Dans le cadre du projet SYCAMORE, le Dr. Norman Mason du Landcare Research d’Hamilton rendra visite aux chercheurs de l’Unité. Au cours de ce séjour, il présentera ses derniers travaux « predicting future impacts of woody weeds on ecosystem services: a 3-dimensional environmental modelling challenge » (le jeudi 12 juin 2014 à 15h30 au Pôle Sciences, Amphi Sylvius).

Résumé de ses travaux :
Woody weeds are expected to invade hundreds-of-thousands of hectares in New Zealand’s non-forest ecosystems during the next few decades. We can expect major changes to ecosystem processes in invaded areas. However it remains unclear whether woody weeds will exacerbate or mitigate future challenges around agricultural intensification, climate change and biodiversity loss. I will examine several negative and positive impacts of two classes of woody weeds – N-fixing shrubs and wilding conifers – to illustrate potential tools for and barriers to predicting future impacts. I will also consider the role an ecosystem services perspective might play in decision making processes around weed control efforts.