Integrative ecophysiology: in-depth study

Ecophysiology is a discipline at the interface between organism biology and ecology. Integrative ecophysiology focuses more specifically on the issue of scaling. In other words, this course aims to illustrate how the study of acclimatization/adaptation mechanisms at the individual (or even sub-individual) level can explain population structure, species distribution, and ecosystem functioning. The responses of organisms and populations to the main structuring abiotic parameters (such as temperature, salinity, oxygen availability, pollutants) will be considered, as well as their interactive effects. The role of interactions between organisms will also be addressed. In this course unit, animals, plants, and microorganisms will be considered, and different types of approaches will be illustrated: field observations, in situ or laboratory experiments.

Understanding ecophysiological adaptation mechanisms at the individual level

Be able to address the complexity of interactions between organisms and their environment, focusing on the response of different types of organisms (animals, plants, microorganisms) and on the consequences at the ecosystem level.