EECAR News
EECAR - Team news!
This page contains the latest news about the team.
Enjoy your reading!
06/07/2025 - Best oral communication
Emma Léonea doctoral student in the first year of her thesis in the EECAR to theUMR IMBE-IUT d'Avignon University won the prize for best oral paper at the de la French Society for Fundamental and Applied Ecotoxicology which took place in La Roche-Sur-Yon from 1 to 4 July 2025.
His paper looked at the very long-term effects of soil contamination following the burning of munitions in a protected natural area, the Crau plain in the Bouches-du-Rhône département.
Half of his research is supported by the Sud-PACA region via the "Emplois Jeunes Doctorants" scheme and the company RSK-France.
His work is also the fruit of collaboration between three UMR, LCE, LPED and IMBE and should lead to the implementation of operations to rehabilitate and ecologically restore polluted sites.
Our heartfelt congratulations go to Emma on winning this award for her first oral presentation at a conference!
25/06/2025 - Team building day
EECAR team-building day to the north of Orange, in the Vaucluse region, with a hiking around Uchauxfollowed by a team meeting, a discussion visit to the Naturoptère and theHarmas Jean-Henri Fabre (property of the Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle).
One of the Avignon University campuses is named after Jean-Henri FabreHe was also a poet, writer, teacher, painter and musician. Also a poet, writer, teacher, painter and musician, he was a self-taught man, graduating with two baccalaureates in literature and maths, then obtaining three degrees in maths, physics and natural sciences, before defending two doctoral theses in zoology and botany.
06/06/2025 - A new biodiversity reserve: La Crau du Piboulon
Thanks in part to the work of Thierry Dutoit, CNRS research director at the IMBE, La Crau du Piboulon, located between Alleins and Mallemort, has become the first biodiversity reserve in the Aix-Provence-Marseille Metropolitan Area. Thierry and his colleagues (Hervé Ramone, Daniel Pavon, Elise Buisson, Anouk Courtial) discovered more than 90 plant species over an area of 100 m², and counted a dozen orchid species, including Anacamptis coriophora subsp. fragransand two protected species, Serapias parviflora and Ophrys provincialis. A fine example of how avoidance in advance is better than compensation and restoration in retrospect to conserve exceptional natural areas!
Read more in La Provence : The Crau du Piboulon between Alleins and Mallemort is to become a biodiversity reserve
27/5/2025 - Deal 2 Science
Three doctoral students from IMBE EECAR were able to dealer to students at the Lycée Jean-Henri Fabre in Carpentras.
From natural enemies to the avifauna of orchards, the students were able to learn about the challenges of tree production in the region while observing the diversity of small and not-so-small animals that live in these environments.
An opportunity to share their discoveries and give the next generation of researchers a taste for science!
To find out more, click here:
Pierre Baby and more info here
Lola Mottet
17/5/2025 L'IMBE at FAITES ÉCHO - La Fête de l'Environnement du Grand Avignon
As part of the "Faites Écho" event, Avignon University and the IMBE offered the public an opportunity to immerse themselves in the issues surrounding biodiversity and ecological restoration.. Two complementary themes punctuated this meeting, which was both engaging and educational.
Romane (post-doctoral researcher) led a workshop on theentomologythe richness and diversity of insects. Through interactive presentations and direct observation, she raised participants' awareness of the fundamental role played by these organisms in the proper functioning of ecosystems.
Emma (doctoral student) presented her research work on the ecological restoration of metal-polluted sites. She presented concrete ecological solutions for the sustainable rehabilitation of soils and the return of biodiversity, while preserving the resilience of restored environments.
The day was an opportunity to raise public awareness of environmental issues, by making scientific knowledge accessible and promoting sustainable approaches to better understanding, protecting and restoring our environment.
To find out more, click here:
5/4/2025 - Restoring using insect waste?
In addition to the transfer of "ecosystem engineer" species, it is also the products of their actions on the ecosystem that could be used for restoration when the reintroduction of species and habitat modifications are not enough (Saby et al, 2024).
This is how we tested the spreading of ant "dumps", rich in viable seeds. The idea here is to recover what these insects have stored next to their nest, either as reserves or simply as a "distraction".
This technique has been tested both in the greenhouse and in the field. in situ at four restoration sites
in the Crau plain compared with the use of a mixture of commercial seeds
and a transfer of hay harvested nearby. It only took six months to measure the differences, as shown by the publication published in the journal Land Degradation and Development in early 2025, and reprinted in the journal For Science ".
With the ant dumps, the grasslands regained greater species richness, with a composition closer to the reference plot, than with the commercial mix.
Here's what Léa Saby, who carried out this research as part of her doctoral thesis at Avignon University, has to say about it: Link to an article in La Marseillaise.
27/3/2025 - "Midisciences" conference by Romane Blaya
Ants: from an essential link in ecosystems to biological invasions
Romane Blaya, a doctorate in ecology, is studying ant communities, their roles and their impact on ecosystems in the Mediterranean basin. Ants play an important role in the functioning of ecosystems. They could be useful for better understanding and monitoring the changes they undergo. However, given the increase in the number of exotic ant species being introduced into Europe, it is important to understand the reasons for their success, identify their main routes of introduction and improve the legislative tools available to avoid or reduce their impact.
[Midisciences 2025] Discover the full programme
[Midisciences 2025] Discover the full programme - on www Avignon Université
26/3/2025 - Lecture by Clémentine Mutillod: from France to Mongolia, the return of Przewalski's horse and its effects on the steppe
Clémentine Mutillod, Temporary Teaching and Research Assistant at Avignon University's IMBE.
Przewalski's horses, considered to be the last wild horses in the world, were reintroduced in 2004 and 2005 in a 14,000-hectare closed reserve in their original range, the steppes of Central Asia. Following initial monitoring of the flora inside and outside this reserve in 2010, a second field campaign was carried out in 2023 thanks to Avignon University, the Société Française d'Écologie et d'Évolution, the Khomyn Talyn Takhi association and the Takh Association. Here's a look back at the two months spent on the steppe, between scientific surveys and naturalist and cultural discoveries.
In person at the Station Marine d'Endoume Conference room Batiment 4, Station Marine d'Endoume, chemin de la batterie des lions, Batiment 4, salle de réunion13007 Marseille
or live on https://tv.imbe.fr/?page_id=1486
02/2025 - Ant waste to help degraded grasslands
Following the publication of an article from Léa Saby's thesis (IMBE, EECAR team), find out more about this news item published on the CNRS INEE website:
https://www.inee.cnrs.fr/fr/cnrsinfo/les-dechets-des-fourmis-au-secours-des-prairies-degradees
VISIO LINK : https://zoom.us/j/4909720134 (meeting code 049097)
24/02/25 - PhD defence - Hugo Fontès
How can the reference ecosystem concept be used to assess the success of creating temporary ponds in the Camargue?
Subject to the assessment of the rapporteurs, Hugo Fontes, a doctoral student at the UMR IMBE, EECAR team, IUT d'Avignon Université and at the Tour du Valat, Institut de recherche pour la conservation des zones humides méditerranéennes, will submit his doctoral thesis to the Université d'Avignon, ED 536, Sciences et Agrosciences, speciality Life Sciences. How can the reference ecosystem concept be used to assess the success of creating temporary ponds in the Camargue? Monday 24 February 2025 14:00, Tour du Valat Le Sambuc, Arles<br>
VISIO LINK : https://zoom.us/j/4909720134 (meeting code 049097)
16/12/24 - Thesis defence - Romane Blaya
Response of structure and temporal dynamics of ant communities to spatial characteristics and habitats on small Mediterranean islands
Mrs. Romane Blaya will publicly defend her thesis on Monday 16 December 2024, at 3pm. in the Amphithéâtre Blaise technopole Agroparc in Avignon (CERI), before the jury composed of : Anna Traveset, Research Director, Instituto Mediterraneo De Estudios Avanzados, Rapporteur Xim Cerdá, Research Director, Estación Biológica de Doñana Rapporteur Ana Santos, Research Fellow, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid Examiner Jelena Bujan, Research Fellow, Ruđer Bošković Institute Examiner Jean-Philippe Lessard, Professor, Concordia University Examiner Elise Buisson, Senior Lecturer HDR, IMBE, Avignon University Thesis Director Philippe Ponel, Research Director, IMBE Aix-Marseille University Thesis Co-director Olivier Blight, Senior Lecturer, IMBE, Avignon University Thesis Co-supervisor<br>
VISIO LINK : https://bbb.univ-avignon.fr/rooms/rgd-udl-ghy-fmk/join
4/12/24 - Thesis defence - Clémentine Mutillod
Clémentine Mutillod, will be submitting her doctoral thesis at the University of Avignon, ED 536, Sciences and Agrosciences, specialising in Ecology - Population Biology and Ecology.
"Conceptual, taxonomic and functional approaches to the influence of domestic or 'wild' herbivores on the dry grasslands of the Causse Méjean (Massif Central, France)".
Le Wednesday 04 December 2024 at 2.00 pm, in the amphitheatre of theAvignon IUT - 337 chemin des Meinajariés, Site Agroparc BP 61207 - 84911 Avignon cedex 09
The IMBE stand at the Coussouls festival in Saint-Martin-de-Crau on Sunday 13 October was well attended!
As part of the Coussouls Festival which was held for the first time at the Domaine départemental des Aulnes in Saint-Martin-de-Crau, theIMBE held by Cécile Latapy (PAHIS team), Laurent Tatin and Thierry Dutoit (EECAR team), Avignon IUTThe event was a great success, with over 1,000 people taking part.
Thank you once again for your commitment throughout the day. !
10/24 - The IMBE will be present at the Med'Agri trade fair on 15-17 October
IMBE, and in particular the EECAR team, will be present at the show Med'Agri from 15 to 17 October 2024. She will be presenting the IUT's courses, in particular the BUT GB Agronomy and the Life VineAdapt on the role of biodiversity in viticulture.
Come one, come all!
10/24 - Reception of a Brazilian researcher: Odair Aparecido Fernandes
Odair Aparecido Fernandes will be with us from mid-October for a 3.5-month stay. Odair is Professor at the State University of Sao Paulo, UNESP, Brazil and Sabrina Juvenal de Oliveira's thesis supervisor (co-supervision with Avignon University).
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10/2024 - IMBE EECAR to take part in the first Coussouls festival, on Sunday 13 October at the Domaine de l'étang des Aulnes in Saint-Martin de Crau
The IMBE EECAR team will be leading an outing (by Thierry Dutoit) and running a stand (Laurent Tatin, Olivier Blight) at the very first Fête des Coussouls, to be held on 13 October 2024 at the Domaine départemental de l'Étang des Aulnes, in Saint-Martin-de-Crau (Bouches-du-Rhône). For one day, come and discover a heritage that is unique in the world, and find out about the EECAR team's research activities on the Crau plain.
The event on the CEN PACA website: https://cen-paca.org/participer/agenda/evenement/la-fete-des-coussouls/
The event on Facebook : https://fb.me/e/8Wqa0aNPc
The event on Linkedin : https://www.linkedin.com/events/laf-tedescoussouls7222524949519867904/
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09/2024 - Book to be published by CNRS with EECAR contribution: Exploring the Environment: Solutions for Innovation
To be published on 26 September 2024
Already available in digital version (26 euros)
Edited by Éric Fouilland, Françoise Gourmelon
This book, the fruit of collaboration between more than 180 researchers, lifts the veil on major scientific advances in the fields of ecology and the environment.
This book takes a deep dive into the fascinating discoveries of research carried out on every scale, from bacteria to ecosystems, and sheds unique light on the environmental and societal challenges we face, proposing practical, promising and innovative solutions (336 pages).
Contributions IMBE - EECAR team, University of Avignon, IUT.
Using ants to restore nature? p 180-184.
Thierry Dutoit, Adeline Bulot, Tania de Almeida, François Mesléard & Olivier Blight
08/2024 - Best student oral presentation at the SER-Europe conference
Clémentine Mutillod, a doctoral student in the third year of her thesis with the IMBE EECAR team at the IUT Avignon, won first prize for the best oral presentation entitled "What are the effects of the introduction of "wild" horses on the dung beetle assemblage and its associated ecological functions?" ("What are the effects of the introduction of 'as wild' horses on dung beetle assemblage and its associated ecological functions?") during the 14th European Conference on Ecological Restoration (14th European Conference on Ecological Restoration) held from 26 to 30 August 2024 in Tartu, Estonia. held from 26 to 30 August 2024 in Tartu, Estonia.
We'd like to offer him our sincerest congratulations, as the symposium was attended by around 700 participants, including 64 oral presentations by students applying for this award! To find out more, go to here
