Dutoit Thierry

Since 1990, my research has focused on gaining a better understanding of how recent and/or past human activities have modified our environment, and more specifically plant communities. I have been interested in the influence of anthropogenic impacts, particularly over the very long term, by studying their resistance, persistence, resilience and regeneration after the cessation of various disturbances and/or the implementation of various conservation or ecological restoration techniques. I have focused in particular on the soil seed bank, which is considered to be a veritable seminal memory of plant communities due to the time lag that exists between the viability of seeds in the soil and their expression in above-ground vegetation. The majority of my work is experimental and based on practical conservation, restoration or ecological engineering operations.

Recruitment of PhD students: We are seeking candidates to undertake a CIFRE PhD project entitled “Combining civil and ecological engineering to restore the soil and vegetation of a sub-steppe Mediterranean grassland following the exploitation of an alluvial quarry”, to commence by the end of 2026. The deadline for applications is Monday 17 August 2026. For further information: https://iut.univ-avignon.fr/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/07/Proposition_sujet_these_CIFRE_Restauration_Pelouses_mediterraneennes.pdf