Units

Laboratory of Systems Ecology and Resource Management

The Laboratory of Systems Ecology and Resource Management (c/o Prof. Farid Dahdouh-Guebas), seeks to understand and to predict how and why spatio-temporal dynamics in vegetation and landscape occur. It adopts a retrospective approach using relevant methods from different disciplines (tropical botany, very high resolution sequential remote sensing and ground truth, vegetation science, socio-ecologic survey research, historic archive research,...), an integrative analysis (using geographical information systems, multivariate and multicriteria analyses,...) in order to generate outputs relevant for fundamental understanding of ecosystem functioning (health status, resilience), for forecasting changes and for ecosystem management (conservation, restoration ecology).  Within this framework we also emphasize on changes in biodiversity, on plant-animal and on man-ecosystem interactions. The mangrove is an important model, but close links exist with adjacent ecosystems such as the tropical rainforest or the coral reef. The research focuses on (sub)tropical vegetation and is done in collaboration with the Laboratory of Plant Biology and Nature Management of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (Prof. Nico Koedam).  This laboratory was previously named the Laboratory of Complexity and Dynamics of Tropical Systems and the Laboratory of Systematic Botany and Phytosociology (Prof. Jean Lejoly - ULB).

Unit of Social Ecology

The Unit is interested in the organisation of animal societies and study their underlying  physiological and  ethological mechanisms as well as the adaptative value of collective patterns put in an ecological perspective.  Both experimental and theoretical studies are mainly conducted  on social insects (ants, honeybees,...) but also on presocial/gregarious animal species as well as on societies of artificial agents (microrobots).  We identify the generic rules that shape spatial structures ( trail network, nest construction,...), temporal  patterns (activity rythms,...) and social organization (division of labour, task specialization,...).  The practical issues of this research involve the development of new modalities to control animal populations as well as the assessment of their impact on the environment (e.g. impact of ant fauna on vegetation,...).

Structure and Function of Biological Membranes

The laboratory is dedicated to advancing to a better understanding of the structure, function, and role of biological membranes in cells and cellular organelles.  We put a special emphasis on the study of the structure and function of membrane molecules (lipids and proteins) and on the investigation of the mechanism by which these molecules control membrane permeability and cellular functions. We provide a multidisciplinary training and research environment including cell biology, physiology, biochemistry, proteomics, cell and molecular spectroscopy, biophysics and structural bioinformatics. As membrane component s are the targets for most pharmaceutical compounds, our studies include hot topics such as cancer diagnostic and treatment, cholesterol and lipid transport, Alzheimer's disease, cell transfection, heavy metals detoxification. Our group has contributed to the development of methodologies that allow the investigation of the structure-activity relationship of membrane proteins at a molecular scale in a well-defined environment. One of our main purpose is to stimulate and coordinate high-level graduate education in membrane biology, and foster career development of membrane scientists in an environment of research excellence. The laboratory develops Basic and Applied Research projects. Our laboratory belongs to the ''Structural Biology and Bioinformatics Center'' at the University of Brussels, and is member of the ''Structure and Function of Biological Macromolecules, Bioinformatics and Modelling'' graduate college. Our laboratory is also part of several European (Early Stage Training (EST)'' networks.

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