Units

Plant Ecology and Biogeochemistry

The research unit investigates biogeochemistry, and functional and evolutionary ecology of terrestrial ecosystems, especially in response to disturbance by man. In particular, our expertise concerns mineral nutrients in the soil-plant system, and adaptations of plants to soil mineral nutrient stress (heavy metal contaminations, ...).

Projetcs

Biogeochemical cycles in forests

Natural variation of stable isotopes is used to understand element cycling in forest ecosystems altered by acid rain. Strontium (Sr) isotopes are used as a proxy for calcium (Ca) to discriminate between atmospheric and mineral weathering sources of Ca in tree nutrition. The coupling of this isotopic method with the archive properties of tree-rings (dendrochemistry) adds an important piece to the knowledge of the soil acidification story. Other isotopic tracers (multi-isotopic approach: Sr-Pb-Nd) are currently being tested.