Tropical forests play a major role in carbon and water cycle at global scale. Yet, ongoing climate changes are going to influence tropical forest dynamics and functioning. A large number of research programs are then being conducted worldwide to understand these effects and simulate the future role of these ecosystems. These programs involve acquisition of large sets of forest structure and dynamics data, functional data, as well as local climate conditions. They include the development and parameterization of stochastic or mechanistic models that allow the simulation of future conditions and future response. The 2016 Labex-CEBA Thematic School entitled “Functional Ecology of Tropical rainforests in the context of Climate Changes: From real observations to simulations” (acronym “TropForClim”) intends to offer to young scientists (Phd candidates and Post-doc) a thorough view on how to measure, model, and simulate the functional response of tropical forest trees and ecosystems to climate change.
It will be jointly organized by UMR Ecofog (Kourou) and UMR EEF (Nancy) and will take place in Kourou, French Guiana, South America, in March 2016 (21-25th). The participants will learn: How to correctly measure the most important parameters related to tropical forest dynamics and ecophysiological traits (related to CO2, H2O and N), How to measure the most common meteorological parameters used to characterize local forest conditions, How to integrate these parameters into dynamic or functional models (at ecosystem or global scale), How to simulate forest dynamics and tree and ecosystem response to future climate change. Scientists from the Labex-CEBA working in these fields as well as invited ones will share their expertise and experience on these questions. Concepts as well as methodological issues will be presented through lectures. Yet, an important part of the thematic school will be reserved for practical works, either in the field / greenhouses (measurements on trees or seedlings), or in classrooms (modelling, simulation). A visit of the tropical rainforest experimental site of Paracou (including the Guyaflux tower) is scheduled. Registration for the Thematic School is opened until 31st December, 2015. Candidates should send a motivation letter explaining their interest to follow this tropical forest thematic school for their personal project, a detailed CV and two reference letters, to Damien Bonal ([email protected]) and Bruno Hérault ([email protected]). Registration fees are 400 € (Four hundred euros). Travel to French Guiana and lodging expenses during the school will be covered by CEBA. English will be the official language of the School. ------------------------------------------------------------ Bruno Hérault Paracou Research Station Cirad - UMR EcoFoG Campus Agronomique - BP 701 F- 97387 Kourou cedex Tél. : +594 5 94 32 92 05 Fax : +594 5 94 32 73 51
