Biodiversity: dynamics, interactions and conservation team

The Biodiversity: dynamics, interactions and conservation team is interested in describing, quantifying and understanding biodiversity responses to global changes. Our approaches combine mathematical modelling, data analysis and epistemology. Among our favourite questions, we often ask: What is ecosystem stability? How can it be measured? What is the role of spatial structure and dispersal in ecosystem resilience? What is the role played by species’ interactions in community composition, network structure and trajectories and ecosystem properties? We also investigate problems and solutions in conservation biogeography: what are the major driving forces of biodiversity distribution and trends? What is the role of protected areas in the dynamics of biodiversity? How climate change and other anthropic activities are shaping natural communities? Another research axis of the team revolves around more fundamental epistemological and political issues: what is the history of specific concepts used in ecology? How knowledge and values influence policymaking and vice versa?