Modelling conflicts and synergies between forest ecosystem services
Job description: Understanding the conflicts and synergies between various ecosystem services is
fundamental for an optimal management of forests. These relationships will be investigated in
different temperate and tropical forest ecosystems. The scientist will be integrated into an
interdisciplinary team and will develop mathematical models to analyse and predict the interactions
between tree growth and forest ecosystem services (carbon sequestration, soil conservation and
biodiversity). Using existing databases and working in collaboration with diverse INRA and
international laboratories, the scientist will also complete knowledge gaps in data. A strong
competence in mathematical modelling is required (e.g. partial differential equations, ordinary
differential equations, discrete modelling) and/or statistics (e.g. stochastic processes and Bayesian
models). Experience in interdisciplinary research, for example ecology or agriculture, will be a bonus.
Level required: PhD or equivalent. A good level of English language is desired. If the scientist
recruited has not had any post-doctoral experience, they should endeavor to pass a short sabbatical
in a separate laboratory, preferably abroad, before they are promoted to CR1.
Job profile number: CR2-2015-7-EFPA-1
Submission deadline for application package: 2 March 2015
Download application forms at: http://jobs.inra.fr/en/offers/emploi_perm
For more details, please contact:
Dr Pierre Couteron (pierre.couteron@ird.fr)
or
Dr Alexia Stokes (alexia.stokes@cirad.fr)
The position will be based at:
Plant Architectural Modelling and Bioinformatics Laboratory (AMAP)
PS2 TA/A51 INRA, CIRAD,
Bld de la Lironde, 34398 Montpellier cedex 5, France
http://amap.cirad.fr
Profil de recrutement
Intitulé du profil : Modelling conflicts and synergies between forest ecosystem services
Unité porteuse : BotAnique et BioinforMatique de l'Architecture des Plantes (UMR AMAP Montpellier)
Enjeux scientifiques du poste
Understanding and modelling the conflicts and synergies between ecosystem services is fundamental
for an optimal management of forests over the next 50-100 years. The scientist will collate existing
data and work with INRA experimentalists in different forest ecosystem types: cultivated plantations,
natural mixed forest, tropical mixed forest and agroforests. He/she will focus on the relationship
between forest age and structure and soil physical structure, to evaluate the services: total carbon
stock, carbon sequestration in soil, soil quality and conservation and plant diversity. Using existing
databases and working in collaboration with INRA laboratories on a national scale, the scientist will
model how these services interact over time. Empirical or process-based forest growth and structure
(landscape) models already hosted on the CAPSIS platform will be used and modified as necessary,
taking into account soil parameters (CAPSIS development is hosted at UMR AMAP). Using models in
CAPSIS, different climate scenarios can be simulated and the effect on services tested. The novelty of
this work is that never before have interactions between forest ecosystem / soil services been
modelled over time, taking into account forest structure.
Compétences recherchées
Applied mathematician, Biomathematician, Ecological modeller, Statistician
Positionnement de l'unité sur la thématique
The UMR AMAP is a dynamic and rapidly expanding multidisciplinary laboratory specialising in
mathematical modelling of complex plant systems, from cellular morphology to global vegetation
patterns. The CR2 will reinforce AMAP’s working group ‘Applied Ecology & Ecosystem Services’
animated by Alexia Stokes (DR INRA) and Christophe Proisy (CR IRD). This group comprises ten
researchers working on the ecology of forests and the services they provide. This position will add
enormous scientific value to the group, as well as benefiting completely from the different skills
available. This working group forms one of several within Team 3 “Ecologie et Diversité des
Communautés Végétales” led by A. Stokes and G. Vincent (IRD). The CR2 will also be expected to
liaise heavily with researchers in the transversal theme ‘Mathématiques appliquées et informatique.’
Therefore, the CR2 will be stimulated scientifically through discussion, as well as being able to work
with experimental, field and theoretical researchers.
The CR2 is welcome to (co)supervise students from a wide range of subjects, and will be encouraged
to develop his/her career through mentoring, collaboration and projects, with the near goal of
writing a HDR. The CR2 is expected to coordinate national and international scientific projects (e.g.
ANR, EU actions). For each of these steps, AMAP can provide scientific, logistical and technical advice
and support.
Contribution du recruté dans la communauté
The CR2 will have access to the CAPSIS platform hosted at AMAP. CAPSIS hosts forest growth and
structure models which can be exploited or modified by the CR2, and from which data can be
extracted. By working in close collaboration with F. de Coligny (INRA, main CAPSIS developer and
based at AMAP), the CR2 will contribute to the CAPSIS working community and by using data and
models already housed in CAPSIS, the CR2 will add value to existing work (http://capsis.cirad.fr/).
The CR2 will collaborate with INRA laboratories and UMRs on a national scale during his/her career.
The CR2 will need to collate data on different soil and forest types and should learn which databases
exist in France, and how to access them, with regard to forest and soil data.
Internationally, the CR2 will meet the relevant community through networking and conferences, eg
the Ecosystem Services Partnership. By attending international meetings, the CR2’s research will not
only be disseminated, but the CR2 will learn new techniques and keep their work at the cutting edge
of ecosystem science.
It is expected that high level scientific papers are produced early on in the CR2’s career, thus placing
them, and INRA, at the heart of the Ecosystem Service community.
Connaissances initiales présentes dans l’unité
The CR2 will begin his/her career with the necessary data and access to the forest model platform
(CAPSIS) required for a successful kick-off, but throughout their career, they will need to collaborate
with researchers at a national level to collate already existing data or obtain new data. AMAP will aid
the CR2 in any way possible to encourage the formation of these collaborations, as well as paying for
training courses necessary for furthering the CR2’s education. AMAP will also support the
dissemination activities of the CR2, through e.g. financial aid for assisting at conferences and the
production of open access papers.
On arriving at AMAP, the CR2 will have access to data on soil carbon, forest biomass and soil erosion
from a gradient of land use types, plant communities (diversity) and ages, including natural forest,
agroforest and shifting crops growing in a range of climates. These data originate from the ANR
funded project ‘Ecosfix. Ecosystem Services of Roots – Hydraulic Redistribution, Carbon
Sequestration and Soil Fixation,’ (2010 – 2014) coordinated by A. Stokes. If further data are required
throughout the career of the CR2, chemical platforms exist at Montpellier and at INRA laboratories in
France for soil carbon analyses. Soil aggregate stability tests can be performed at AMAP. AMAP has
all the equipment, technical help and knowledge necessary for any fieldwork.
Few laboratories in France host mathematical modellers, field ecologists and foresters within the
same building. UMR AMAP has the advantage of being one of France’s foremost botanical
laboratories specialized in vegetation and landscape modelling. Therefore, although the CR2 needs to
work with several laboratories on a national scale, he/she will be strongly supported in the
theoretical development of their work through daily contact with AMAP’s modellers.
Intérêt pour le métaprogramme EcoServ
The CR2 would benefit enormously from liaising with the INRA meta-program Ecoserv. Therefore,
research would remain focused and novelty would be assured. The CR2’s project would be relevant
in part to all of the four axes comprising the meta-program:
Axe 1 : Comprendre et modéliser le fonctionnement des agro-écosystèmes à différentes échelles
spatiales et temporelles en lien avec les services fournis.
The CR2 will examine forest systems of different structures, including agroforests, over time. Different
spatial scales can be investigated from a local level around individual trees, to the stand and
watershed level. However, at the beginning of their career, the CR2 will focus on multiple ecosystem
service trajectories at the stand level.
Axe 2 : Quantifier, cartographier et évaluer les services rendus
The CR2 will determine how specific services evolve using hard data. The spatial mapping aspect is
not yet specifically included in the project but could be envisaged in the future. Several experts in GIS
mapping work at AMAP and all tools necessary for mapping are available. Training could be provided
at INRA formations.
Axe 3 : Piloter les compromis entre services
Understanding how services interact over time is at the heart of the CR2’s project.
Axe 4 : Appuyer les politiques publiques par des instruments multi-services et multi-acteurs.
The CR2 will not be involved in influencing policy and decision making, but will provide the tools and
knowledge to aid those that manage and advise stakeholders and policy makers. The numerical
instruments and the concepts created can be generic to a certain extent and thus transferred to
different services and domains.