DANET Alain
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Scientist Theme(s) : Spatial dynamics, connectivity, habitat and functional area
Trophic interaction
Ecosystems assessment and multiple anthrophic pressure
Stakeholders information support for sustainable management of ecosystems
Address: UMR DECOD, 65 rue de Saint-Brieuc, Bât. 15, CS 84215, 35042 Rennes Cedex, France Keywords : cascades trophiques / Connectivité / Inférence de réseaux / Interactions trophiques / Réseaux d’interaction / Communautés / Ecosystèmes / Eutrophisation / Méta-communautés / Méta-écosystèmes / Plantes / Poissons / Analyses de séries temporelles / Développement de scripts / Modèles de réseaux / Modélisation mécaniste / Modélisation statistique  |
Research Focus
My research aims to understand how anthropogenic pressures alter ecological communities and ultimately disrupt ecosystem functioning. This is a complex challenge because community responses emerge from both the diversity of species-specific reactions to environmental changes and the intricate networks of interactions among species. My work integrates these interaction networks into theoretical and applied ecology to address a central question: How do species interactions mediate the effects of environmental pressures on ecological systems—particularly in community assembly, ecosystem functioning, and stability?
To tackle this, I employ a multidisciplinary approach combining experiments, analyses of large-scale datasets, and theoretical modeling, applied across diverse systems (e.g., drylands and freshwater ecosystems).
At DECOD, my objective is to contribute to unravel how spatial dynamics influence biodiversity, ecosystem functioning, and stability at large scales. Specifically, I aim to:
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Empirically and theoretically assess how species and material flows reshape food-web structure, with feedback effects on spatially connected ecosystems (i.e., meta-ecosystems).
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Integrate these mechanisms into spatially explicit meta-ecosystem models to design innovative management and restoration strategies.
I apply this framework to the land-sea continuum (terrestrial–freshwater–marine ecosystems), leveraging DECOD’s collective expertise. My long-term goal is a holistic integration of this continuum through:
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Analysis of large ecological databases,
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Development of theoretical models,
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Application to ex-situ and in-situ experimental/observational systems at UMR DECOD.
Current projects
REwilding and Waterscape restoration via large-scaled Nature-based Solutions | Timeframe : 2026 - 2031 Keywords : Adaptation / Connectivité / Ecologie spatiale / Empreinte environnementale / Evaluation / Gestion intégrée / Habitats essentiels / Habitats marginaux / Multi-stress / Restauration / Sélection / Socio-écosystèmes / Usages / Algues / Barrages / Changement climatique / Communautés / Ecosystèmes / Eutrophisation / Macroinvertébrés / Mammifères / Méta-communautés / Méta-écosystèmes / Oiseaux / Plantes / Poissons / Politiques publiques / Populations / Reptiles / ADNe / Analyses de séries temporelles / Bio-informatique / Bioindication / Capteurs / Capture, échantillonnage et inventaire / Développement de packages / Développement de scripts / Géomatique / Identification taxonomique / Imagerie / Ingéniérie écologique / Intelligence artificielle / Modélisation statistique / Sciences participatives / Sélection artificielle / Télédétection |
The influence of spatial fluxes on meta-ecosystem dynamics: theoretical perspectives and practical applications along the river-sea continuum | Timeframe : 2025 - 2027 Keywords : cascades trophiques / Connectivité / Ecologie spatiale / Inférence de réseaux / Interactions trophiques / Réseaux d’interaction / Stabilité des réseaux / Stress abiotique / Barrages / Eutrophisation / Méta-communautés / Méta-écosystèmes / Poissons / Analyses de séries temporelles / Modélisation statistique |
Consulting Experience
French Scholarly Society for Ecology and Evolution (SFE2)
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Executive Board Member (since 2021): Served as Secretary (2021–2025) and Vice-Treasurer (from 2025).
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Thematic Group: Active contributor to "Agir face à la crise écologique" ("Acting on the Ecological Crisis").
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Science-Policy Interface
- Reviewer for the 2021 IPCC Report (biodiversity & ecosystem services sections).
- Scientific advisor for the book "La loi de l’entraide" (The Law of Mutual Aid). -
Peer Review & Grants
- Reviewer for SFE2 grants and prizes, including the Young Ecologist Prize and Fieldwork Fellowships (since 2021). -
Teaching & Open Science
- Advocate for reproducibility and open tools: Teach workflows using Git, R compendia/pipelines, and Julia.
Publications
Selection of Scientific Products
Blyth Penelope, Johnson Thomas, Malpas Thomas, Mayall Hana, Smith Alina, Danet Alain, Delmas Eva, Griffiths Christopher, Simmons Benno, Jackson John, Brose Ulrich, Beckerman Andrew (2026). The Critical Role of Coefficients: Updating Allometric Normalisation Constants for Modern Ecology and Modelling. Ecology Letters, 2026, 29 (2), pp.e70330. ⟨10.1111/ele.70330⟩
Irving Katie, Danet Alain, Olden Julian, Larsen Stefano, Tedesco Pablo, Giam Xingli, Brose Ulrich, Eros Tibor, Filipe Ana Filipa, Fortin Marie‐josee, Jacquet Claire, Ruhi Albert, Sharma Sapna, Comte Lise (2026). Fish community trait dissimilarity dampens synchronizing effect of environmental fluctuations. Oikos, 2026, ⟨10.1002/oik.11676⟩
Danet Alain, El Madouri Loubna, Bonnaffé Willem, Beckerman Andrew, Mouchet Maud, Fontaine Colin, Thébault Elisa (2026). Biodiversity temporal trends are reshaping food web structure and redundancy in riverine ecosystems. 2026
Kéfi Sonia, Danet Alain (2026). Réseaux d’interactions et stabilité des communautés. Écologie fonctionnelle des systèmes terrestres, A paraître
Roemer Charlotte, Fromont Céline, Barot Sébastien, Couvet Denis, Danet Alain, Martin Jean-Louis, Navas Marie-Laure, Matutini Florence, Monnet Anne-Christine (2025). Pressured researchers in ecology and conservation demand support to guarantee fair interactions with stakeholders. Biological Conservation, 2025, 310, pp.111324. ⟨10.1016/j.biocon.2025.111324⟩
Lajaaiti Ismaël, Bonnici Iago, Kéfi Sonia, Mayall Hana, Danet Alain, Beckerman Andrew, Malpas Thomas, Delmas Eva (2025). EcologicalNetworksDynamics.jl: A Julia package to simulate the temporal dynamics of complex ecological networks. Methods in Ecology and Evolution, 2025, 16 (3), pp.520-529. ⟨10.1111/2041-210X.14497⟩
Danet Alain, Kéfi Sonia, Johnson Thomas, Beckerman Andrew (2025). Response diversity is a major driver of temporal stability in complex food webs. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 2025, 292 (2058), ⟨10.1098/rspb.2025.0730⟩
Danet Alain, Giam Xingli, Olden Julian, Comte Lise (2024). Past and recent anthropogenic pressures drive rapid changes in riverine fish communities. Nature Ecology & Evolution, 2024, 8 (3), pp.442-453. ⟨10.1038/s41559-023-02271-x⟩