Integrative ecophysiology: further study

Ecophysiology is a discipline at the interface between organismal biology and ecology. Integrative ecophysiology focuses in particular on the question of change of scale. In other words, the aim of this course is to illustrate how the study of acclimatization/adaptation mechanisms on an individual (or even sub-individual) scale can explain the structure of populations, the distribution of species and the functioning of ecosystems. The responses of organisms and populations to the main abiotic structuring 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, animals, plants and micro-organisms will be considered, and different types of approach will be illustrated: field observations, in situ or laboratory experiments.

Understand the mechanisms of ecophysiological adaptation 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, micro-organisms) and the consequences for ecosystems.