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Alex Milcu

@alex-ecology.bsky.social
493 followers 114 following 17 posts

Ecologist studying the impact of global changes on ecosystems. Views are my own.

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Reposted by Alex Milcu
Just Kevin @kevinleecaster.bsky.social · 25/06/2026
Lysimeter studies within enclosed biospheres are terrific approach towards measuring how much Carbon Dioxide Removal is possible from technologies like Enhanced Rock Weathering and Biochar. You can only do so many treatments, but I hope they can test biochar + EWR, preferably biochar from manure.
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Alex Milcu @alex-ecology.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
One last look at the wheat inside the #Montpellier #Ecotron's #Macrocosms before the harvest. Soon we'll know what are the impacts of #biochar from algae and #basalt applications for enhanced rock weathering (#ERW) on #yield and #GHG emissions. Many thanks to the team💪@cnrsoccitanieest.bsky.social
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Alix Vidal 🪱 @alixvidal.bsky.social · 11/05/2026
📢 Thrilled to share that our new paper is out! 🔗 lnkd.in/eiYnv6R7 🪱 Exploring earthworms + phosphorus using the ¹⁸O‑phosphate method 👏 Kudos to Chiara Pistocchi & Andreas Burr for leading the work. 🏆 Special congratulations to Andreas Burr, whose MSc contribution earned him a Best Thesis award.
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Alex Milcu @alex-ecology.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
🎉Good to see that ecological research can still make it to the pages of @nature.com 🎉 Congratulations to Ludovic Henneron & @paulkardol.bsky.social and the whole team! 🌳Forests dominated by fast-growing, "resource-acquisitive" tree species turn out to be hotspots of soil activity rdcu.be/fhmF2
rdcu.be
Tree community resource economics control soil food web multifunctionality
Nature - Plant community properties affect ecosystem functioning via energy fluxes in food webs, with the leaf and root resource economics of dominant tree species controlling soil food web...
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Montpellier European Ecotron @ecotron-cnrs.bsky.social · 28/07/2025
🚨 #Ozone & bumblebees: what's the impact? The #Mesocosms platform we are currently exploring how #airpollution shapes #pollinator physiology & behavior 🐝🌿Part of the collaborative #ANR #PolluCom project led by @magproffit.bsky.social @cnrsoccitanieest.bsky.social @anaeefrance.bsky.social #ecotron
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Reposted by Alex Milcu
Montpellier European Ecotron @ecotron-cnrs.bsky.social · 21/07/2025
🔬 New #Ecotron article just published in SBB! Nesting #microcosms inside #mesocosms reveal how #FunctionalDiversity of macrodetritivores affects litter mass loss. 🍂🪱 Spoiler: it matters! 👉 www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... @cnrsecologie.bsky.social & the #Ecotron team! #Biodiversity
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Montpellier European Ecotron @ecotron-cnrs.bsky.social · 04/07/2025
#Microcosms and #Mesocosms experimental platforms completely taken over by the #ANR Pollucom project (@magproffit.bsky.social and her team from CNRS CEFE) studying #ozone effects on plant–pollinator interactions 🌼🐝 They’ve hijacked our meeting room too! Must be the AC 😅 @ecotron-cnrs.bsky.social
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Reposted by Alex Milcu
Montpellier European Ecotron @ecotron-cnrs.bsky.social · 02/07/2025
Major milestone @ecotron-cnrs.bsky.social: #lysimeters installed in the Macrocosms experimental platform for the upcoming #biochar & #basalt for #ERW. Huge thanks to the team for the massive effort! Interested in collaborating? Get in touch! @anaeeeric.bsky.social @anaeefrance.bsky.social
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Reposted by Alex Milcu
Montpellier European Ecotron @ecotron-cnrs.bsky.social · 24/06/2025
Excited to share the first article from the #Ecotron 's #Mesocosms platform! 🎉 Based on a 4+ year experiment manipulating soil macrofauna diversity in large #lysimeters under #drought. #Macrofauna matters! Huge thanks to @UFZ_de & @CEFE_CNRS. More coming soon! 🔗 www.frontiersin.org/journals/mic...
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Reposted by Alex Milcu
AnaEE-ERIC @anaeeeric.bsky.social · 10/06/2025
Curious about how we can boost your climate change-research? 💪 Never heard of Research Infrastructures and want to know more? 🌎 Want to know how to apply through our open call? (DL October 2025) 🗓️ Then don't miss our webinar on exactly this, friday the 13th! Register here: lnkd.in/e86K89bD
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Alex Milcu @alex-ecology.bsky.social · 06/06/2025
Had a great time at the Enhanced Rock Weathering conference in Antwerp #ERW25! Industry interest is accelerating faster than the science. Our latest study shows promising results: doi.org/10.1016/j.ap... – And soon a new experiment in the #Ecotron #macrocosms, even better suited for this challenge.
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Reposted by Alex Milcu
Marten Winter @smartenwinter.bsky.social · 28/05/2025
There are great Global Ecology Starter Packs go.bsky.app/F86HYqj organised by @nmouquet.bsky.social You can DM @global-ecology.bsky.social to join the Vol_3 of the starter pack
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Alex Milcu @alex-ecology.bsky.social · 27/05/2025
For the sake of being able to do our jobs as researchers, can we please stop adding more admin burden on researchers! A ‪@france.theconversation.com piece about the need for time to actually....think. Des enseignants-chercheurs à la recherche du temps perdu: theconversation.com/des-enseigna...
theconversation.com
Des enseignants-chercheurs à la recherche du temps perdu : regard sur le malaise universitaire
Comment les enseignants-chercheurs vivent-ils leur métier aujourd’hui ? Extraits d’une grande enquête sur le malaise universitaire.
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Reposted by Alex Milcu
Montpellier European Ecotron @ecotron-cnrs.bsky.social · 09/05/2025
🎉🎉🎉Congrats to the Montpellier #ecotron @ecotron-cnrs.bsky.social (@clementpiel.bsky.social, Joana Sauze, Sébastien Devidal & @alex-ecology.bsky.social) and @lsce-ipsl.bsky.social for this new article describing how to measure oxygen fractionation in close systems. gi.copernicus.org/articles/14/...
gi.copernicus.org
A multiplexing system for quantifying oxygen fractionation factors in closed chambers
Abstract. The study of isotopic ratios of atmospheric oxygen in fossilized air trapped in ice core bubbles provides information on variations in the hydrological cycle at low latitudes and productivit...
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Alex Milcu @alex-ecology.bsky.social · 28/04/2025
#egu25 lunch break. Looking forward to the #ecotron and #lysimeter poster session this afternoon meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU25/sessio...
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Reposted by Alex Milcu
Fernando T. Maestre @ftmaestre.bsky.social · 27/04/2025
A new 🌎 synthesis by Li. et al. shows that plant diversity and carbon storage are positively linked, but the relationship is often weak—stronger in grasslands and shaped by climate factors onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
The Universal but Weak Positive Correlation Between Plant Diversity and Carbon Storage: Evidence From a Global Synthetic Analysis
Research has yielded conflicting quantitative conclusions regarding the relationship between plant diversity and carbon storage, leaving the nature of this correlation at the global scale unresolved....
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Alex Milcu @alex-ecology.bsky.social · 05/04/2025
A few more days to apply for this #postdoc opportunity @ecotron-cnrs.bsky.social.
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Reposted by Alex Milcu
Microclimate Ecology & Biogeography (MEB) conference @mebconf.bsky.social · 28/03/2025
We are very happy to announce that the next Microclimate Ecology & Biogeography (MEB) conference will happen in Montpellier (FRANCE), 1 - 5 June 2026 ☀️ meb-network.com/meb-2026/ Microclimate scientists: save the date in your agenda!!
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Montpellier European Ecotron @ecotron-cnrs.bsky.social · 18/03/2025
📢 #Postdoc Opportunity! 🌱🔬 Join an #Ecotron project on soil #carbon sequestration @ecotron-cnrs.bsky.social 🔗 Apply here: emploi.cnrs.fr/Offres/CDD/U... 📍 Work with @alex-ecology.bsky.social & @cbiogeo.bsky.social 📢 Please share! #Soil #Biochar #Weathering #AcademicJobs #JobOffer #CarbonScience
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Alex Milcu @alex-ecology.bsky.social · 14/03/2025
Intriguing debate between classical predictive and structural causal modelling. Always thought the later is a wee bit overrated. Without strong a priori hypotheses, both can lead us straight into the land of spurious correlations BS.
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Alex Milcu @alex-ecology.bsky.social · 11/03/2025
Happy to help cover pioneering research for the French journal @pourlascience.bsky.social (www.pourlascience.fr) ! P. B. Reich et al.'s 24-year #Nature study (2024) shows high #CO₂ first dampens then amplifies N-induced #biodiversity loss — alarming findings! www.pourlascience.fr/sd/environne...
pourlascience.fr
La hausse du dioxyde de carbone et de l’azote fait baisser la biodiversité végétale
L’augmentation du CO2 favorise certaines plantes au détriment d’autres, réduisant la diversité des prairies et la résilience des écosystèmes.
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Montpellier European Ecotron @ecotron-cnrs.bsky.social · 07/03/2025
#Montpellier #Ecotron staff stood up for #science! #StandUpForScience
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Guillaume Bossis @guillaumebo6.bsky.social · 07/03/2025
#StandUpForScience Montpellier, France @standupforscifr.bsky.social @standupforscience.bsky.social
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Montpellier European Ecotron @ecotron-cnrs.bsky.social · 07/03/2025
📣Exciting news! The Visiting Fellowship Program at the University of Montpellier is now open. Ready for a 3-6‑month academic adventure at the Ecotron🌱? DM us to learn more and apply! #VisitingFellow #UMontpellier #Ecotron makit.edu.umontpellier.fr/en/calls-for...
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Reposted by Alex Milcu
Adam Kinzinger @adamkinzinger.substack.com · 01/03/2025
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Alex Milcu @alex-ecology.bsky.social · 26/02/2025
Our #Biodiversa -funded #SoilForEurope preprint is now available—showing how trees shape the soil food web & #multifunctionality. 🌱🌳 Huge congrats to Ludovic Henneron for his incredible effort! Currently under consideration in...we’ll keep that a secret for now. 😉 www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
biorxiv.org
Resource economics of tree communities control soil food web multifunctionality in European forests
Plants affect terrestrial ecosystem functioning by performing the primary production that energetically sustains heterotrophic organisms, and by shaping the microenvironment. However, the influence of...
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Reposted by Alex Milcu
Dr Manu Saunders FRES @manusaunders.bsky.social · 16/02/2025
*New paper* Denialism campaigns are growing in attempts to discredit science, scientists, and the scientific process generally. Biodiversity loss denial is a new phenomenon that needs our attention. -With @alexanderlees.bsky.social + Eliza Grames! #CommSky 🧪🌏 www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Figure 2. Measuring changes in insect biodiversity (centre column 'Metrics' and 'Trends') can be achieved by focusing on drivers that directly or indirectly impact insect biodiversity metrics and trends (left column 'Drivers of Change'). Where data on insect populations specifically are unavailable, data from other species and ecological processes can provide inferential support for changes in insect biodiversity (right column 'Indicators of Change').
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Montpellier European Ecotron @ecotron-cnrs.bsky.social · 10/02/2025
📣Teaming up with @cbiogeo.bsky.social for a #Macrocosms experiment on algae-based #biochar & #basalt for enhanced weathering in a realistic #controlled-environment setup. #ecotron @anaeefrance.bsky.social @cnrsoccitanieest.bsky.social Lysimeters ready! Reach out if you have ideas to collaborate!
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Reposted by Alex Milcu
Rémy Beugnon @remybeugnon.bsky.social · 17/12/2024
*Ten practical guidelines for microclimate research in terrestrial ecosystems* I am so glad to share our latest paper in @methodsinecoevol.bsky.social led by @pieterdefrenne.bsky.social and the @mebnetwork.bsky.social. besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
Ten practical guidelines for microclimate research in terrestrial ecosystems
Most biodiversity dynamics and ecosystem processes on land take place in microclimates that are decoupled from the climate as measured by standardised weather stations in open, unshaded locations....
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Montpellier European Ecotron @ecotron-cnrs.bsky.social · 04/02/2025
#AnaEE France, Montpellier #Ecotron and CEREEP Ecotron are present at the "5th National Meeting on Research into Polluted Sites and Soils, Paris", organized by #ADEME. Don't hesitate to get in touch if you need controlled environment facilities for your experiments!
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Montpellier European Ecotron @ecotron-cnrs.bsky.social · 03/02/2025
Running an #agroecology - related project ? @agroserv.bsky.social offers #transnational access to cutting-edge research facilities—covering costs for your project, including access to state-of-the-art #experimental platforms @ #Montpellier European #Ecotron (@ecotron-cnrs.bsky.social). #ecology
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AnaEE-ERIC @anaeeeric.bsky.social · 03/02/2025
You have until March 26 to apply for free access to research services from #AnaEE and 10 other networks. Open for everyone: application criteria, videos of succesful applicants and much more: agroserv.eu #ResearchFunding @agtransect.bsky.social #AgroEcology @agroserv.bsky.social @envri.bsky.social
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Alex Milcu @alex-ecology.bsky.social · 21/01/2025
If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it probably is a duck. And a cheating one on top of everything. Imagine being the richest guy in the world and still feeling the need to lie about your gaming skills 🤣🤣🤣 #ellonisaduck
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François-Xavier Joly @fxjoly.bsky.social · 20/01/2025
📣 Our paper on soil carbon response to tree planting is out in J. of Env. Management: 🌲 Temperate grassland conversion to conifer forest destabilises mineral soil carbon stocks Open access ➡️ tinyurl.com/3krerb92 A short thread ⤵️
Conceptual diagram representing hypothesised mechanisms leading to observed differences in SOM pools between grasslands and coniferous forests. Differences in flux sizes are represented by varying arrow widths. Differences in the size of functionally distinct litter and SOM pools are represented by varying icon numbers.
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Nature @nature.com · 20/01/2025
Donald Trump has been sworn in as the 47th President of the United States. Here's what his win means for science: go.nature.com/4hpvQRJ
Donald Trump stands among a crowd, his family in the forefront. One hand is raised, the other on a bible
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Montpellier European Ecotron @ecotron-cnrs.bsky.social · 20/01/2025
New to @bsky.app, a quick intro: #Montpellier #Ecotron of CNRS's Institute of Ecology & Environment has 3 experimental ( #Macrocosms, #Mesocosms, #Microcosms) & 1 gas fluxes & stable isotopes (IsoFlux) platforms open to international research teams in #ecology, #agronomy & environmental sciences.
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Matthias C. Rillig @mrillig.bsky.social · 09/01/2025
Interesting article in Science: As academic Bluesky grows, researchers find strengths—and shortcomings www.science.org/content/arti...
science.org
As academic Bluesky grows, researchers find strengths—and shortcomings
Platform fosters collegial interactions among scientists, but potentially limits interactions beyond the academic community
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Montpellier European Ecotron @ecotron-cnrs.bsky.social · 09/01/2025
New @ecotron-cnrs.bsky.social article describing: "A multiplexing system for quantifying oxygen fractionation factors in closed chambers" egusphere.copernicus.org/preprints/20... #ecotron #closedsystems
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Xavier Morin @xaviermorin.bsky.social · 06/01/2025
New paper out! 🌳 🌲 (and this one is very special to me) ➡️ Diversity boosts forest productivity also (and especially?) through its effect on the number of trees within forests besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/... @journalofecology.bsky.social @cnrsoccitanieest.bsky.social More ⬇️ 1/7
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Alex Milcu @alex-ecology.bsky.social · 08/01/2025
Quick reminder that there is an #ecotron and #lysimeter session at the coming #EGU25. Submission until January 15 2025 13:00 CET, here: meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EGU25/sessio...
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Alex Milcu @alex-ecology.bsky.social · 08/01/2025
Finally ditched X! You'll hear more of me here now.... #QuittingX #JoinBlueSky
media.tenor.com
a twitter logo with the letter x underneath
ALT: a twitter logo with the letter x underneath
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Montpellier European Ecotron @ecotron-cnrs.bsky.social · 06/01/2025
So long, X—at least for now! Formerly @EcotronCNRS on X we are now joining @bsky.app for a less politicized platform. #GoodbyeX #HelloBlueSky Montpellier European Ecotron: an advanced controlled environment facility for ecosystem research. #ecotron www.ecotron.cnrs.fr @cnrs.bsky.social
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