU, INRAE
Climate change impacts and adaptations of wine production.
Climate change is affecting grape yield, composition and wine quality. As a result, the geography of wine production is changing. In this Review, we discuss the consequences of changing temperature, precipitation, humidity, radiation and CO2 on global wine production and explore adaptation strategies. Current winegrowing regions are primarily located at mid-latitudes (California, USA; southern France; northern Spain and Italy; Barossa, Australia; Stellenbosch, South Africa; and Mendoza, Argentina, among others), where the climate is warm enough to allow grape ripening, but without excessive heat, and relatively dry to avoid strong disease pressure. About 90% of traditional wine regions in coastal and lowland regions of Spain, Italy, Greece and southern California could be at risk of disappearing by the end of the century because of excessive drought and more frequent heatwaves with climate change. Warmer temperatures might increase suitability for other regions (Washington State, Oregon, Tasmania, northern France) and are driving the emergence of new wine regions, like the southern United Kingdom. The degree of these changes in suitability strongly depends on the level of temperature rise. Existing producers can adapt to a certain level of warming by changing plant material (varieties and rootstocks), training systems and vineyard management. However, these adaptations might not be enough to maintain economically viable wine production in all areas. Future research should aim to assess the economic impact of climate change adaptation strategies applied at large scale.
(Nature Reviews Earth & Environment. vol. 5, pp. 258-275, 26/03/2024)
UMR EGFV, UB, Bordeaux Sciences Agro, INRAE, EPOC, EPHE, PSL, UB, INSU - CNRS, CNRS, DiSTeM, UNIPA, BGS, UB, CNRS
Études des interactions entre herbiers de zostères, hydrodynamique et dynamique sédimentaire dans une lagune semi-fermée : cas du Bassin d'Arcachon
Les phanérogames marines sont un compartiment biologique fondamental au bon maintien des environnements côtiers grâce aux nombreux services écosystémiques qu’elles fournissent. Au cours des dernières décennies, leur surface a été considérablement réduite à l’échelle mondiale, entraînant la perte de leurs fonctions régulatrices, notamment des conditions hydrodynamiques et des flux sédimentaires. Dans ce contexte, cette thèse s’attache à mieux comprendre la réponse des processus hydro-sédimentaires des lagunes côtières peu profondes au déclin d’espèces intertidales, à travers l’étude régionale de l’effet de la régression des herbiers de zostères (Zostera noltei et Zostera marina) du Bassin d’Arcachon. Cette analyse a été menée grâce à de la modélisation numérique, qui a nécessité de développer et mettre en place une plateforme de modélisation bio-hydro-sédimentaire, constituée de quatre modèles couplés (modèle hydrodynamique, modèle de vagues, modèle de transport sédimentaire et modèle de croissance des zostères), prenant tous en compte l’influence de la végétation. Une attention particulière a été portée à l’implémentation de la végétation dans le modèle de vague et le modèle de transport, en utilisant des approches combinant expériences en laboratoire, de terrain et de la modélisation numérique. Dans un premier temps, l’influence de la régression des herbiers de zostères a été étudiée sur les conditions hydrodynamiques et a révélé d’importantes modifications de l’hydrodynamique tidale et des conditions de vagues, notamment l’intensification des vitesses sur le fond de l’ordre de 100 % et de la hauteur de vagues de 50 % sur les estrans où les herbiers ont le plus décliné. Ensuite, la contribution de la régression des herbiers sur la modification de l’hydrodynamique tidale a été comparée à celle induite par la reconfiguration des Passes, montrant que le déclin des herbiers a été le principal responsable de la modification des vitesses sur les estrans et chenaux à l’intérieur du Bassin. En réponse au déclin de Zostera spp., ainsi qu’à l’intensification des conditions hydrodynamiques qui en a résulté, cet environnement a subi d’importantes modifications de la dynamique sédimentaire. Les flux d’érosion et de dépôt ont été particulièrement impactés par le déclin, générant des concentrations en matières en suspension de 2 à 6 fois plus importantes. La régression des herbiers a également perturbé les échanges sédimentaires entre la lagune et l’océan ouvert, ainsi qu’entre les différentes zones du Bassin, donnant lieu à une redistribution des différentes classes sédimentaires et à la modification de la composition du sédiment superficiel. Les estrans situés le long des côtes ont eu tendance à s’accréter et à s’envaser, alors que les estrans plus centraux ont eu tendance à s’éroder et devenir plus sableux. En particulier, nous avons montré que la régression des herbiers est le principal responsable des évolutions bathymétriques observées à l’intérieur du Bassin. Enfin, l’évolution potentielle des herbiers de zostères a été étudiée à travers différentes conséquences du changement climatique que sont la hausse du niveau marin et l’évolution des températures de l’air et de l’eau. Une attention particulière a été portée à la génération de forçages environnementaux futurs, reproduisant les éventuelles températures et le niveau marin à l’horizon 2050. La biomasse des herbiers a témoigné de réponses contrastées à ces deux processus, très dépendantes de plusieurs facteurs environnementaux (profondeur, exposition à l’hydrodynamique, temps de renouvellement). Nous avons également montré que, plus que l’augmentation des températures moyennes, c’est l’augmentation de la fréquence et de l’intensité des événements extrêmes de température qui devrait être le principal facteur de contrôle des évolutions de biomasse dans le Bassin d’Arcachon.
(22/03/2024)
EPOC, EPHE, PSL, UB, INSU - CNRS, CNRS
Léon-Bloom : Etude sur l’origine du développement des cyanobactéries dans l’étang de Léon
(18/03/2024)
UR EABX, INRAE, ECLA, USMB [Université de Savoie] [Université de Chambéry], INRAE, OFB, RECOVER, AMU, INRAE, EPOC, EPHE, PSL, UB, INSU - CNRS, CNRS
Coastal shoreline change assessments at global scales
During the present era of rapid climate change and sea-level rise, coastal change science is needed at global, regional, and local scales. Essential elements of this science, regardless of scale, include that the methods are defendable and that the results are independently verifiable. The recent contribution by Almar et al.1 does not achieve either of thesemeasures as shown by: (i) the use of an error-prone proxy for coastal shoreline and (ii) analyses that are circular and explain little of the data variance.
(Nature Communications. vol. 15, n° 2041-1723, 15/03/2024)
EPOC, EPHE, PSL, UB, INSU - CNRS, CNRS
Metazoan zooplankton in the Bay of Biscay: a 16-year record of individual sizes and abundances obtained using the ZooScan and ZooCAM imaging systems
This paper presents two metazoan zooplankton datasets obtained by imaging samples collected on the Bay of Biscay continental shelf in spring during the PELGAS (PELagique GAScogne) integrated surveys over the 2004–2019 period. The samples were collected at night with a 200 µm mesh-size WP2 net fitted with a Hydrobios (back-run stop) mechanical flowmeter and hauled vertically from the sea floor to the surface, with the maximum depth set at 100 m when the bathymetry was deeper than this. The first dataset originates from samples collected from 2004 to 2016 and imaged on land with the ZooScan and is composed of 1 153 507 imaged and measured objects. The second dataset originates from samples collected from 2016 to 2019 and imaged onboard the R/V Thalassa with the ZooCAM and is composed of 702 111 imaged and measured objects. The imaged objects are composed of zooplankton individuals, zooplankton pieces, non-living particles and imaging artefacts ranging from 300 µm to 3.39 mm in equivalent spherical diameter which were individually imaged, measured and identified. Each imaged object is geolocated and associated with a station, a survey, a year and other metadata. Each object is described by a set of morphological and grey-level-based features (8 bit encoding, 0 = black, 255 = white), including size, that were automatically extracted from each individual image. Each object was taxonomically identified using the web-based application Ecotaxa with built-in random-forest and CNN-based semi-automatic sorting tools, which was followed by expert validation or correction. The objects were sorted into 172 taxonomic and morphological groups. Each dataset features a table combining metadata and data at individual-object granularity from which one can easily derive quantitative population and community descriptors such as abundances, mean sizes, biovolumes, biomasses and size structure. Each object's individual image is provided along with the data. These two datasets can be used in combination for ecological studies, as the two instruments are interoperable, or they can be used as training sets for ZooScan and ZooCAM users. The data presented here are available at the SEANOE dataportal: https://doi.org/10.17882/94052 (ZooScan dataset, Grandremy et al., 2023c) and https://doi.org/10.17882/94040 (ZooCAM dataset, Grandremy et al., 2023d).
(Earth System Science Data. vol. 16, n° 1866-3508, pp. 1265-1282, 13/03/2024)
DECOD, IFREMER, INRAE, Institut Agro, Institut Agro, BEEP, IFREMER, UBO EPE, CNRS, DYNECO, IFREMER, ULR, LIENSs, INSU - CNRS, ULR, CNRS, RDT, IFREMER, IMEV, INSU - CNRS, SU, CNRS, EPOC, EPHE, PSL, UB, INSU - CNRS, CNRS, IFREMER
Modelling water isotopologues ($^1H^2H^{16}O$,$^1H_2$$^{17}O$) in the coupled numerical climate model iLOVECLIM (version 1.1.5)
Stable water isotopes are used to infer changes in the hydrological cycle for different climate periods and various climatic archives. Following previous developments of δ18O in the coupled climate model of intermediate complexity, iLOVECLIM, we present here the implementation of the 1H2H16O and 1H217O water isotopes in the different components of this model and calculate the associated secondary markers deuterium excess (d-excess) and oxygen-17 excess (17O-excess) in the atmosphere and ocean. So far, the latter has only been modelled by the atmospheric model LMDZ4. Results of a 5000-year equilibrium simulation under preindustrial conditions are analysed and compared to observations and several isotope-enabled models for the atmosphere and ocean components. In the atmospheric component, the model correctly reproduces the first-order global distribution of the δ2H and d-excess as observed in the data (R=0.56 for δ2H and 0.36 for d-excess), even if local differences are observed. The model–data correlation is within the range of other water-isotope-enabled general circulation models. The main isotopic effects and the latitudinal gradient are properly modelled, similarly to previous water-isotope-enabled general circulation model simulations, despite a simplified atmospheric component in iLOVECLIM. One exception is observed in Antarctica where the model does not correctly estimate the water isotope composition, a consequence of the non-conservative behaviour of the advection scheme at a very low moisture content. The modelled 17O-excess presents a too-important dispersion of the values in comparison to the observations and is not correctly reproduced in the model, mainly because of the complex processes involved in the 17O-excess isotopic value. For the ocean, the model simulates an adequate isotopic ratio in comparison to the observations, except for local areas such as the surface of the Arabian Sea, a part of the Arctic and the western equatorial Indian Ocean. Data–model evaluation also presents a good match for the δ2H over the entire water column in the Atlantic Ocean, reflecting the influence of the different water masses.
(Geoscientific Model Development. vol. 17, n° 1991-9603, pp. 2117-2139, 13/03/2024)
EPOC, EPHE, PSL, UB, INSU - CNRS, CNRS, LSCE, UVSQ, INSU - CNRS, CNRS, DRF (CEA), CEA, CLIM, LSCE, UVSQ, INSU - CNRS, CNRS, DRF (CEA), CEA, VU
Potential cellular targets of platinum in the freshwater microalgae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and Nitzschia palea revealed by transcriptomics
Platinum group element levels have increased in natural aquatic environments in the last few decades, in particular as a consequence of the use of automobile catalytic converters on a global scale. Concentrations of Pt over tens of μg L-1 have been observed in rivers and effluents. This raises questions regarding its possible impacts on aquatic ecosystems, as Pt natural background concentrations are extremely low to undetectable. Primary producers, such as microalgae, are of great ecological importance, as they are at the base of the food web. The purpose of this work was to better understand the impact of Pt on a cellular level for freshwater unicellular algae. Two species with different characteristics, a green alga C. reinhardtii and a diatom N. palea, were studied. The bioaccumulation of Pt as well as its effect on growth were quantified. Moreover, the induction or repression factors of 16 specific genes were determined and allowed for the determination of possible intracellular effects and pathways of Pt. Both species seemed to be experiencing copper deficiency as suggested by inductions of genes linked to copper transporters. This is an indication that Pt might be internalized through the Cu(I) metabolic pathway. Moreover, Pt could possibly be excreted using an efflux pump. Other highlights include a concentration-dependent negative impact of Pt on mitochondrial metabolism for C. reinhardtii which is not observed for N. palea. These findings allowed for a better understanding of some of the possible impacts of Pt on freshwater primary producers, and also lay the foundations for the investigation of pathways for Pt entry at the base of the aquatic food web.
(Ecotoxicology, n° 0963-9292, 13/03/2024)
EPOC, EPHE, PSL, UB, INSU - CNRS, CNRS