How does the complexity observed in nature persist? How does it contribute to the functioning of ecosystems? In addition to natural causes, global changes are currently the main factor impacting the structure and functioning of marine ecosystems. Populations and communities, both benthic and pelagic, animal and plant, integrate into their structure and functioning the effects of these spatial and temporal variations in the environment. Understanding these different processes is essential to predict and mitigate potential degradation of these ecosystems.
The research carried out within DISCOVERY is motivated by the need to better describe, understand and model the responses of populations, communities and ecosystems to changes in environmental conditions and to separate the effect of natural and anthropogenic forcings. It is based on observation and experimentation in the present and the recent past, paleo-ecology, and a reflection on the construction of predictive models.
Research Axis (RA) 1 focuses on describing biodiversity and habitats in various ecosystems in order to be able to decide on their health status. The AR2 seeks to describe and understand how environmental forcings influence the transfer of matter and energy within marine populations and communities across a wide range of spatial and temporal systems and scales. AR3 focuses on spatial and temporal variations in recruitment in a wide range of biological models with different environmental constraints. AR4 combines paleo-ecology and in situ observation to better understand the structure, functioning and productivity of systems in the recent past. The AR5 works to build conceptual models of medium- and long-term changes in coastal ecosystems.