Long-Term Socio-Ecological Research (LTSER) is an inter- and transdisciplinary research field addressing socio-ecological change over time at various spatial and temporal scales. In the Austrian Eisenwurzen region, an LTSER platform was founded in 2004. It has fostered and documented research projects aiming at advancing LTSER scientifically and at providing regional stakeholders with relevant information for sustainable regional development. Since its establishment, a broad range of research activities has been pursued in the region, integrating information from long-term ecological monitoring sites with approaches from social sciences and the humanities, and in cooperation with regional stakeholders. Based on the experiences gained in the Eisenwurzen LTSER platform, this article presents current activities in the heterogeneous field of LTSER, identifying specific (inter-)disciplinary contributions of three research strands of LTSER: long-term ecological research, socio-ecological basic research, and transdisciplinary research. Given the broad array of diverse contributions to LTSER, we argue that the platform has become a relevant "boundary organization", linking research to its regional non-academic context, and ensuring interdisciplinary exchange among the variety of disciplines. We consider the diversity of LTSER approaches an important resource for future research. Major success criteria of LTSER face specific challenges: (1) existing loose, yet stable networks need to be maintained and extended; (2) continuous generation of and access to relevant data needs to be secured and more data need to be included; and (3) consecutive research projects that have allowed for capacity building in the past may be threatened in the future if national Austrian research funders cease to provide resources.

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abstract: Population growth within drylands is occurring faster than growth in any other ecologic zone, putting pressure on already stressed water resources. Because the availability of surface water supplies in drylands tends to be highly variable, many of these populations rely on groundwater. A critical process contributing to groundwater recharge is the interaction between ephemeral channels and groundwater aquifers. Generally, it has been found that ephemeral channels contribute to groundwater recharge when streamflow infiltrates into the sandy bottoms of channels. This process has traditionally been studied in channels that drain large areas (10s to 100s km2). In this dissertation, I study the interactions between surface water and groundwater via ephemeral channels in a first-order watershed located on an arid piedmont slope within the Jornada Experimental Range (JER) in the Chihuahuan Desert. To achieve this, I utilize a combination of high-resolution observations and computer simulations using a modified hydrologic model to quantify groundwater recharge and shed light on the geomorphic and ecologic processes that affect the rate of recharge. Observational results indicate that runoff generated within the piedmont slope contributes significantly to deep percolation. During the short-term (6 yr) study period, we estimated 385 mm of total percolation, 62 mm/year, or a ratio of percolation to rainfall of 0.25. Based on the instrument network, we identified that percolation occurs inside channel areas when these receive overland sheetflow from hillslopes. By utilizing a modified version of the hydrologic model, TIN-based Real-time Integrated Basin Simulator (tRIBS), that was calibrated and validated using the observational dataset, I quantified the effects of changing watershed properties on groundwater recharge. Distributed model simulations quantify how deep percolation is produced during the streamflow generation process, and indicate that it plays a significant role in moderating the production of streamflow. Sensitivity analyses reveal that hillslope properties control the amount of rainfall necessary to initiate percolation while channel properties control the partitioning of hillslope runoff into streamflow and deep percolation. Synthetic vegetation experiments show that woody plant encroachment leads to increases in both deep percolation and streamflow. Further woody plant encroachment may result in the unexpected enhancement of dryland aquifer sustainability. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Geological Sciences 2017

Les interactions climat-environnement sont susceptibles d’être profondément modifiées du fait du changement climatique observé au cours des dernières décennies, et de celui prévu pour le moyen terme. Dans cette thèse, deux Zones Ateliers du CNRS (ZA Alpes et ZA Armorique), espaces spécifiques pour l’analyse des relations Hommes-Milieux, sont privilégiées pour une étude d’impact des variations climatiques sur certains facteurs de l’environnement végétal. L’objectif de cette thèse est de déterminer la variabilité spatio-temporelle du climat et de la phénologie afin de pouvoir tester la reproductibilité de l’influence du premier facteur sur le second, en caractérisant certains comportements soumis aux principales contraintes climatiques.L’analyse de séries stationelles et des réanalyses issues de Météo-France s’effectue par le biais de méthodes statistiques pour isoler les principales tendances, ruptures et modes de variabilité spatio-temporelle observés sur deux variables climatiques (température et cumuls pluviométriques) sur la période contemporaine (1959-2009). Cette dernière permet de mettre en avant une rupture thermique significative pour l’année 1987 avec une augmentation (plus marquée en Armorique) de l’ordre de 1°C. Les précipitations montrent une modification de leur mode de variabilité interannuelle, avec un allongement des alternances de périodes sèches et humides passant de 6-8 ans après les années1990, contre 2-4 ans avant. Leurs influences sur la végétation sont suivies grâce à l’étude de la phénologie saisonnière de la principale formation végétale naturelle présente dans les deux ZA, soit les espaces forestiers caduques.Des données bioclimatiques issues de l’Observatoire des Saisons ainsi que des traitements analytiques à partir de données issues de la télédétection satellitaire (SPOT-VGT et MODIS) permettent de mieux définir la variabilité spatio-temporelle de la phénologie forestière alpine et armoricaine. Un essai de modélisation statistique des liens climat-phénologie est ensuite proposé par le biais d’un modèle degré-jour, calibré et validé avec l’aide des données insitutionnelles et issues de la télédétection. Le forçage final est réalisé avec des données de prévisions climatiques obtenues parle modèle ALADIN sur une période temporelle proche (2021-2050), montrant une certaine modification des paramètres climatiques, comme une augmentation de la température d’environ 1°C et une diminution des précipitation de l’ordre de 100 mm en Armorique. Les résultats provenant de la modélisation statistique permettent d’observer une avancée des stades de feuillaison pour les deux zones d’études en fonction de conditions bioclimatiques potentielles attendues dans les deux espaces d’étude. Néanmoins, ces résultats soulèvent aussi la question des rétroactions dynamiques entre la végétation et le climat, analyses non abordées dans cette thèse. / Climate change occuring during last decade will deeply modify climate and environnemental interaction. Inthis PhD, two sites of European Lon-Term Ecosystem Research Network (French Alps and Britany), specializedin human/nature relationships and environnmental studies were selected for analyzing phenological impact withclimate change constraint. The aim of this work is to determine the spatio-temporal variability of climate andphenology over both sites and to predict the response of forestry phenology under climate change constraint.Meteorological spatio-temporal variability is explained from Météo-France time series analyses and also withclimate reanalysis on the 1959-2009 period. Temperature and precipitation appeared to be best climatologicalvariable to discrimine the impact on vegetation. Since 1987, a significant temperature increase of about 1°C appears(less in the Alps and more in Armorics). Precipitation temporal variability appeared to change near year 1990with a quasi-biennial periods before and with a 6-8 year period after 1990. Phenology is used to monitor naturalforestry dynamics and the feedback on climate on vegetation. Bioclimatics data from « Observatoire des Saisons »and determined from remote sensing data (SPOT-VGT and MODIS datasets) are used to follow spatio-temporalvariability of the phenology. Relationships between climate and phenology are determined by statistical modelisation(degree-day model). SAFRAN-France data and phenological remote sensing data are combined to calibrate and tovalidate of the model in present time. Climate forecast from ALADIN model are used to execute the model on afutur period (2021-2050) with an thermal increase condition of around 1°C and a diminution of precipitation inArmorics (100 mm). Degree-day model predict an advance of growth phase over both site according to climateforcing.