A new approach to optimal discretization of plant functional types in a process-based ecosystem model with forest management : a case study for temperate conifers

Aim. Dynamic global vegetation models (DGVMs) use a discretization of forest vegetation based on plant functional types (PFTs). The physiological and ecological parameters used to model a given PFT are usually fixed, being defined from point-based observations, while model applications are often grid-based. This rigid approach causes spatial biases in the results of DGVM-simulated productivity and biomass-related variables. We aim to overcome this limitation with a new approach that uses a hierarchical classification of forest PFT parameters from traits retrieved from the literature and from the TRY global database of plant traits. This approach is applied to temperate conifers in the ORCHIDEE-FM DGVM, which has previously been shown to produce systematic biases in the simulation of biomass and biomass increments. Location. Temperate coniferous forests in France. Methods. The five major coniferous species in France, Abies alba, Picea abies, Pinus pinaster, Pinus sylvestris and Pseudotsuga menziesii, were grouped objectively into PFTs within the ORCHIDEE-FM DGVM using a hierarchical classification based on 12 key attributes related to photosynthesis, phenology and allometric relationships. Results. We show that the single PFT covering all temperate coniferous forests used by default in ORCHIDEE-FM could be replaced by two representative subcategories defined by grouping species-level data without necessarily having to adopt a set of parameters for each species. The definition of new temperate conifer PFTs with this approach allows us to reduce the spatial heterogeneity by 40% on average in model-measurement misfit for stand volume, growth and stand density at the regional scale. Main conclusions. The proposed approach to improve the representation of PFTs in DGVMs, while keeping the number of different PFTs manageable, is promising for application to regions where a single PFT can correspond to a number of different species

Commande variant dans le temps pour le contrôle d'attitude de satellites

Cette thèse porte sur la commande variant dans le temps avec comme fil directeur l application au contrôle d attitude de satellites. Nous avons étudié trois types de commande: une commande à commutation, une commande LPV et une commande adaptative directe. Pour cette dernière nous avons proposé des résultats théoriques nouveaux portant sur la structuration du gain et de l adaptation. Les résultats ont été validés en simulation et sont testés à bord d un satellite. En partant de la loi à commutation actuellement utilisée sur les satellites Myriade, une première partie de nos travaux est dédiée à la commande LPV. Notre approche, basée sur la spécification des objectifs de commande à travers un modèle de référence LPV, permet d'obtenir de nouveaux algorithmes exprimés dans ce formalisme. Testées en simulation, ces lois de commande répondent à la problématique de notre application. Toutefois, le choix du modèle de référence LPV s'avère délicat. Cette difficulté a été levée en utilisant la commande adaptative. Dans cette approche, les spécifications sur le comportement temps-variant sont traduites par des contraintes au niveau des lois d'adaptation des gains de commande. Nous introduisons ainsi une nouvelle méthode de synthèse de lois adaptatives structurées. Les preuves de stabilité établies s'appuient sur des outils de la théorie de Lyapunov. Les résultats obtenus sur un simulateur complet montrent l'intérêt de tels algorithmes adaptatifs. Ils permettent en particulier de modifier la dynamique du satellite selon les capacités disponibles des actionneurs. Sur la base de ces résultats, une campagne d essai en vol sur le satellite PICARD est actuellement en cours.This manuscript considers time varying control, with a strong emphasis on a satellite attitude control application. Three types of control structures have been studied: a switch-based approach, LPV control and direct adaptive control. In this last field we have introduced new theoretical results which allow structuring the gain and the adaptation law. The results have been validated in simulation and are currently tested on board a satellite. Starting from the switch-based control law currently implemented on the Myriade satellites, a first part of our work isdedicated to LPV control. Based on the specification of the control objectives by using of an LPV reference model, our approach allows obtaining new control algorithms expressed within this framework. The simulations carried out with theLPV algorithms obtained by using this method show that they meet the needs of our application. Nonetheless, the choice of a reference model proves to be difficult. This obstacle has been surpassed by using direct adaptive control. In this approach, specifications regarding the timevarying behaviour are added through constraints on the laws defining the control gains adaptation. We thus introduce anew synthesis method, based on which structured adaptive control laws are obtained. Stability proofs are established based on tools of the Lyapunov theory.The results obtained on a complete simulator show the interest of using such adaptive algorithms, which allow in particular to modify the satellite dynamics depending on the available capacity of the actuators. Based on these positive results, a fight-test campaign on the PICARD satellite is underway.TOULOUSE-ISAE (315552318) / SudocSudocFranceF

Using terrestrial laser scanning to constrain forest ecosystem structure and functions in the Ecosystem Demography model (ED2.2)

Terrestrial biosphere models (TBMs) are invaluable tools for studying plant-atmosphere interactions at multiple spatial and temporal scales, as well as how global change impacts ecosystems. Yet, TBM projections suffer from large uncertainties that limit their usefulness. Forest structure drives a significant part of TBM uncertainty as it regulates key processes such as the transfer of carbon, energy, and water between the land and the atmosphere, but it remains challenging to observe and reliably represent. The poor representation of forest structure in TBMs might actually result in simulations that reproduce observed land fluxes but fail to capture carbon pools, forest composition, and demography. Recent advances in terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) offer new opportunities to capture the three-dimensional structure of the ecosystem and to transfer this information to TBMs in order to increase their accuracy. In this study, we quantified the impacts of prescribing initial conditions (tree size distribution), constraining key model parameters with observations, as well as imposing structural observations of individual trees (namely tree height, leaf area, woody biomass, and crown area) derived from TLS on the state-of-the-art Ecosystem Demography model (ED2.2) of a temperate forest site (Wytham Woods, UK). We assessed the relative contributions of initial conditions, model structure, and parameters to the overall output uncertainty by running ensemble simulations with multiple model configurations. We show that forest demography and ecosystem functions as modelled by ED2.2 are sensitive to the imposed initial state, the model parameters, and the choice of key model processes. In particular, we show that: Parameter uncertainty drove the overall model uncertainty, with a mean contribution of 63 % to the overall variance of simulated gross primary production. Model uncertainty in the gross primary production was reduced fourfold when both TLS and trait data were integrated into the model configuration. Land fluxes and ecosystem composition could be simultaneously and accurately simulated with physically realistic parameters when appropriate constraints were applied to critical parameters and processes. We conclude that integrating TLS data can inform TBMs of the most adequate model structure, constrain critical parameters, and prescribe representative initial conditions. Our study also confirms the need for simultaneous observations of plant traits, structure, and state variables if we seek to improve the robustness of TBMs and reduce their overall uncertainties.Peer reviewe

Transcriptional induction of cell wall remodelling genes is coupled to microtubule-driven growth isotropy at the shoot apex in Arabidopsis

The shoot apical meristem of higher plants continuously generates new tissues and organs through complex changes in growth rates and directions of its individual cells. Cell growth, which is driven by turgor pressure, largely depends on the cell walls, which allow cell expansion through synthesis and structural changes. A previous study revealed a major contribution of wall isotropy in organ emergence, through the disorganization of cortical microtubules. We show here that this disorganization is coupled with the transcriptional control of genes involved in wall remodelling. Some of these genes are induced when microtubules are disorganized and cells shift to isotropic growth. Mechanical modelling shows that this coupling has the potential to compensate for reduced cell expansion rates induced by the shift to isotropic growth. Reciprocally, cell wall loosening induced by different treatments or altered cell wall composition promotes a disruption of microtubule alignment. Our data thus indicate the existence of a regulatory module activated during organ outgrowth, linking microtubule arrangements to cell wall remodelling

Alignment between PIN1 Polarity and Microtubule Orientation in the Shoot Apical Meristem Reveals a Tight Coupling between Morphogenesis and Auxin Transport

Morphogenesis during multicellular development is regulated by intercellular signaling molecules as well as by the mechanical properties of individual cells. In particular, normal patterns of organogenesis in plants require coordination between growth direction and growth magnitude. How this is achieved remains unclear. Here we show that in Arabidopsis thaliana, auxin patterning and cellular growth are linked through a correlated pattern of auxin efflux carrier localization and cortical microtubule orientation. Our experiments reveal that both PIN1 localization and microtubule array orientation are likely to respond to a shared upstream regulator that appears to be biomechanical in nature. Lastly, through mathematical modeling we show that such a biophysical coupling could mediate the feedback loop between auxin and its transport that underlies plant phyllotaxis

Impacts of Global Change on Mediterranean Forests and Their Services

The increase in aridity, mainly by decreases in precipitation but also by higher temperatures, is likely the main threat to the diversity and survival of Mediterranean forests. Changes in land use, including the abandonment of extensive crop activities, mainly in mountains and remote areas, and the increases in human settlements and demand for more resources with the resulting fragmentation of the landscape, hinder the establishment of appropriate management tools to protect Mediterranean forests and their provision of services and biodiversity. Experiments and observations indicate that if changes in climate, land use and other components of global change, such as pollution and overexploitation of resources, continue, the resilience of many forests will likely be exceeded, altering their structure and function and changing, mostly decreasing, their capacity to continue to provide their current services. A consistent assessment of the impacts of the changes, however, remains elusive due to the difficulty of obtaining simultaneous and complete data for all scales of the impacts in the same forests, areas and regions. We review the impacts of climate change and other components of global change and their interactions on the terrestrial forests of Mediterranean regions, with special attention to their impacts on ecosystem services. Management tools for counteracting the negative effects of global change on Mediterranean ecosystem- services are finally discussed

Impacts of global change on Mediterranean forests and their services

The increase in aridity, mainly by decreases in precipitation but also by higher temperatures, is likely the main threat to the diversity and survival of Mediterranean forests. Changes in land use, including the abandonment of extensive crop activities, mainly in mountains and remote areas, and the increases in human settlements and demand for more resources with the resulting fragmentation of the landscape, hinder the establishment of appropriate management tools to protect Mediterranean forests and their provision of services and biodiversity. Experiments and observations indicate that if changes in climate, land use and other components of global change, such as pollution and overexploitation of resources, continue, the resilience of many forests will likely be exceeded, altering their structure and function and changing, mostly decreasing, their capacity to continue to provide their current services. A consistent assessment of the impacts of the changes, however,remains elusive due to the difficulty of obtaining simultaneous and complete data for all scales of the impacts in the same forests, areas and regions. We review the impacts of climate change and other components of global change and their interactions on the terrestrial forests of Mediterranean regions, with special attention to their impacts on ecosystem services. Management tools for counteracting the negative effects of global change on Mediterranean ecosystem- services are finally discussed

Covariations between plant functional traits emerge from constraining parameterization of a terrestrial biosphere model

Aim: The mechanisms of plant trait adaptation and acclimation are still poorly understood and, consequently, lack a consistent representation in terrestrial biosphere models (TBMs). Despite the increasing availability of geo‐referenced trait observations, current databases are still insufficient to cover all vegetation types and environmental conditions. In parallel, the growing number of continuous eddy‐covariance observations of energy and CO2 fluxes has enabled modellers to optimize TBMs with these data. Past attempts to optimize TBM parameters mostly focused on model performance, overlooking the ecological properties of ecosystems. The aim of this study was to assess the ecological consistency of optimized trait‐related parameters while improving the model performances for gross primary productivity (GPP) at sites. Location: Worldwide. Time period: 1992–2012. Major taxa studied: Trees and C3 grasses. Methods: We optimized parameters of the ORCHIDEE model against 371 site‐years of GPP estimates from the FLUXNET network, and we looked at global covariation among parameters and with climate. Results: The optimized parameter values were shown to be consistent with leaf‐scale traits, in particular, with well‐known trade‐offs observed at the leaf level, echoing the leaf economic spectrum theory. Results showed a marked sensitivity of trait‐related parameters to local bioclimatic variables and reproduced the observed relationships between traits and climate. Main conclusions: Our approach validates some biological processes implemented in the model and enables us to study ecological properties of vegetation at the canopy level, in addition to some traits that are difficult to observe experimentally. This study stresses the need for: (a) implementing explicit trade‐offs and acclimation processes in TBMs; (b) improving the representation of processes to avoid model‐specific parameterization; and (c) performing systematic measurements of traits at FLUXNET sites in order to gather information on plant ecophysiology and plant diversity, together with micro‐meteorological conditions