Biodiversity linked to epiphytic dendromicrohabitats along altitudinal gradients - VERTYGE

Objectives

VERTYGE aims to increase knowledge of the role of epiphytes in forest biodiversity, along altitudinal (altitude) and vertical (tree height) gradients in the French Alps. Two main objectives are targeted:

• to identify animal (micro- to macrofauna) and fungal taxa inhabiting epiphytic DMHs by environmental metabarcoding,
• to understand how functional and taxonomic variation in DMHs (morphology and composition) in relation to altitude and height along the main vertical axis filter assemblages of similar animal and fungal communities.

Beyond improving fundamental knowledge, VERTYGE will consolidate forest management tools in a context of climate change and biodiversity erosion, and will promote scientific communication and public mediation around forest biodiversity, dendromicrohabitats and VERTYGE results.

Approachs

To investigate the links between biodiversity and epiphytic DMHs, we propose to sample the plots of the ORCHAMP observation network already described and valorized (https://orchamp.osug.fr/home). Sampling will be carried on approximately 30 trees.
Along the vertical axis of the tree, epiphytic DMHs will be described at several heights using conventional methods based on morphological criteria, and then sampled. In situ habitats will be accessed by tree-climbing. Second, bryophytes and ivy species will be identified on morphological criteria in the laboratory, and animal and fungal taxa collected from epiphytes will be identified by environmental metabarcoding.
The links between substrate (DMH), community, altitude, tree height and carrier species will then be analyzed jointly by the various project members.
To disseminate the results and other scientific advances about forest biodiversity, a seminar will be organized at the end of the project, in conjunction with a seminar aimed at relations between scientists and managers.
Knowledge, methods, results and issues relating to forest biodiversity will be disseminated to users through a halfday layman’s workshop.

Participants

INRAE units involved

• UR LESSEM
• USC Ecodiv - Rouen-Normandy University
• UR EFNO

Partnerships

LECA (CNRS)