Contrasting responses of different functional groups stabilize community responses to a dominant shrub under global change
Changes in precipitation regimes and nitrogen deposition levels due to global change are altering terrestrial ecosystems worldwide. Most attempts at understanding how biotic interactions affect plant species and community responses to global change have focused on biotic interactions measured at the community level. However, these approaches ignore that communities include functionally dissimilar species that might respond differently to changes in the effects of dominant neighbours along environmental gradients. We test the hypothesis that plant species with differences in functional traits may exhibit contrasting interactions with a dominant shrub species within a single community, thereby stabilizing community-level responses to the effects of global change. We manipulated water and nitrogen applications in a semi-arid dune community in northern China, quantified the biomass of herbaceous species occurring below the dominant shrub, Artemisia ordosica, and in adjacent open patches (without the shrub), and measured herbaceous species height and leaf dry matter content. The effects of A. ordosica were quantified at the species, group and community levels using the relative interaction index (RII). Redundancy analysis was performed on species traits and the RII values to assess the relationships between functional differences in species and plant–plant interactions. Species were then grouped using a cluster analysis and the RII values were recalculated at the group level. The redundancy analysis showed that species height and leaf dry matter content were significantly correlated to the changes in species' responses to the effect of A. ordosica along treatments. The four groups of species identified by the cluster analysis showed contrasting variations in competitive or facilitative responses depending on species traits and environmental treatments. However, the interactions measured at the group level balanced the community-level responses, as we found no significant changes in the effects of A. ordosica along treatments for community biomass, richness and functional diversity indices. Synthesis. Our findings indicate that species with different functional strategies within a community exhibit contrasting responses to a dominant shrub along environmental gradients. These contrasting changes in plant–plant interactions of functionally different species may balance the responses of community-level metrics. This suggests that functional differences between species groups and the balance of plant–plant interactions stabilize community responses to global change. © 2021 British Ecological Society
(Journal of Ecology. vol. 109, n° 0022-0477, pp. 1676-1689, 22/04/2026)
EPOC, EPHE, PSL, UB, INSU - CNRS, CNRS
Does parasitism influence sediment stability? Evaluation of trait-mediated effects of the trematode Bucephalus minimus on the key role of cockles Cerastoderma edule in sediment erosion dynamics
In coastal environments, bioturbators greatly influence the physical and biogeochemical properties of sediments with consequences for central ecological processes such as erosion dynamics. In addition to their direct impact on sediment stability, bioturbators can have an impact on sediment erosion processes by modulating the growth of microphytobenthic organisms that stabilise the surface layer of sediments. The direct and indirect influences of bioturbators on sediment dynamics depend on the magnitude of their activity and inherently on their physiological state. Bioturbators are infected by various parasites, which have a substantial impact on their physiology and behaviour. However, the knock-on effects of parasites on key ecosystem functions like sediment dynamics remain poorly studied. We conducted flume experiments to investigate the indirect influence of the trematode Bucephalus minimus parasitising the common cockle Cerastoderma edule on the dynamics of sandy sediments enriched or not with microphytobenthos (MPB). Cockles modified bed roughness, sediment surface erodibility and hence destabilised sandy sediments. In sediments not enriched with MPB, both unparasitised and parasitised organisms had a similar impact on the stability of sandy sediments. In contrast, parasitism slightly reduced the destabilisation effect of cockles in MPB-enriched sediments. In the latter, parasitised cockles did not interfere with MPB growth whereas unparasitised organisms constrained the microalgae development. However, the enrichment of the surface layers of sandy sediments with MPB did not modulate the erosion dynamics of these environments. Thus, the lower destabilisation effect of parasitised cockles was not here linked to a stabilisation effect of MPB. When standardised for length, parasitised cockles were lighter than unparasitised organisms. Weakened cockles may have had a lower bioturbation potential than unparasitised conspecifics. If so, the influence parasitised cockles had on sediment erodibility and sediment roughness may have been reduced. The absence of a parasitism effect on the dynamics of MPB-unenriched sediments remains nonetheless unclear.
(Science of the Total Environment. vol. 733, n° 0048-9697, pp. 139307, 22/04/2026)
BOREA, UNICAEN, NU, MNHN, IRD, SU, CNRS, UA, EPOC, EPHE, PSL, UB, INSU - CNRS, CNRS, CHRU Besançon
Estrogenic activity of surface waters using zebrafish- and human-based in vitro assays : The Danube as a case-study
Most in vitro reporter gene assays used to assess estrogenic contamination are based on human estrogen receptor α (hERα) activation. However, fish bioassays can have distinct response to estrogenic chemicals and mixtures, questioning the relevance of human-based bioassays for assessing risk to this species. In this study, zebrafish liver cells stably expressing zebrafish ERβ2 (ZELHβ2) and human breast cancer cells expressing hERα (MELN) were used to quantify the estrogenic activity of 25 surface water samples of the Danube River, for which chemicals have been previously quantified. Most samples had a low estrogenic activity below 0.1 ng/L 17β-estradiol-equivalents that was more often detected by MELN cells, while ZELHβ2 response tend to be lower than predicted based on the chemicals identified. Nevertheless, both bioassays quantified well a higher estrogenic activity at two sites, which was confirmed in vivo using a transgenic zebrafish assay. The results are discussed considering the effect-based trigger values proposed for water quality monitoring.
(Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology. vol. 78, n° 1382-6689, pp. art. 103401, 22/04/2026)
SEBIO, INERIS, URCA, ULH, NU, URCA, CNRS, EPOC, EPHE, PSL, UB, INSU - CNRS, CNRS, INERIS, LPTC, UB, CNRS, UFZ, RWTH Aachen
SESAM mode-locked Tm:LuYO 3 ceramic laser generating 54-fs pulses at 2048 nm
(Applied optics. vol. 59, n° 1559-128X, pp. 10493, 22/04/2026)
JSNU, HNU, EPOC, EPHE, PSL, UB, INSU - CNRS, CNRS, CIMAP - UMR 6252, UNICAEN, NU, IRAMIS, CEA, ENSICAEN, NU, CNRS, IRMA, UNICAEN, NU, ENSICAEN, NU, CEA, UNIROUEN, NU, INSA Rouen Normandie, INSA, NU, CNRS
Organotropism and biomarker response in oyster Crassostrea gigas exposed to platinum in seawater
Platinum (Pt) is a technology critical element (TCE) for which biogeochemical cycles are still poorly understood. This lack of knowledge includes Pt effects on marine organisms, which proved to be able to bioconcentrate this trace element. Oysters Crassostrea gigas were exposed to stable Pt isotope spiked daily in seawater for 35 days. Seawater was renewed daily and spiked (with Pt(IV)) to three nominal Pt concentrations (50, 100, and 10,000 ng L−1) for two replicate series. Organotropism study revealed that gills, and to a lesser extent mantle, are the key organs regarding Pt accumulation, although a time- and concentration-dependent linear increase in Pt levels occurred in all the organs investigated (i.e., digestive gland, gonads, gills, mantle, and muscle). In oysters exposed to Pt concentrations of 10,000 ng L−1, significant biomarker impairments occurred, especially at cellular levels. They reflect altered lipofuscin and neutral lipid contents, as well as intralysosomal metal accumulation. These observations were attributed to activation of excretion/detoxification mechanisms, including Pt elimination through feces and clearly support the importance of the digestive gland in the response to direct Pt exposure. Despite relatively constant condition index, the integrative biological response (IBR) index suggests a generally decreasing health status of oysters
(Environmental Science and Pollution Research. vol. 27, n° 0944-1344, pp. 3584-3599, 22/04/2026)
EPOC, EPHE, PSL, UB, INSU - CNRS, CNRS, UPV / EHU
Des concrétions fuligineuses en contextes archéologiques : quel potentiel informatif ?
Les spéléothèmes (concrétions carbonatées de grottes) sont des archives naturelles qui se caractérisent par leur capacité à enregistrer les environnements passés ainsi que par leur haute résolution temporelle, en particulier lorsqu’ils sont laminés annuellement. Leur potentiel d’étude ne se limite pas qu’aux recherches sur les reconstitutions paléo-climatiques. Les concrétions peuvent par exemple piéger des particules anthropiques comme de la suie, et ces concrétions fuligineuses ont un fort potentiel informatif en archéologie. Dans cet article, nous présenterons les potentiels d’application archéologique de l’analyse fuliginochronologique à travers plusieurs cas, dans des contextes temporels différents. Les cas les plus récents (en Belgique, en France et en Slovénie), pour lesquels nous disposons parfois d’informations historiques et textuelles autorisant un contrôle des faits archéologiques enregistrés, permettront de valider le potentiel d’archive micro-chronologique des spéléothèmes dans le cadre d’une étude fuliginochronologique. Ensuite, nous étendrons l’utilisation de cette méthode à un site paléolithique français afin de mettre en lumière le potentiel informatif de cette approche en préhistoire.
(Géomorphologie : relief, processus, environnement. vol. 26, n° 1266-5304, pp. 241-254, 22/04/2026)
UP1 UFR03, UP1, ArScAn, UP1, UP8, UPN, MCC, CNRS, EPOC, EPHE, PSL, UB, INSU - CNRS, CNRS, LAMPEA, AMU, CNRS, MC, TRACES, EHESS, UT2J, Comue de Toulouse, MCC, Inrap, CNRS
Extreme Wave Events on Barrier Reefs: A Driver for Critical Regime?
This paper describes the hydrodynamic regimes reached over barrier reefs during extreme wave events. The study is based on a combined approach relying, on one hand, on an extensive in-situ experiment over the Ouano reef-lagoon system, New Caledonia and, on the other hand, on wave-resolving numerical modeling.
(Journal of Coastal Research. vol. 95, n° 0749-0208, pp. 654-658, 22/04/2026)
SIAME, UPPA, MIO, IRD, AMU, INSU - CNRS, UTLN, CNRS, EPOC, EPHE, PSL, UB, INSU - CNRS, CNRS, INSU - CNRS, UM, CNRS, UA, LOPS, IRD, IFREMER, INSU - CNRS, UBO EPE, CNRS
On the small‐scale fractal geometrical structure of a living coral reef barrier
Topographical complexity of coral reefs is of primary importance for a number of hydrodynamical and ecological processes. The present study is based on a series of high‐resolution seabottom elevation measurements along the Maupiti barrier reef, French Polynesia. Several statistical metrics and spectral analysis are used to characterize the spatial evolution of the coral geometrical structure from the reef crest to the backreef. A consistent fractal‐like power law exists in the spectral density of bottom elevation for length‐scales between 0.1 and 7m while, at larger scale, the reef structure shows a different pattern. Such a fine characterization of the reef geometrical structure provides key elements to reconstruct the reef history, to improve the representation of reef roughness in hydrodynamical models and to monitor the evolution of coral reef systems in the global change context.
(Earth Surface Processes and Landforms. vol. 45, n° 0197-9337, pp. 3042-3054, 22/04/2026)
SIAME, UPPA, MIO, IRD, AMU, INSU - CNRS, UTLN, CNRS, INSU - CNRS, UM, CNRS, UA, CEREGE, IRD, AMU, CdF (institution), INSU - CNRS, CNRS, INRAE, IMAGES-Espace DEV, IRD, UPVD, AU, UR, UM, UG, UA, IMAG, UM, CNRS, UM, CNRS, LEMON, Inria, IMAG, UM, CNRS, HSM, IRD, INSU - CNRS, UM, CNRS, EPOC, EPHE, PSL, UB, INSU - CNRS, CNRS, LabEX CORAIL, IRD, UAG, EHESS, EPHE, PSL, IFREMER, UR, UPF, UNC, UA
Quasagro - Gestion agronomique des sols et des résidus : quels impacts sur la qualité sanitaire des productions végétales de grande culture ?
En relation avec la qualité sanitaire des produits de la récolte, le projet Quasagro visait à valider des éléments de gestion globale des risques multicontaminants (mycotoxines, éléments-traces métalliques et résidus de pesticides) associés aux facteurs environnementaux et aux pratiques agronomiques en grandes cultures (blé tendre, blé dur et tournesol) par analyse multifactorielle : effets pédoclimatiques, résidus de culture, intrants et apports de matière organique. Il s’est appuyé sur le réseau national de parcelles Quasaprove, renforcé par des essais plein champ existants. Par une approche sans a priori, des modèles statistiques ont été testés sur le blé tendre, à partir de paramètres pédologiques ou climatiques. Aucun modèle ne s’est révélé suffisamment prédictif. Nous avons également cherché si certaines pratiques entraînaient des différences de concentration dans les végétaux. Il est apparu qu’il n’y a pas de différence entre les parcelles labourées et non labourées, en fonction du type de fertilisation, ou en fonction du précédent ou de l’usage d’un CIPAN. Aucune différence n’est apparue non plus entre les parcelles conduites en agriculture biologique ou en agriculture conventionnelle. Quelle que soit la culture, l'équilibre est déterminé par le type de fertilisation. Dans le cas de la fertilisation uniquement azotée (ammonitrate), le bilan est toujours négatif. Dans le cas de la fertilisation organique en agriculture biologique, le bilan est toujours positif et le sol accumule les éléments-traces. Dans le cas de l'agriculture conventionnelle avec fertilisation NPK, le bilan est positif pour l'arsenic, le cadmium et le plomb, et négatif pour le cuivre et le zinc. L’exportation des pailles, qui génère un flux d’exportation relativement faible, ne change pas ces conclusions. Sur les parcelles étudiées, les niveaux de concentration cumulés observés s’échelonnent du sub-ng/g à la centaine de ng/g (ps) dans les sols. Les concentrations cumulées maximales en agriculture biologique sont de l’ordre de la dizaine de ng/g. Par comparaison des itinéraires techniques conventionnel/biologique, les herbicides sont présents de façon marquée en conventionnel et quasi absents en biologique ; les fongicides sont présents en biologique à des concentrations supérieures aux limites de quantification et les niveaux de fongicides sont relativement similaires en biologique et en conventionnel dit raisonné. La présence notable de pesticides rémanents (e.g. époxiconazole dont les derniers traitements dataient de plusieurs années) a également été mise en évidence. Le devenir des pesticides dans l’environnement est conditionné par leur comportement dans les sols. L’interaction entre divers processus régissant leur devenir (rétention, dégradation, transfert) va conditionner entre autres leur persistance (ou rémanence). Plus particulièrement, les processus de dégradation des pesticides contribuent à diminuer cette persistance. Le potentiel de biodégradation microbienne dépend ainsi des molécules (toxicité intrinsèque, capacité d’adsorption au sol), de facteurs pédoclimatiques (type d’argiles, matière organique, température et humidité), de facteurs microbiens tels que la biomasse globale et la présence de micro-organismes adaptés à certaines molécules (ex: isoproturon, 2,4-D) et des historiques de traitement (fréquence de traitement). D’une manière générale, il semble que les systèmes bas intrants favorisent l’activité microbienne des sols, par rapport aux systèmes conventionnels.
(Innovations Agronomiques. vol. 79, n° 1958-5853, pp. 121-146, 22/04/2026)
Acta, UMR ISPA, Bordeaux Sciences Agro, INRAE, ECOSYS, INRAE, EPOC, EPHE, PSL, UB, INSU - CNRS, CNRS, MycSA, INRAE, ITAB, ARVALIS
Ecological succession and resilience of plankton recovering from an acute disturbance in freshwater marshes
The increase in extreme events such as storms is one of the major threats that coastal ecosystems will have to face in the near future. In such a context, both maturation and ecological successions processes remain at the core of ecology to better anticipate the changes to ecosystem biodiversity and functions facing environmental stressors. However, these concepts are mainly approached through closed experimental studies that oversimplify the mechanisms. A survey was carried out on a ‘natural’ and open ecosystem subjected to an acute disturbance, i.e. a marine submersion of freshwater drained marshes, occurring after a storm. Plankton biomass, production and taxonomic/functional phytoplankton diversity were followed weekly at four stations over 2 months. Most of the stations were disrupted by this acute disturbance and displayed gradual growth and development, as described in the classical maturation process. The main differences between stations were attributed to the heterogeneity of the communities before the storm, the intensity of the disturbance and the different human actions performed to recover the freshwater environment. The concept of ‘ecological resilience’ was thus better suited than ‘engineering resilience’ for such open systems facing constant fluctuations in environmental drivers. With regard to ecological succession, the more impacted stations were marked by a significant change in taxonomic beta-diversity, with numerous stochastic processes, due to taxa dispersion. They first exhibited a convergence in functional traits due to the increase in nutrient availability drained from the catchment basin and then an increase in divergence when nutrients became limited.
(Science of the Total Environment. vol. 709, n° 0048-9697, pp. 135997, 22/04/2026)
LIENSs, INSU - CNRS, ULR, CNRS, EPOC, EPHE, PSL, UB, INSU - CNRS, CNRS, UNIMA, DIACT