Jérôme Chave
jerome.chave at univ-tlse3.fr
Tel +33(0) 561556760
Fax +33(0) 561557327
I am a CNRS senior researcher at Laboratoire Evolution et Diversité Biologique (UMR 5174), in Toulouse.
Summary CV
Positions
Since 2011: Science coordinator of LabEx CEntre for the study of Biodiversity
in Amazonia (CEBA)
Since 2008: Directeur de Recherche CNRS (Toulouse)
2008-2011: Professeur Ecole Polytechnique (Paris)
2001-2008: Chargé de recherche CNRS (Toulouse)
1999-2001: Research associate Princeton University, Dept EEB
1999: PhD Orsay University & Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique
Associate editor
Ecology Letters (2004-)
PLoS ONE (2006-)
Journal of Theoretical Biology (2006-)
Population Ecology (2008-)
Research
One overarching goal in community ecology is to understand the mechanisms of species coexistence across scales. Tropical forests have long served as a testing ground for these theories: in the most diverse of these forests every other tree is a representant of a new species. I am combining field research and mathematical modeling to explore and compare the different mechanisms proposed to explain this astounding biodiversity. Much of my current field research is in French Guiana, as part of the ANR-funded Bridge project, and especially at the Nouragues research station (French Guiana). Current projects also also involve the study of large-scale patterns of plant diversity in South America (Brazil, Bolivia and Peru).
I am also interested in the biogeochemical cycling between the biosphere and the atmosphere. I am involved in a project aimed at providing biometric methods for measuring carbon stock and balance for tropical forests. This entails a precise individual-level estimation of biomass stocks, both for trees and for lianas, detailed scaling-up techniques, and long-term census plots for woody plants. This work is being developed through collaborations with the CTFS, and the Rainfor international research network. A recent extension of this project is the development of a remote-sensing synthetic aperture radar technology for measuring biomass stock in forested ecosystems worldwide (TropiSAR project).