PhD in movement and spatial ecology (M/F)

Job Description

Thesis Subject

Title. Evolution of Pastoral Practices in Response to Emerging Constraints in Alpine Summer Pastures (Predation, Heatwaves, and the Development of Recreational Activities) and Their Consequences for the Functioning of the Summer Pasture Socio-Ecosystem

Background. Livestock farming systems that rely on the use of high-elevation pastoral areas, or summer pastures, for part of the year are at the intersection of several major societal challenges: maintaining mountain agriculture and high-value local food products; conserving remarkable ecosystems and biodiversity; and understanding the effects of global change—including climate and land-use change—on ecosystem functioning and on the ecosystem services these environments provide to society.

In the Alps, livestock management practices on summer pastures have been transformed by the widespread adoption of night-time corrals, one of the key measures implemented to protect livestock from wolf predation. At the same time, pastoral practices have been adapted to address the increasing development of recreational activities in mountain areas and the growing recurrence of extreme weather events, such as heatwaves.

Objective. The aim of this PhD project is to understand how pastoral activities on summer pastures have been reconfigured in response to these emerging constraints. Particular emphasis will be placed on the role of night-time corrals in reorganizing livestock management practices and on their consequences for the functioning of the summer pasture socio-ecosystem as a whole.

The research will draw on a combination of existing and ongoing datasets, including telemetry data from nearly 30 sheep flocks equipped with GPS collars, meteorological reanalysis data, visitor-use and recreational activity data, and high-spatial-resolution satellite imagery for characterizing land-surface conditions (snow cover and vegetation).

The project will also involve additional field data collection, including interviews with agricultural stakeholders (livestock farmers and shepherds).

Tasks. The PhD project will involve several complementary tasks:

Specifically analyze the management practices associated with night-time corralling and their consequences for livestock management.
Examine how the use of night-time corrals modifies responses to other constraints affecting pastoral management, including early or late snowmelt, recreational activities, heatwave events, and other environmental pressures.
Develop a model for detecting night-time corrals by combining ground-based information (GPS telemetry) with high-resolution satellite imagery (Sentinel-2 and Landsat).
Model the spatial expansion of night-time corrals in the Alps since the return of large carnivores, and compare the situation in the Alps with that of other mountain ranges, particularly the Pyrenees.
Disseminate and promote the results of the research through scientific and non-academic channels.

Expected Skills and Expertise. Applicants to this PhD project are expected to have a very good understanding of the ecology of mountain grazing systems, as well as expertise in movement ecology and remote sensing, and proficiency in the analysis and visualization of spatial data.

Evidence of recognition of these skills by the scientific community—such as authorship or co-authorship of scientific publications or analytical scripts on these topics—will be a key criterion in the selection of the successful candidate.

As the project will be developed in close collaboration with protected-area managers, strong communication skills and the ability to communicate research findings effectively to non-academic partners will also be expected.

Your Work Environment

The PhD position and its research environment are funded by the PERSEE project – Pastoralism and Biodiversity in the Summer Pasture Socio-Ecosystem, a collaborative project between the French Biodiversity Agency (OFB) and the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS).
The successful candidate will be based at the Alpine Ecology Laboratory (Laboratoire d'Écologie Alpine) at its Grenoble site and will be co-supervised by Philippe CHOLER (CNRS) and Mathieu GAREL (OFB). They will also work in close collaboration with the PERSEE project officer.

Constraints and risks

The main constraints and risks are those associated with fieldwork activities in mid-altitude mountain areas. Excellent proficiency in French is required to ensure effective communication with the non-academic partners involved in the PERSEE project, particularly livestock farmers and shepherds.

Compensation and benefits

Compensation

2300 € gross monthly

Annual leave and RTT

44 jours

Remote Working practice and compensation

Pratique et indemnisation du TT

Transport

Prise en charge à 75% du coût et forfait mobilité durable jusqu’à 300€

About the offer

About the CNRS

The CNRS is a major player in fundamental research on a global scale. The CNRS is the only French organization active in all scientific fields. Its unique position as a multi-specialist allows it to bring together different disciplines to address the most important challenges of the contemporary world, in connection with the actors of change.

CNRS

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