Areas of work
Structuring the OBLA
The OBLA network is structured around three thematic areas that can be subdivided into different actions:
- Axis 1 Species and community dynamics in relation to environmental factors
- Action 1.1 Paleobiodiversity and environmental factors
- Action 1.2 Trends in the dynamics of species and communities in the recent past
- Action 1.3 Long-term monitoring of species and communities and the main environmental parameters on a network of sites
- Action 1.4 Spatial analysis of habitat availability throughout the catchment area
- Axis 3 Biodiversity and management
- Action 3.1 : Survey of managers' knowledge needs
- Action 3.2 Analysis of management and restoration experiences
- Action 3.3 Knowledge transfer
Area 1: Species and community dynamics in relation to environmental factors
Work on this theme was initiated during the project to set up the OBLA between 2012 and 2014. The following projects were carried out:
- An inventory and improved paleoecological knowledge of the Loire catchment (Action 1.1) ;
- A summary of the species present in the habitats of the Loire floodplain and the trends over time for certain taxonomic groups (Action 1.2) ;
- The design of a common protocol for long-term monitoring of communities and environmental factors (Action 1.3).
The work initiated when the network was set up was continued by the "BD Biodiv" project conducted between 2013 and 2015 through :
- The creation of a spatial database for collecting, displaying and sharing data on biodiversity and environmental factors, in particular those acquired as part of the long-term monitoring protocol (Action 1.3) ;
- Delimiting the floodplain of the Loire and Allier rivers;
- The collection of vegetation observations from old flora in order to complete what had already been done on the trends in the dynamics of species and communities in the near past (Action 1.2).
A third project as part of the OBLA network began in 2017 and will run until 2020. This project, entitled "Biodiversity and forcing variables in the habitats of the Loire plain - protocol and tools" or "BPO Loire", completes the work already carried out under Axis 1 as part of the two previous projects: testing the monitoring protocol developed for rapidly developing organisms and habitats, analysing the initial results and administering the database (Action 1.3).
Area 2: Experimental approach and modelling
Actions to be defined according to the results of Axis 1.
Area 3: Biodiversity and management
The actions in area 3 were initiated during the "BD Biodiv" project through an internship co-supervised by the Fédération des Conservatoires d'Espaces Naturels :
- Survey of managers' knowledge needs (Action 3.1) ;
- Analysis of management and restoration experiences, with a particular focus on the monitoring carried out by managers of natural areas (Action 3.2).
These two actions will be completed during the "BPO - Loire" project through the development of tools to assist in the analysis and statistical interpretation of data for river managers (Action 3.1 and 3.2). Indeed, a need for such tools was expressed by managers during the survey carried out during the previous project. This work will once again be carried out in partnership with the Fédération des Conservatoires d'Espaces Naturels. Finally, this project will also enable the launch of theAction 3.3 by various means: communication, events, organisation of seminars, etc.
Resources
Access to the OBLA database :
http://obla.sciences.univ-tours.fr/
Download the OBLA project report:
Download the "BD Biodiv" project report:
Partners
Website of the Fédération des Conservatoires d'Espaces Naturels :
Loire nature resource centre website:
http://www.centrederessources-loirenature.com
Contacts:
Scientific coordinator: Sabine Greulich, UMR Université de Tours - CNRS 7324 CITERES (greulich@univ-tours.fr)
Data analysis and management: Fabien Verniest, UMR Université de Tours - CNRS 7324 CITERES (fabien.verniest@univ-tours.fr)
English 
French