News from the AEB Cluster
Exploring genetic interactions to understand complex traits
April 15, 2024
A groundbreaking study of interactions between genetic variants, conducted jointly with IPSIM, pushes the boundaries of research by combining mathematics, genetics and high-performance computing to explore billions of interactions, opening up vast new perspectives in the understanding of complex traits.
Studying climate transitions: A solid reference for understanding abrupt changes
April 11, 2024
Geosciences Montpellier has contributed to a key study on abrupt climate change, by analyzing variations in oxygen isotopes in the Chinese climate record. This research identified 196 transitions over 640,000 years, providing valuable data for understanding past and future climate variations.
Ozone alters the chemical signal required for plant – insect pollination: The case of the Mediterranean fig tree and its specific pollinator
April 1, 2024
A study published in Science of the Total Environment, in which researchers from the UMR CEFE participated, reveals the impact of ozone on the pollination signal of the Mediterranean fig tree and its pollinating wasp. High levels of ozone disrupt the compounds emitted by the fig tree, altering the attraction of its pollinator.
The complex genetic code of sugarcane deciphered
March 27, 2024
The complex sugarcane genome has been deciphered. This major advance, published in Nature and in which UMR AGAP played a part, opens up new perspectives in the identification of genes of agronomic interest, offering the possibility of accelerating the selection of varieties better adapted to future environmental conditions.
A rich 125,000-year-old coastal ecosystem discovered under Ariane 6 in French Guiana
March 26, 2024
Researchers from ISEM, GéoSciences and the University of French Guiana have discovered a 125,000-year-old coastal ecosystem beneath the Ariane 6 launch site in French Guiana. The discovery, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, highlights a fossil assemblage comprising over 270 species, providing a glimpse into the unanthropized tropical coastal ecosystems of the equatorial Atlantic. These discoveries also highlight the importance of the potential impact of climate change on endangered species.
Clic, clac, the photo as a research tool on the food environment
March 25, 2024
A recent study, conducted in collaboration with UMR MOISA, examines the growing use of participatory photography in research on food environments. This approach allows participants to document their experience and offers unique insights into human interactions with food, while highlighting the importance of greater involvement of the people taking part.
Llamas restore soil and vegetation after glacier retreat
March 21, 2024
Researchers from UMR AMAP have taken part in a study revealing that llamas have a positive impact on soil and vegetation regeneration following glacial retreat in Peru's Cordillera Blanca. Their grazing, trampling and defecation activities help to enrich the soil and promote plant growth. This discovery opens up new prospects for ecosystem conservation in the face of receding glaciers worldwide.
Biodiversity protects forests from the effects of climate change
March 18, 2024
Studies carried out with the participation of UMR CEFE have revealed the crucial importance of biodiversity in protecting ecosystems from adverse climatic conditions. They show that plant diversity helps regulate microclimates and improves ecosystem processes such as decomposition, hence the importance of preserving species diversity in ecosystem management to protect them from the effects of global warming.
Improving dialogue between water science and society
March 8, 2024
A hydrology study in which UMR G-Eau took part highlights the discrepancies between the expectations of decision-makers and scientific practices in Tunisia. The researchers propose four areas for improvement to strengthen the dialogue between hydrology and society. They suggest clarifying the values underlying the relationship between scientists and society, reintegrating hydrology into the social sphere, broadening research partnerships and revising scientific practices to foster dialogue between theoretical and practical approaches.
Impacts of agricultural deforestation on biodiversity: discovery of long-ignored factors
March 8, 2024
Since a meta-analysis coordinated by Peking University and involving UMR SENS, it has been revealed that the effects of agricultural activities on biodiversity vary considerably around the world. The results of this study, published in Nature Ecology & Evolution, indicate that environmental constraints, whether of natural or human origin, play a crucial role in the selection of disturbance-tolerant species.
A vast study on fish size to better understand the impact of human activities and the relevance of Marine Protected Areas
March 7, 2024
A study published in Science, in which the MARBEC research unit participated, analyzes the effectiveness of marine protected areas (MPAs) on the size of pelagic and benthic fish. The results show that the effect of MPAs varies according to distance from the coast, with greater protection for pelagic fish in remote areas, underlining the importance of spatial management to restore fish populations.
Silence, it mutates: the origin of heritable mutations in trees
February 29, 2024
Researchers, including the AMAP research unit, have studied the genetic diversity of tropical trees in French Guiana, revealing that acquired mutations are passed on to seeds, enriching their adaptation to environmental change. This discovery, published in PNAS, is based on DNA sequencing of branches exposed to sunlight, demonstrating the heritability of these mutations in fruit.
Discovery of a new role for microbiota in fruit flies
February 22, 2024
A recent study by UMR CBGP reveals a new role for microbiota in fruit flies, in particular Drosophila suzukii, a pest of soft fruit crops. Researchers have discovered that D. suzukii females avoid laying eggs in fruit where D. melanogaster larvae are present, attracted by their microbiota. This discovery opens up prospects for crop protection against D. suzukii by exploiting egg-laying avoidance behavior based on the detection of other species' microbiota.
Seaports, hotbeds of contagious mussel cancer
February 21, 2024
Researchers from CNRS and the University of Montpellier have discovered that ports facilitate the spread of this disease between different mussel beds via maritime transport. They recommend policies to limit this phenomenon and protect coastal environments.
Faunal extinction crisis and climate change 34 million years ago in France (Quercy, Occitanie)
January 9, 2024
ISEM researchers have conducted a study examining the impact of abiotic and biotic factors on the diversity of endemic European artiodactyls during the Great Divide. The results suggest a decline in endemic artiodactyls linked to major environmental changes rather than active competition with immigrants.
Field flowers abandon pollinating insects
December 20, 2023
Interactions between plants and pollinators have evolved since the earliest days of angiosperms, but current environmental changes are causing a decline in pollinators. A study of field pansies in the Paris region shows a rapid increase in self-fertilization and changes in traits, towards less attractiveness to pollinators, demonstrating a rapid evolution in plant reproductive systems.
Acoustics reveal the keys to the vertical distribution of marine animal biomass
December 19, 2023
Researchers from UMR MARBEC have participated in a study examining the relationships between oceanographic variables and the distribution of pelagic organisms in the southwestern tropical Atlantic. Using acoustic and species distribution data, this study shows that chlorophyll-a, dissolved oxygen, currents and stratification play a key role in the distribution of pelagic communities. These factors vary in importance according to zone, depth and daily cycle, thus influencing the vertical structure of pelagic ecosystems.
Aquatic viruses reveal the impact of wastewater: new keys to public health
December 19, 2023
Researchers from UMR MARBEC have taken part in a study of aquatic viromes in the Ebrié Lagoon in Côte d'Ivoire, impacted by wastewater. The study revealed differences between plankton and sediment DNA viromes, independent of eutrophication. RNA viromes varied between sites, highlighting viral sequences linked to fecal contamination and human pathogens, mainly in the most affected areas. These results suggest that virome analysis could be a valuable tool for assessing human contamination of aquatic ecosystems.
Spotlight on fonio, an African cereal
December 19, 2023
The use of neglected and under-utilized species (NUS) in agrosystems offers solutions to the challenges posed by global change. A study carried out by researchers from the DIADE and AGAP units on the largest fonio collection to date has made it possible to assess its genetic diversity. By providing easy access to results via a user-friendly Shiny application, this study enhances research efficiency and opens up new prospects for improving fonio and indigenous crops as valuable resources for the future.
Soil health: an open dialogue between agriculture and science
December 13, 2023
Soils play an essential role in the design of sustainable agricultural practices. To improve the sustainability of agriculture, it is crucial to promote and monitor soil ecological functions, illustrated by a method called SE-CURE and a case study in Madagascar carried out by UMR Eco&Sols researchers.
Food and cancer: links preserved in the tree of life
December 13, 2023
Researchers from the MIVEGEC unit have taken part in a study exploring the impact of diets on tumor formation in different multicellular organisms. This research shows that richer diets promote the emergence and progression of tumors, while poorer diets offer some protection but no cure.
Arthropod vectors: risks of disease and biological invasions
December 7, 2023
An international team, including researchers from UMR MIVEGEC, has examined the biology and ecology of blood-sucking arthropods, such as ticks and mosquitoes, whose global spread is linked to disease transmission. The proliferation of blood-sucking arthropods, particularly mosquitoes, poses major challenges for human health. Studies have focused on the genetic plasticity and complex interactions of these vectors in new environments.
Bacteria to reduce the use of fertilizers and pesticides in agriculture
December 1, 2023
Researchers from UMR PHIM, in collaboration with scientists from Burkina Faso, are exploring the bacterial community associated with rice roots, with the aim of sustainably improving rice cultivation. By studying the root microbiota of rice, this team seeks to identify beneficial bacteria, understand their diversity and their influence according to cultivation practices, highlighting the need to design suitable culture media to promote the growth of beneficial bacteria associated with rice, thus improving its health and productivity.
Presentation of the book "Le Vin: 60 clés pour comprendre l'œnologie" (Wine: 60 keys to understanding oenology)
December 4, 2023
Fabienne Remize, a biologist specializing in wine micro-organisms, presents "Le Vin: 60 clés pour comprendre l'œnologie" (Wine: 60 keys to understanding oenology) alongside Véronique Cheynier on the "A l'UM la science" program. The program looks at the history of wine, going back 50 million years with the first traces of wild grapes, to the advent of viticulture around -11,000 years ago. Wine, present in numerous myths, is a symbol of spirituality, divinity and wisdom, while at the same time being associated with prohibitions and persistent medical controversies, evoking 2500-year-old debates initiated by Hippocrates.
ERC Starting Grant
December 4, 2023
Paul Antonio, a paleomagnetism researcher at the Géosciences Montpellier laboratory, has been awarded an ERC Starting Grant for his UBEICH project aimed at refining the dating of the Earth's inner core. His innovative experimental method involves customizing equipment to analyze magnetic signals at the scale of minerals, offering crucial insights into the crystallization of the Earth's core around a billion years ago. His atypical career path, from teaching to international research, has led him to this success and to the exploration of fundamental geological themes on a global scale.
CeMEB will be taking part in the AdNatura trade fair and will be present on the Université de Montpellier stand.
December 12 and 13, 2023
2 sessions :
- CeMEB session - December 13 9:30am-11:30am: Room A, Conference Center.
Onehealth, an internationally adopted study approach and its applications worldwide and in France. Further information. - Session RiVOC-BIODOVOC-CeMEB: December 13 13.45 - 15.15. Room C, Conference Center.
The One-health approach in Occitan territories: a few case studies - BiodivOc, LabEx CeMEB, RIVOC.
The complex origins of viticulture in the western Mediterranean
November 15, 2023
Researchers at ISEM (CNRS, IRD, UMontpellier) have taken part in a study of Middle Bronze Age grape seeds in southern Italy. Published in the journal Scientific Reports, this research highlights the early presence of viticulture before the arrival of Greek settlers. The findings suggest that grapevines were introduced from the eastern Mediterranean between 1,450 and 1,200 BC, revealing a complex process involving hybridization with wild vines for the beginnings of local viticulture.
Forum innovation 2023 - Innovating for concerted, sustainable water management
November 13 and 14, 2023
The Innovation 2023 Forum explores innovations for sustainable water management in response to climate change and increasing urbanization. It is being held in Montpellier, a major world center for this issue, with the participation of key players, aiming to analyze the developments and impacts of innovations in water management.
De l'eau à Montpellier?" symposium
November 9 and 10, 2023
The "De l'eau à Montpellier" (Water in Montpellier) symposium tackles the issues of water, climate change and population growth, with the aim of raising awareness, promoting local research and encouraging collective action for responsible water use.
It is organized by the Académie des Sciences et Lettres de Montpellier in partnership with Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole, the UNESCO ICIREWARD International Center and the University of Montpellier, with the support of the Aqua-Valley cluster.
Major tipping events have dominated the evolution of the climate system
October 18, 2023
As part of the European TiPES project, an international team, including scientists from CNRS-INSU - (OREME), has identified two major climate shifts over the last 66 million years. The first resulted from the impact of the Chicxulub meteorite around 65.5 million years ago, while the second is linked to the start of the Southern Hemisphere glaciation 34 million years ago.
When bacteria cooperate with a virus to kill oysters
October 17, 2023
Scientists from IHPE, MARBEC and CRIOBE, in collaboration with their Breton colleagues, have studied the interactions between viruses and bacteria in Pacific oyster mortality syndrome (POMS). They have identified cooperative bacteria that accelerate the disease by altering the oysters' immunity, opening up new avenues for controlling the disease.
AfriMAQUA international conference
October 23 to 28, 2023
The Marbec unit is participating in the organization of a conference as part of the AfriMAQUA project (nutrition-sensitive marine aquaculture in Africa). This conference brings together scientists from the North and South to discuss multidisciplinary issues relating to the aquatic food system and marine aquaculture in Africa.
Fête de la Science 2023 with Marbec
October 2023
"Improving feed efficiency in fish: let's get down to business".
October 5, 2023
On October 5, 2023, the MARBEC research unit organized a seminar on "Improving fish feed efficiency", presented by François ALLAL (IFREMER MARBEC researcher).
Orchids of Madagascar: state of knowledge and conservation
September 28, 2023
An orchid conservation project in Madagascar initiated by UMR AMAP reveals the richness and vulnerability of this endemic family. The exhaustive census of 913 species, 83.1% of which are endemic, underlines the importance of the conservation actions undertaken.
Developing more sustainable farming practices through crop mixes
September 13, 2023
A study conducted by researchers from Phim, AGAP, CEFE, EPHE and a Chinese laboratory shows that mixing different crop varieties is a potential means of controlling epidemics at field level in agriculture. However, its effectiveness varies and is often unpredictable, influenced by factors such as neighborhood-modulated susceptibility, where the presence of healthy neighboring plants affects the vulnerability of a given plant.
The Hymenoptera order, which includes wasps, ants, sawflies and bees, is highly diversified.
March 10, 2023
A study involving researchers from the CBGP Center (INRAe, CIRAD, IRD, Montpellier SupAgro, Université de Montpellier) shows that parasitism has been a dominant strategy since the Upper Triassic, but it is the transitions to secondary plant foods that have most influenced diversification within this order.
Safoutier domestication through local names
July 27, 2023
In Cameroon, the safoutier tree is widely cultivated for its fruits, which are essential to the local diet and economy. A Franco-Cameroonian study involving researchers from UMR DIADE and SENS examined the diversity of names and preferences for these fruits among tree owners. It revealed the morphological, gustatory, symbolic criteria and food preferences of consumers, as well as the commercial considerations influencing the classification of safoutier trees.
Is the Pirarucú introduced into Bolivia a super-predator?
September 12, 2023
The Arapaima gigas is a giant freshwater fish introduced to the Bolivian Amazon in the 1960s. Its enormous size (3 m long and up to 200 kg in weight) has raised fears among local fishermen, who blame it for the decline in catches of traditional commercial species.
A recent study concludes that A. gigas is an omnivore rather than a specialized fish-eater, and suggests that the impact of its introduction may be lower than previously assumed.
An unexpected ally in zoonosis risk monitoring
It is no longer necessary to handle and prick wild animals to analyze and monitor the emergence of zoonoses. A team of Gabonese and French researchers, including those from MIVEGEC, have turned to a less invasive and less time-consuming method. This involves analyzing the blood present in the digestive tract of tsetse flies to identify the infectious agents they contain and the animals they infect.
Center ICIREWARD is a partner for the first time of the Festival What A Trip! Festival in Occitania.
It will propose several actions:
- A "Water for the future" exhibition
- Activities around the exhibition.
- Educational conferences
- And school workshops
Soil carbon: a global overview of the impact of human activities
June 22, 2023
Human activities have a profound impact on soil organic carbon (SOC), affecting its contribution to ecosystem services such as climate regulation.
A study carried out by researchers from CIRAD, Montpellier and abroad, based on 25,000 experiments, has identified effective agricultural land management practices for restoring soil carbon, such as agroforestry and the use of organic amendments.
How did the armyworm invade 4 continents?
June 20, 2023
The armyworm threatens corn production. Originating in the Americas, and first reported in West Africa, it has quickly spread across much of the continent, as well as to Asia and Oceania. It can cause losses of over 50% of corn production.
Inbreeding in circumpolar killer whales
June 8, 2023
A long-standing isolation of a Southern Hemisphere population of killer whales may be the cause of a particularly high inbreeding rate in this population. These are the findings of a genome analysis of this population. The study was carried out by an international team, including a researcher from the MARBEC research unit (IRD, Ifremer, Université de Montpellier, CNRS).
Inauguration of the Celimer Coastal and Marine Center in Sète: developing links between the worlds of business and research
June 2, 2023
Celimer is the coastal and marine center to be inaugurated on June 2, 2023 at the IFREMER station in SETE. The center is the fruit of a scientific partnership between IFREMER and IRD, with CNRS and the University of Montpellier also taking part.
PaleoJump: a new database on past climates
June 1, 2023
A PaleoJump database provides access to high-quality data on past climates, enabling us to understand and study tipping points.
Read more...
Arctic marine megafauna in the face of climate change
May 23, 2023
Large marine fauna threatened. The Arctic is warming four times faster than the rest of the planet.
4 CNRS researchers win prestigious ERC 2022 grant
May 9, 2023
- Advanced 2022 grant awarded to Thomas LENORMAND, CNRS Research Director (CEFE - CNRS / UM / EPHE / IRD) for his project "The evolution of cis and trans-regulators in eukaryotes (RegEvol)".
- Consolidator 2022 grant awarded to Nadine LAGUETTE , director of Research at IGMM (CNRS / UM) for her project "Charting Cell Type-Specific Nucleic Acid Immunity (SENTINEL)".
- Starting 2022 grant allocated to :
- Jeanne Tonnabel, CNRS research fellow at ISEM (CNRS / UM / IRD / EPHE) with her project "The scope for sexual selection in plants / SEXIPLANTS".
- Vivian Poulin, CNRS research fellow at the LUPM laboratory (CNRS-UM), for her project "New crisis and old mysteries: Resolving cosmic tensions to reveal the dark sector (NewRecords)".
A wood protection mechanism in trees 360 million years ago
April 27, 2023
A study conducted by the AMAP laboratory with other foreign laboratories (Irish, Belgian and German) and published in the journal Nature Plants presents fossil evidence of tyllosis formation in the wood vessels of Upper Devonian plants, shedding light on our understanding of how ancient plants respond to injury and infection.
Wet to the ears: multiple aquatic adaptations in hippopotamoids
April 20, 2023
A study by scientists involving researchers from ISEM (CNRS, IRD, EPHE, UMontpellier) examines the aquatic affinities of fossil hippopotamoids by studying their morphology and morphometric features, focusing on the petrous bone and cochlea.
The results of this study show that hippopotamoids and cetaceans have convergently acquired semi-aquatic traits, calling into question the idea of a single, ancestral acquisition of semi-aquatic behaviors for these two groups.