xis 1 : Ecology, biodiversity and evolution

Description
Biodiversity represents one of the major scientific, social, economic and political
issues of the day. An understanding of the mechanisms that under-pin the diversity of
biological resources rests with the linking of analyses carried out at different levels in
time and space with organisation of hierarchies at different levels of scale (genomes,
individuals, populations, communities). One also has to take into account additional
complimentary techniques such as theoretical and experimental approaches, and
multidisciplinary projects.
In Toulouse there is solid research network with groups in the areas of the Biology of
Organisms, Ecology and Veterinary science and Agronomy sciences (UPS, INRA,
INPT, Veterinary School). This touches on a good number of evolving ecological
problems linked to an appreciation of the diversity of biological resources. By
stimulating interactions and collaborations, this theme has helped to bring together
researchers and teaching staff coming from different areas of life sciences (eg genetics
and ecology of populations, ecology of communities, theoretical biology, agronomy
and animal science) as well as from other scientific disciplines (eg mathematics and
physics)
Three major themes are presented that aim to cover conceptual and theoretical
objectives and their applications:
1- The origins and evolution of biological resources. This theme deals with the
problems relating (i) the evolving process and mechanisms in the diversity of living
organisms and (ii) the mechanisms of adaptation and formation of species. An
understanding in these fields backs-up research areas such as systematics, evolving
biogeography, evolutionary genetics, and molecular evolution.
2- Current dynamics of biodiversity. The emphasis here is on the factors that regulate
the evolution of populations and communities, like environmental changes, unstable
and long-lasting interactions between species, genetic and demographic factors. An
understanding in these fields backs-up research areas such as the ecology of
communities and the genetics and ecology of populations.
3- The protection, restoration and management of biological resources. The
objectives of the research in the framework of this theme are (i) to test and perfect
methods for recording and characterising organisms, populations and communities in
order to deepen, enrich and improve biodiversity management strategies and (ii) to
evaluate the priorities for the conservation and restoration of genetic resources, habitats
and species, in order to better understand the consequence of biodiversity management
practices.

The objective of these themes is to give the graduate students a conceptual and
experimental mastery of the mechanisms that determine the origin, establishment, the
maintenance, the regulation and the evolution of biological diversity within
communities. The wide diversity of the research groups involved in this theme as well
as the tools and approaches used to understand the dynamics of this biodiversity, should
enable the students to be educated in a multidisciplinary spirit. For example the students
will have the chance to use the latest mathematical and computational tools to profit
from the wealth of information stemming from modern molecular biology. Finally, in
parallel with the fundamental aspects of ecology and evolutionary biology, the training
will also bring an awareness of how research and initiatives in microbial, plant and
animal biodiversity are applied in management, conservation and promotion, in order to
help students with their move into the professional world.
Responsibles
Jean Baptiste FERDY
Tel :05 61 55 73 44
E-mail: Click here
Title : Professor
Empowered to boss researches

Mark Hewison
Tel : 05 61 28 51 23
E-mail: Click here
Title : Search's director
Empowered to boss researches