BackOut
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Eco-evolutionary feedback loops out from the laboratory |
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Research
Context and issues
The BackOut project aims to understand when and how reciprocal interactions occur between ecological dynamics (changes in individual abundance) and evolutionary dynamics (genetic changes in individual phenotypic traits), known as eco-evolutionary feedback loops (EEFL, Fig. 1).
Fig. 1. The Eco-evolutionary feedback loop (EEFL). Natural selection from the environment may induce genetic change in populations (eco-to-evo link). In turn, phenotypic changes may alter the environment through altered population dynamics (evo-to-eco link).
Theoretical models predict that EEFLs play a central role in the dynamics and persistence of predator-prey systems, trophic networks, and entire ecosystems. Laboratory experiments on predator-prey microorganisms confirm these predictions. However, despite the urgent need to improve our ability to predict the trajectory of natural systems in a changing world, the existence of EEFLs outside the laboratory has not been rigorously tested.
The BackOut project is based on the development of new theoretical and statistical modelling frameworks for detecting and quantifying EEFLs from two main types of observational data in the natural environment:
· Capture-recapture data with pedigree, which is rare because it is very costly to produce, but which potentially allows direct observation of all components of the EEFL. For this type of data, BackOut will develop integrated models combining the ‘animal model’ of quantitative genetics and capture-mark-recapture models used in ecology.
· Time series of abundance and phenotype, which are much less costly and therefore much more widely available, but which only provide indirect information on EEFLs. For this type of data, BackOut will develop new mechanistic models that will be adjusted to time series of population density and body size using two innovative statistical frameworks: mechanistic-statistical models and neural ordinary differential equations.
Empirical understanding of EEFLs will improve our ability to predict the trajectory of virtually any ecological system, and the methods developed in BackOut will therefore be of interest to a wide community of biologists. From an applied perspective, BackOut will improve our ability to manage the effects of multiple environmental problems, including overexploitation (hunting, fishing), biological invasions, climate change, habitat fragmentation, epidemics, and resistance to antibiotics and pesticides.
People involved
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AMILIEN Flavie, Technician Phone : +33 2 23 48 56 69 Email : flavie.amilien@inrae.fr |
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BESNARD Anne-Laure, Technician Phone : +33 2 23 48 54 43 Email : anne-laure.besnard(at)inrae.fr |
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COLLINET Marc, Technician Phone : +33 2 23 48 55 29 Email : marc.collinet@inrae.fr |
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EDELINE Eric, Scientist Phone : +33 2 23 48 55 23 Email : eric.edeline@inrae.fr |
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FENG Mingjun, Doctorant Phone : +33 7 82 58 35 99 Email : mingjun.feng@inrae.fr |
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GAIGNÉ Emilien, Doctorant Email : emilien.gaigne@inrae.fr |
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GORZERINO Caroline, Scientist Phone : +33 2 23 48 70 37 Email : caroline.gorzerino@inrae.fr |
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MICHELOT Armand, Technician Phone : +33 2 23 48 52 37 Email : armand.michelot@inrae.fr |
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PETIT Eric, Scientist Phone : + 33 2 23 48 70 36 Email : eric.petit@inrae.fr |
Funding and Support
ANR
Appel à projets générique 2025
A.02 – Terre Vivante. « Instrument de financement : Projet de recherche collaborative (PRC) ».