Urban ecology

Overview

Biodiversity in cities evolves under a wide variety of environmental conditions: temperature, humidity, soil composition, human management and building layout are all factors that can vary from one neighborhood to another. Understanding the adaptation processes of organisms to this variety of urban contexts requires the mobilization of multiple skills in ecology, molecular biology, architecture, urban planning, geomatics, art and humanities. These connections between these various disciplines within and outside the laboratory will deepen the understanding of the relationships between humans - their activities - and the biodiversity that surrounds them.

Evolutionary, taxonomic and functional responses of plants to urbanization

In response to biotic and abiotic changes in the urban environment, animal and plant populations and communities rearrange, accommodate and/or adapt. Understanding the processes leading to these different responses is essential to designing more ecological and resilient cities. We have launched an observatory on the taxonomic and functional diversity of urban plant communities and populations under various artificialization and management contexts. The pooling of various skills in ecology, geomatics and human sciences allows us to improve our understanding of the mechanisms at work in the adaptation of biodiversity to humans, their constructions and activities. Our project aims to study the taxonomic and functional compositions of plant communities in 60 urban herbaceous areas of the Strasbourg Eurometropolis. We intend (1) to measure the variability of these compositions in response to different urban forms, human densities and applied management and (2) to specify the adaptation mechanisms involved in this response. This study will allow us to inform planners and managers about the functional state of urban nature spaces, to inform them about the beneficial, neutral or harmful influences of their actions on the capacities of species to grow, maintain and reproduce.

INFORMATIONS

Website : https://zaeu-strasbourg.eu/in-situ-n17-evolville-adaptation-biodiversite-environnement-urbain/

Article : Muratet et al. 2021. EvolVille, l’évolution s’invite en Ville. In Situ, Zone Atelier Environnementale Urbaine de Strasbourg, n° 17

Video : Quand l’évolution s’invite au coin de la rue

Video : Muratet et al. 2022. EvolVille, l’évolution s’invite en Ville. Conférences BAUM, Paris, 22 mars 2022

CONTACTS

Audrey Muratet MCF UNISTRA, Faculté des Sciences de la Vie, urban ecology - audrey.muratet[at]live-cnrs.unistra.fr

Laurent Hardion, MCF UNISTRA, Faculté. des Sciences de la Vie, urban ecology and genetics - laurent.hardion[at]live-cnrs.unistra.fr

Financement : AP ‘Biodiversité, Aménagement Urbain et Morphologie’ (PUCA, DGALN, Office Français de la Biodiversité), IdEx Université de Strasbourg