Modeling the impact of the nitrate contamination on groundwater at the groundwater body scale : The Geer basin case study

In the next decades, groundwater managers will have to face regional degradation of the quantity and quality of groundwater under pressure of land-use and socio-economic changes. In this context, the objectives of the European Water Framework Directive require that groundwater be managed at the scale of the groundwater body, taking into account not only all components of the water cycle but also the socio-economic impact of these changes. One of the main challenges remains to develop robust and efficient numerical modeling applications at such a scale and to couple them with economic models, as a support for decision support in groundwater management. An integrated approach between hydrogeologists and economists has been developed by coupling the hydrogeological model SUFT3D and a cost-benefit economic analysis to study the impact of agricultural practices on groundwater quality and to design cost-effective mitigation measures to decrease nitrate pressure on groundwater so as to ensure the highest benefit to the society. A new modeling technique, the ‘Hybrid Finite Element Mixing Cell’ approach has been developed for large scale modeling purposes. The principle of this method is to fully couple different mathematical and numerical approaches to solve groundwater flow and solute transport problems. The mathematical and numerical approaches proposed allows an an adaptation to the level of local hydrogeological knowledge and the amount of available data. In combination with long time series of nitrate concentrations and tritium data, the regional scale modelling approach has been used to develop a 3D spatially distributed groundwater flow and solute transport model for the Geer basin (Belgium) of about 480 km2. The model is able to reproduce the spatial patterns of nitrate concentrations together nitrate trends with time. The model has then been used to predict the future evolution of nitrate trends for two types of scenarios: (i) a “business as usual scenario” where current polluting pressures remain the same and (ii) two contrasted scenarios that simulate the implementation of programs of measures aiming at reaching good chemical status. The results of the hydrogeological model under the “business as usual scenario” have been used to assess the cost for the society of the continuous degradation of the groundwater quality. The results of the hydrogeological model under the two contrasted scenarios have been used to assess the economical benefit as avoided damage resulting from the decrease in the nitrate load. A cost-benefit analysis has been thus performed to assess the programme of mitigation measures which provides the largest benefits at the lowest cost.FP6 AQUATERRA Integrated Project no. 505428 (GOCE). Integrated modelling of the river-sediment-soil-groundwater system; advanced tools for the management of catchment areas and river basins in the context of global chang

The pretext of foresight to debate on irrigation groundwater management: lessons from six cases studies in France

International audienceThe transcription of the 2000’s European Water Framework Directive in France has led to define maximum volumes that can be abstracted in water bodies. In many French contexts, it requires reducing more or less drastically current water consumption, especially in agriculture where farmers were granted permits by the water policy authority, regardless the real level of water availability. To do so, French water law imposes, where water bodies are structurally in water scarcity, to create irrigation associations charged to share available water between farmers. And the challenge is particularly high in the groundwater case, where farmers are not embedded in collective irrigation schemes. Sharing rules have then to be designed from the ground up.This communication presents and critics the way that innovative management instruments were explored in six cases’ studies representative of the diversity of agricultural products and hydrogeological situations. These instruments were debated during 18 foresight workshops held with institutional representatives (50) and farmers (87). Foresight workshops had the advantages to make credible institutional and resource changes, and to retrieve from current but side-debates. In five cases, researchers took the lead of these workshops, and in the last one it was directly carried by a stakeholder (an Agriculture Chamber), which allows to test the transferability of such a method in real context with a direct implementing goal.Lessons are drawn at several levels. Firstly, debating on contrasted scenarios is a robust way to facilitate discussions on something not implemented yet in France. Secondly, the context highly matters, in particular the perception of the reality of groundwater scarcitylevel. Thirdly, to debate on groundwater management tools has to be firstly embedded in a more general discussion, on the future of agriculture or at least on more broadly water challenges (like in terms of quantity and quality)

Agrarian Dynamics and Landscape Dynamics in the Tleta Watershed, Western Rif (Morocco).

Le Tangérois est en plein évolution socioéconomique avec le développement des zones franches et l’installation d’une nouvelle population. Les besoins en eau et en produits agricoles augmentent. L’urbanisation et l’industrialisation font que la terre change d’utilisation et de fonction.Ces changements impacteraient le comportement hydrologique du bassin du Tleta (17 700 ha) qui alimente le barrage Ibn Batouta ; source importante d’eau pour le Tangérois. L’hypothèse posée est que ces changements paysagers impactent la production en eau, l’érosion des sols et la productivité des terres. C’est la finalité principale du projet de recherche ALMIRA dans lequel s’insère cette étude. Elle vise à contribuer à la vérification de cette hypothèse en analysant la dynamique agraire et paysagère dans le Tleta. Le diagnostic du bassin Tleta a permis un zonage agroécologique des terres et une description des systèmes d’exploitation agricole (56 exploitations enquêté). Huit quadrats de 1,75 km² en moyenne ont été choisis pour analyser la dynamique des occupations des terres et des parcellaires entre 2000 et 2015 à partir de l’exploitation de cartes des occupations produites à différentes dates et d’images Google de 2003, 2009 et 2015. Pour chaque quadra, le parcellaire a été digitalisé. L’étude a confirmé l’intense évolution des espaces dans le Tleta. Les facteurs de changement importants sont le développement économique, l’implantation de la ville nouvelle de Chrafate, l’apport de capitaux extérieurs, l’exode des jeunes, le développement de l’arboriculture (Plan Maroc Vert) et la valorisation du matorral. L’analyse des quadrats a montré que la part des parcelles avec bâti varie de 0 à 30% ; celles avec haie de 0 à 90%; la taille médiane des parcelles est inférieure à 0,5 ha mais varie de quelques m² à 2 ha ; la part du matorral varie entre 2 et 57%. Le système d’exploitation dominant est la polyculture-polyélevage. La taille moyenne d’une exploitation est de 7,7ha répartie sur 6 parcelles. 50% des exploitations ont une taille de 5 à 10 ha. Elles produisent des céréales (blé, orge, avoine), du sorgho et des légumineuses (fève, lentilles, pois chiche), destinées à l’autoconsommation et à l’élevage. La rotation dominante est culture (céréales)/jachère qui sert de pâture au cheptel. La plantation de l’olivier est récemment développée. Le troupeau moyen est composé de 4 bovins, 3 ovins et 3 caprins. Cette étude a posé les bases d’une analyse prospective du bassin : comment ces évolutions vont-elles se combiner à l’horizon 2040 ? Quels seront les impacts sur l’économie agricole, l’érosion et la fourniture d’eau pour le barrage ? Mots clés : Dynamique agraire, Dynamique paysagère, Bassin versant Tleta, Rif Occidental, MarocThe Tangérois region is into full socio-economic evolution with the development of free zones and the establishment of a new population. The requirements of water and agricultural produce increase. The urbanization and industrialization cause the land to change use and function. These changes would affect the hydrological behavior of Tleta watershed (17 700 ha), which feeds Ibn Batouta dam; a significant source of water for the Tangérois. The assumption sit for is that these landscape changes affect the production of water, soil erosion and the productivity of land. It is the principal purpose of the ALMIRA research project, within which this study is being implemented. It aims at contributing to check this assumption by analyzing agrarian and landscape dynamics in Tleta. The diagnosis of the Tleta watershed allowed the agroecological zoning of land and the description of the agricultural farming systems (56 surveyed farms). Eight quadrats (of 1,75 km² on average) were selected to analyze the dynamics of land use and parcellar between 2000 and 2015 starting from the exploitation of land use maps produced on different dates and Google images of quadrats selected for 2003, 2009 and 2015. For each quadrat, the parcellar was digitalized. The study confirmed the intense evolution of spaces in Tleta. The significant factors of change are the economic development, the establishment of the new city of Chrafate, the contributions of external capital, the exodus of young people, the development of tree crops (Morocco Green Plan) and the valorization of matorral. The analysis of quadrats showed that the share of parcels with built environment varies from 0 to 30%; those with hedge from 0 to 90%; the median size of the parcels is lower than 0.5 ha but varies from some m² to 2 ha; the share of matorral varies between 2 and 57%. The dominating farming system is the mixed-farming-livestock. The average size is 7.7 ha, distributed on six parcels. 50% of the farms have a size from 5 to 10 ha. They produce cereals (wheat, barley, oats), sorghum and leguminous plants (beans, lentils, chickpea), intended for auto consumption and livestock. Dominant crop rotation is cereal/fallow, used as pasture for livestock. The olive-tree plantation is recently developed. The average animal herd is composed of four cattle, three sheep and three goats. This study posed the bases of a prospective analysis of the watershed: How these evolutions will combine by 2040? What would be the impacts on agricultural economics, erosion and the supply of water for the dam? Key words: Agrarian dynamics, Landscape dynamics, Tleta watershed, Western Rif, Morocc

Distinct and combined impacts of climate and land use scenarios on water availability and sediment loads for a water supply reservoir in northern Morocco

The objective of this study was to examine the impacts of climate and land use changes on water availability and sediment loads for a water supply reservoir in northern Morocco using data-intensive simulation models in a data-scarce region. Impacts were assessed by comparing the simulated water and sediment entering the reservoir between the future period 2031e2050 and the 1983e2010 reference period. Three scenarios of land use change and two scenarios of climate change were developed in the Tleta watershed. Simulations under current and future conditions were performed using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model. The simulations showed that climate change will lead to a significant decrease in the annual water supply to the reservoir ( 16.9% and 27.5%) and in the annual volume of sediment entering the reservoir ( 7.4% and 12.6%), depending on the climate change scenarios tested. The three scenarios of land use change will lead to a moderate change in annual water inflow into the reservoir (between 6.7% and þ6.2%), while causing a significant decrease in sediment entering the reservoir ( 37% to 24%). The combined impacts of climate and land use changes will cause a reduction in annual water availability ( 9.9% to 33.3%) and sediment supplies ( 28.7% to 45.8%). As a result, the lifetime of the reservoir will be extended, but at the same time, the risk of water shortages will increase, especially from July to March. Therefore, alternative water resources must be considered.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Benefits of adapting to sea level rise : the importance of ecosystem services in the French Mediterranean sandy coastline

This article proposes an innovative approach to assess the benefits of adapting to sea level rise (SLR) in a coastal area on a regional scale. The valuation framework integrates coastal ecosystem services, together with urban and agricultural assets. We simulate the impacts of a progressive 1 m rise in sea level in the twenty-first century and an extreme flooding event in 2100 for four contrasted adaptation scenarios (Denial, “Laissez-faire”, Protection and Retreat). The assessment involves coupling the results of hazard-modelling approaches with different economic valuation methods, including direct damage functions and methods used in environmental economics. The framework is applied to the French Mediterranean sandy coastline. SLR will result in major land-use changes at the 2100 time horizon: relocation or densification of urban areas, loss of agricultural land, increase in lagoon areas and modification of wetlands (losses, migration or extension of ecosystems). Total benefits of public adaptation options planned in advance could reach €31.2 billion for the period 2010–2100, i.e. €69,000 per inhabitant (in the study area) in 2010 or €135 million/km of coastline. Our results highlight the importance of (i) raising awareness to ensure that public services and coastal managers can anticipate the consequences of SLR and (ii) incorporating coastal ecosystems into the assessment of the adaptation options. Our findings could provide a basis for participatory foresight approaches to build coastline adaptation pathways.PostprintPeer reviewe

Diversity and Evolution of Sensor Histidine Kinases in Eukaryotes

Histidine kinases (HKs) are primary sensor proteins that act in cell signaling pathways generically referred to as "two component systems" (TCSs). TCSs are among the most widely distributed transduction systems used by both prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms to detect and respond to a broad range of environmental cues. The structure and distribution of HK proteins are now well documented in prokaryotes but information is still fragmentary for eukaryotes. Here, we have taken advantage of recent genomic resources to explore the structural diversity and the phylogenetic distribution of HKs in the prominent eukaryotic supergroups. Searches of the genomes of 67 eukaryotic species spread evenly throughout the phylogenetic tree of life identified 748 predicted HK proteins. Independent phylogenetic analyses of predicted HK proteins were carried out for each of the major eukaryotic supergroups. This allowed most of the compiled sequences to be categorised into previously described HK groups. Beyond the phylogenetic analysis of eukaryotic HKs, this study revealed some interesting findings: (i) characterisation of some previously undescribed eukaryotic HK groups with predicted functions putatively related to physiological traits; (ii) discovery of HK groups that were previously believed to be restricted to a single kingdom in additional supergroups and (iii) indications that some evolutionary paths have led to the appearance, transfer, duplication, and loss of HK genes in some phylogenetic lineages. This study provides an unprecedented overview of the structure and distribution of HKs in the Eukaryota and represents a first step towards deciphering the evolution of TCS signaling in living organisms

Evolution of coastal zone vulnerability to marine inundation in a global change context. Application to Languedoc Roussillon (France)

The coastal system is likely to suffer increasing costal risk in a global change context. Its management implies to consider those risks in a holistic approach of the different vulnerability components of the coastal zone, by improving knowledge of hazard and exposure as well as analyzing and quantifying present day and future territory vulnerability. The ANR/VMC2007/MISEEVA project (2008-2011) has applied this approach on Languedoc Roussillon region in France. MISEEVA approach relies on several scenarios for 2030 and 2100, in terms of meteorology (driver of coastal hazard), sea level rise, and also considering further trends in demography and economy, and possible adaption strategies Hazard has been modeled (SWAN, MARS and SURFWB), on the base of the presentday situation, sea level rise hypotheses, and existing or modeled data, of extreme meteorological driving f. It allowed to assess the possible surges ranges and map coastal zone exposure to: - a permanent inundation (considering sea level rise in 2030 and 2100, - a recurrent inundation (considering sea level rise and extreme tidal range) - an exceptional inundation (adding extreme storm surge to sea level rise and tidal range). In 2030, exposure will be comparable to present day exposure. In 2100, extreme condition will affect a larger zone. Present days social and economic components of the coastal zone have been analyzed in terms of vulnerability and potential damaging. Adaptation capacity was approached by public inquiries and interviews of stakeholders and policy makers, based on existing planning documents The knowledge of the present day system is then compared to the possible management strategies that could be chosen in the future, so to imagine what would be the evolution of vulnerability to marine inundation, in regards to these possible strategies

Histidine kinases : structure and distribution in eukaryotes and functional characterization in Scedosporium apiospermum encountered in cystic fibrosis.

Les histidine kinases (HKs) représentent une vaste famille de protéines impliquées dans la perception des signaux environnementaux chez les bactéries, les champignons et les plantes. Ces protéines joueraient notamment un rôle majeur dans l’adaptation aux stresses, mais aussi dans la virulence de nombreux micro-organismes procaryotes et eucaryotes. Si les HKs sont à présent bien connues chez les bactéries et les plantes, tant sur un plan structural que fonctionnel, les connaissances concernant ces protéines chez les autres clades de l’arbre du vivant demeurent plus que fragmentaires. C’est ainsi que le premier objectif de ce travail a consisté en l’exploration in silico de la structure et de la distribution des HKs chez les organismes eucaryotes dans le cadre de plusieurs études bioinformatiques : i) chez les champignons inférieurs, ii)chez les levures bourgeonnantes et enfin iii) à travers l’ensemble des super-groupes eucaryotes. Les HKs n’étant pas retrouvées chez les mammifères, elles suscitent depuis quelques années une attention particulière de la communauté scientifique en tant que nouvelles cibles pour le développement d’antimicrobiens. C’est précisément dans ce contexte que la partie expérimentale de ce projet a été initiée au sein du GEIHP. Cette équipe porte en effet ses efforts sur le filamenteux multi-résistant Scedosporium apiospermum qui se situe au second rang parmi les moisissures capables de coloniser chroniquement les poumons des patients atteints de mucoviscidose. Ainsi, dans l’optique d’identifier de nouvelles cibles thérapeutiques du champignon, la seconde partie de ce projet s’est focalisée sur la caractérisation fonctionnelle des HKs chez Scedosporium apiospermum. En parallèle, cette étude nous a également amenés à développer de nouveaux outils moléculaires adaptés à S.apiospermum en vue de futures études d’imageries de fluorescence et de bioluminescence.Histidine kinases (HKs) represent a broad family of proteins involved in the perception of environmental signals in bacteria, fungi and plants.These proteins play a major role in stress adaptation, but also in the virulence of many prokaryotic and eukaryotic microorganisms. Although HKs are now well known in bacteria and plants, both structurally and functionally, knowledge about these proteins in other clades of the living tree remains more than fragmentary. Thus the first objective of this work was the in silico exploration of the structure and distribution of HKs in eukaryotic organisms through several bioinformatics studies : i) in the lower fungi, ii)in budding yeasts, and finally iii) across all eukaryotic supergroups. Since HKs are not found in mammals, they have been attracting attention in recent years from the scientific community as new targets for the development of antimicrobials. It is precisely in this context that the experimental part of this project was initiated in the GHEIHP. This team is focusing on the multi-resistant filamentous Scedosporiumapiospermum, which ranks second among the molds capable of chronycally conolizing the lungs of cysticfibrosis patients. Thus, in order to identify new therapeutic targets of the fungus, the second part of this project focused on the functional characterization of HKs in S. apiospermum. In parallel, this study also led us to develop new molecular tools adapted to S. apiospermum for future studies of fluorescence or bioluminescence imaging

Economie de la soutenabilité et protection des eaux souterraines

This thesis deals with economic approaches applied to groundwater protection issues. It has been prepared in view of obtaining a PhD in Economics through the Validation of Acquired Experience (VAE). The first section describes my professional and scientific career path, through the different applied research projects I have been involved in, the resulting scientific papers, as well as the training activities and the main scientific collaborations. My research work mobilises concepts and tools mainly from environmental and natural resource economics, adapting them to the specificities of groundwater and aquifers (temporal and spatial scale), combining them with approaches from other research fields (hydrogeological modelling, LUCC modelling, socio-cultural approaches) and with the participation of local stakeholders throughout the process (workshops, interviews, surveys). The second section summarises this work around its contributions to the four principles of sustainability economics: (i) a systemic approach integrating human activities and aquifers; (ii) long term consideration; (iii) cost-effectiveness approaches applied to groundwater quality restoration; and (iv) consideration of the inter-, intra-generational and physiocentric justice dimensions in the evaluation of the benefits associated with groundwater protection. For each of these principles, the document describes the scientific approaches developed and applied in different territories, the results and the main lessons learned, based on published scientific papers. In line with this work, my research perspectives for the next 3-5 years are organised around three axes: (1) integrated assessment of land use change scenarios in terms of costs, effects on groundwater, ecosystem services and negative effects in a perspective of value pluralism; (2) spatial heterogeneity of individual preferences for different groundwater protection scenarios, e.g. along an urban-rural gradient and through the formalisation of the urban-environmental paradox; and (3) the different dimensions of social and environmental justice in groundwater protection programmes.Ce mémoire porte sur les approches économiques en réponse aux problématiques associées à la protection des eaux souterraines. Il a été préparé en vue de l’obtention du doctorat en Sciences Economiques par la Validation des Acquis de l’Expérience (VAE). La première section retrace l’évolution de mon parcours professionnel et scientifique, au travers des différents projets de recherche appliquée sur lesquels je me suis impliquée, les publications qui en ont résulté, ainsi que les activités de formations et les principales collaborations scientifiques. Mes travaux de recherche mobilisent les concepts et outils principalement issus de l’économie de l’environnement et des ressources naturelles, en les adaptant aux spécificités des eaux souterraines et des aquifères (échelle de temps et d’espace), en les combinant avec des approches issues d’autres disciplines (modélisation hydrogéologique, modélisation des changements d’usage des sols, approches socio-culturelles) et avec la participation des acteurs des territoires étudiés tout au long de la démarche (ateliers, entretiens, enquêtes). La seconde section résume ces travaux en les organisant autour de leurs apports aux quatre principes de l’économie de la soutenabilité : (i) une approche systémique intégrant activités humaines et aquifères, (ii) la prise en compte du temps long, (iii) les approches coût-efficacité appliquées aux programmes de restauration de la qualité des eaux souterraines et (iv) la prise en compte des dimensions de justice inter, intra-générationnelle et intrinsèque à la nature dans l’évaluation des bénéfices associés à la protection des eaux souterraines. Pour chacun de ces principes, le mémoire décrit les démarches scientifiques développées et appliquées sur différents territoires, les résultats et les principaux enseignements associés en s’appuyant sur des articles scientifiques publiés. Mes perspectives de recherche sur les 3-5 ans à venir s’inscrivent dans la continuité de ces travaux et s’organisent autour de trois axes : (1) l’évaluation intégrée de scénarios d’évolution des usages du sol en termes de coûts, d’effets sur les eaux souterraines, de services écosystémiques et d’effets négatifs dans une perspective de pluralisme des valeurs ; (2) l’hétérogénéité spatiale des préférences individuelles pour différents scénarios de protection des eaux souterraines, par exemple le long d’un gradient urbain-rural et à travers la formalisation du paradoxe urbain-environnemental ; et (3) les différentes dimensions de justice sociale et environnementale dans les programmes de protection des eaux souterraines

Histidine kinases : structure and distribution in eukaryotes and functional characterization in Scedosporium apiospermum encountered in cystic fibrosis.

Les histidine kinases (HKs) représentent une vaste famille de protéines impliquées dans la perception des signaux environnementaux chez les bactéries, les champignons et les plantes. Ces protéines joueraient notamment un rôle majeur dans l’adaptation aux stresses, mais aussi dans la virulence de nombreux micro-organismes procaryotes et eucaryotes. Si les HKs sont à présent bien connues chez les bactéries et les plantes, tant sur un plan structural que fonctionnel, les connaissances concernant ces protéines chez les autres clades de l’arbre du vivant demeurent plus que fragmentaires. C’est ainsi que le premier objectif de ce travail a consisté en l’exploration in silico de la structure et de la distribution des HKs chez les organismes eucaryotes dans le cadre de plusieurs études bioinformatiques : i) chez les champignons inférieurs, ii)chez les levures bourgeonnantes et enfin iii) à travers l’ensemble des super-groupes eucaryotes. Les HKs n’étant pas retrouvées chez les mammifères, elles suscitent depuis quelques années une attention particulière de la communauté scientifique en tant que nouvelles cibles pour le développement d’antimicrobiens. C’est précisément dans ce contexte que la partie expérimentale de ce projet a été initiée au sein du GEIHP. Cette équipe porte en effet ses efforts sur le filamenteux multi-résistant Scedosporium apiospermum qui se situe au second rang parmi les moisissures capables de coloniser chroniquement les poumons des patients atteints de mucoviscidose. Ainsi, dans l’optique d’identifier de nouvelles cibles thérapeutiques du champignon, la seconde partie de ce projet s’est focalisée sur la caractérisation fonctionnelle des HKs chez Scedosporium apiospermum. En parallèle, cette étude nous a également amenés à développer de nouveaux outils moléculaires adaptés à S.apiospermum en vue de futures études d’imageries de fluorescence et de bioluminescence.Histidine kinases (HKs) represent a broad family of proteins involved in the perception of environmental signals in bacteria, fungi and plants.These proteins play a major role in stress adaptation, but also in the virulence of many prokaryotic and eukaryotic microorganisms. Although HKs are now well known in bacteria and plants, both structurally and functionally, knowledge about these proteins in other clades of the living tree remains more than fragmentary. Thus the first objective of this work was the in silico exploration of the structure and distribution of HKs in eukaryotic organisms through several bioinformatics studies : i) in the lower fungi, ii)in budding yeasts, and finally iii) across all eukaryotic supergroups. Since HKs are not found in mammals, they have been attracting attention in recent years from the scientific community as new targets for the development of antimicrobials. It is precisely in this context that the experimental part of this project was initiated in the GHEIHP. This team is focusing on the multi-resistant filamentous Scedosporiumapiospermum, which ranks second among the molds capable of chronycally conolizing the lungs of cysticfibrosis patients. Thus, in order to identify new therapeutic targets of the fungus, the second part of this project focused on the functional characterization of HKs in S. apiospermum. In parallel, this study also led us to develop new molecular tools adapted to S. apiospermum for future studies of fluorescence or bioluminescence imaging