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Colloque 2023 - Séance d'affiches

  The boreal forest supports a wide range of biodiversity, including bryophytes, which constitute a dominant and functionally important component of forest floor vegetation. Despite their crucial role in ecosystem functions, such as carbon sequestration, nutrient cycling, moisture regulation, and soil temperature control, these species face severe threats from both natural and anthropogenic disturbances. Consequently, these disturbances can profoundly affect their microhabitat conditions, growth, and long-term survival. In this context, most of the previous research on bryophytes has primarily focused on quantifying the effects of a single disturbance, such as forest harvesting and mining. It is evident that ecosystems are influenced by the complex interaction of multiple disturbances that can occur simultaneously and/or sequentially, leading to unpredictable effects on the environment. The unavailability of a statistical dataset with high spatial and temporal resolution makes it difficult to study the interaction between disturbances. Nevertheless, advancements in remote sensing technology offer the capacity to capture timely information on changes in forest conditions due to multiple disturbances across extensive regions and over long periods. The limited research on the impact of multiple disturbances and their interaction on understorey plant communities necessitates further investigation to better understand their combined effects and develop strategies for habitat conservation in the face of increasing environmental challenges. Thus, this research project aims to identify the differences in the composition and diversity of understorey plant communities due to the interaction of multiple disturbances. To accomplish this, we will utilize existing databases and supplement them with additional fieldwork to document all the understorey plants, including vascular plants and bryophytes. Furthermore, the major driver of such changes will be tracked using remote sensing and spatial modeling techniques. The expected outcome of this project is that the interaction between multiple disturbances causes a more significant impact on bryophytes, particularly reducing the composition and diversity of liverworts. The spatial model we develop will be able to detect the differences in understorey plants resulting from multiple disturbances. Hence, this research will help to identify the vulnerable habitats of bryophytes and develop sustainable management practices for their conservation and management.