Results from pathfinder projects

AMDORE, building on ADORE, aimed to organise participatory workshops and then implement a results-oriented approach at two pilot sites. AMDORE demonstrated a shift in stakeholders’ perceptions of biodiversity and a change in attitude towards it, moving from viewing biodiversity as a nuisance to a more positive outlook. The actions defined by the group will be sustained following the numerous positive outcomes.

DYNAMIC demonstrates that the stability of crop rotations and semi-natural landscape components in the Marais Poitevin is largely linked to the soil and climate constraints of the various sites. Bird communities are shaped by agricultural practices in floodplains and croplands.

BIODILUTIQUE confirms the role of landscape characteristics in tick abundance: in large wooded areas, ticks are more numerous on vegetation. The overall prevalence of Borrelia spp. is 8.2%. Birds play a more significant role as reservoirs for Borrelia than small mammals. Roe deer density influences tick population dynamics.

LANDEV has shown that, thanks to their flexibility, environmental easements appear to be a suitable tool for protecting land whilst maintaining agricultural activity in the long term. However, most of the operators surveyed consider that the ecological benefit of compensatory OREs is low. This study highlights the current limitations of OREs, but also shows that they contribute to the diversification of responsibilities and stakeholders, to cooperation and to the development of expertise

BIOFORDIV has demonstrated the varying influence of forest management history and biogeographical factors on biodiversity and the structure of communities across several taxonomic groups (saproxylic beetles, birds, vascular flora). Passive acoustics and environmental DNA are innovative and promising methods for conducting such biodiversity monitoring.

ECART has tested a system for measuring microclimatic variables and a tool for collecting spores in the canopy. These data have been used to investigate the factors influencing the distribution of this biodiversity within trees. Initial results show distinct associations of bryophyte species between the upper trunk, the base of the trunk and the rest of the crown, as well as a negative effect of tree decline on bryophyte richness in the upper part of the tree

A meta-ecosystem model has been developed to study nitrogen fluxes in agroforestry systems (AFS). Its application at the DIAMS experimental site has shown that the spatial organisation of the AFS, in interaction with agricultural practices, strongly structures the distribution of nitrogen stocks and fluxes between landscape sub-units, with consequences for crop production and the system’s ability to limit nitrogen losses through leaching.

The MODIMIV project aims to model the relationships between microbial and plant diversity in multi-species agroecosystems, particularly grasslands, in order to improve the simulation of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) flows and better synchronise nutrient supply and demand. The initial objective was to overcome the limitations of existing models, which often incorporate biodiversity in an implicit or simplified manner, by developing explicit and dynamic simulators capable of representing biotic interactions.

iSERV has shown that the current population of Arctic char in Lake Annecy relies predominantly on restocking. The results suggest that the origin of the fry influences temperature tolerance. They show that char alters the structure of aquatic communities, though with little effect on the functioning of the lake. Restocking could therefore alter the lake’s ecosystem services. Potential conflicts between users are identified when they are asked about their preferred management of the lake.

PARMENIDE shows that the degree of naturalness of a landscape promotes acoustic diversity. In particular, landscape mosaics that are not highly fragmented and contain a high proportion of permanent grassland, as well as landscapes where management practices are becoming more extensive (particularly organic farming), very clearly promote biophony.