My research interests deal with terrestrial ecosystem functioning and focus more specifically on...
Litter decomposition
The decomposition of litter is an important biological process for terrestrial ecosystem functioning. At the global scale, litter decomposition plays an important role for carbon cycle since it participates in the release of large amount of carbon contained in organic matter. At the local scale, nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus are released through decomposition and made available for plant, therefore contributing to the sustainability of soil fertility.
The process of decomposition is therefore an important issue in functional ecology. Litter decomposition is a dynamic process characterized by different phases (Figure 1). Studying decomposition thus consists in disentangling by which mechanism (leaching, fragmentation, microbial catabolism, UV degradation, etc.) litter are degraded, and what are the factors controlling its decomposition (temperature, precipitation, litter chemical composition, etc.).
Figure 1 : the main mechanisms occuring during the different phases of decomposition process
Soil fauna
Soil fauna plays an important role in terrestrial ecosystem functioning by contributing to litter decomposition. Soil organisms can impact this process by different ways (Figure 2). Their role can be direct, through the ingestion of litter, of indirect by interacting with microbial decomposers.
Soil fauna not only has an interest for its role on ecosystem functioning, it also represents a research topic by itself. Indeed, soil contains a great diversity of life forms. This important biodiversity remains poorly known. For this reason, it is considered that soil is one of the three main frontiers of modern biology, along with tropical forest canopies and ocean beds.
Figure 2 : Direct and indirect effect of soil macrofaune on litter decomposition
Plant – decomposers interactions
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Interactions and feedbacks among aboveground and belowground organisms are crucial in the control of ecosystem processes. Plants, by living in both the aboveground and belowground compartments, play a central role in those interactions. Furthermore plant are the primary producers, there are thus the main input of energy for soil organisms.
Plants can therefore influence soil organisms through the quantity and quality of litter they produce. In return, soil organisms can influence plant growth. In reality, there are plenty of possible interactions among aboveground and belowground. This field of study is therefore really engaging.