Research Topics
Evolution, Adaptation and Biodiversity
Species arise, disappear, expand and adapt - it is a ongoing arms’ race with fluctuating biological diversity.
Today, environmental change is often driven by human activities such as pollution, nutrient enrichment, climate change or habitat modifications. Organisms need to cope with new conditions, acclimate and adapt, with consequences for community composition and biodiversity as well as ecosystem functioning at different spatial scales.
Environmental DNA is an innovative tool to monitor biodiversity or analyse the distribution of a virus in the population. e-biom is a spin-off at the service of biological monitoring.
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Pollution and Environmental Toxicology
One of the most urgent tasks conserve biodiversity and ecosystems is to identify, evaluate and finally control and avoid toxic agents that harm living organisms and our environment.
Multiple stressors (chemical, physical or pathogenic stress) and/or pollutants (pesticides, pharmaceuticals, endocrine disruptors, neurotoxins, atmospheric residues) impact on individuals but also on ecosystems. Research at ILEE spans from single molecules (analysis of gas composition, functioning of membranes) over organisms (responses of physiological, immune, nervous or reproductive systems) to ecosystem functioning.
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Characterization and Management of Natural Resources
Non-renewable resources such as fossil fuels or raw materials from the subsoil are exploited much faster than they can be replaced. Soil elements are found in a large variety of objects we use every day. Smartphones, solar panels etc. contain rare-earth metals or minerals. If not done responsibly, the extraction and processing of such elements cause heavy environmental problems.
By prospecting these geological resources (water, metals and raw materials) and integrating human utilisation over centuries, from antiquity to the electronic age today, ILEE contributes to the understanding of the relationships between natural resources, architecture and art. This is a first step to improve their sustainable management. The sustainable, environmentally friendly and economically efficient cultivation is equally desired for renewable resources, for example in aquaculture and aquatic ecosystems.
Photo credit: UNamur / Geoffroy Libert
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Ecosystem services
One can distinguish four different types of ecosystem services (ES):
- Provisioning services including the supply of food, raw material (wood, biofuels, etc.), water and medicinal resources
- Regulating services such as the regulation of air quality and soil fertility or pollination
- Supporting services that provide habitat for species or maintain biodiversity
- Cultural services that are non-material benefits to humans providing recreational, touristic or spiritual activities and inspiration
The concept of ES stems from a strong sustainability framework and its first aim was to help preserve biodiversity. Today, it is increasingly used to foster sustainable landscape management and planning, to increase well-being of local actors.
Methodological approaches include ES mapping, modelling, and integrated ES assessments.
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Sustainable Plant and Animal Production
Pesticides, fertiliser or antibiotics are widely used in agriculture with all negative consequences concerning environmental and health problems we are facing today.
Pathogens (e.g., viruses, bacteria, parasites, and fungi) cause high mortality rates are a major problem leading to tremendous economic losses in plant and animal production. Research at ILEE aims at the search for alternative solutions to control diseases and sustainably improve the performance of plant crops in agriculture and fish in aquaculture.
In aquaculture, special emphasis is put on the search for alternatives to the use of antibiotics and chemicals through immuno-stimulation methods, the replacement of fish meal and fish oil by plant ingredients the optimisation of animal husbandry to improve fish welfare. Research is conducted on temperate (Eurasian perch, pikeperch, trout) and tropical (striped catfish, African catfish, tilapia) species.
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Environmental Impacts on Human Populations
Many interactions exist between the environment and human population dynamics. Global warming and climate change will probably cause tremendous migration in the future.
Droughts, land use, environmental and health risks influence the distribution of human populations and their migration. Groups of differing vulnerability react differently to certain hazards. Spatial scales and geographical contexts (Burkina Faso, Senegal, Ecuador, Philippines, etc.) further influence population dynamics but also disease risks.
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map by worldpopEnvironmental History and Law
Urbanisation and industrial revolution probably had the most severe impacts on nature in history. A collection of laws, regulations, agreements etc. governs how humans interact with their environment.
Research on environmental law concentrates on its beginnings and sources, exploring the mobilized principles and their development over the last decades. Since European Law plays a significant role in the question of environment, an international perspective is privileged.
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Environmental and Natural Resource Management in the South
Research focus is put on the following topics:
- Characterization and sustainable management of natural resources
- Production of aquatic ecosystems and the sustainable development of aquaculture
- Impact of environmental changes on human populations
- Environmental history (natural disasters such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions)
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Photo from pixabay