The Theoretical and Experimental Ecology Station (SETE) is a unique scientific centre that combines cutting-edge research in ecology, exceptional experimental equipment and access to diverse natural areas.

We work together to generate new knowledge on the interactions between human societies, biodiversity and ecosystems with a view to contributing to their long-term sustainability.

We use both theoretical (mathematical modelling) and experimental (in the laboratory, under semi-natural and natural conditions) approaches to study, inter alia:

• the effects of climate change on biodiversity;
• the dynamics of fragmented ecological systems (meta populations, meta-ecosystems);
• the phenotypic plasticity and evolution of species’ life-history traits; and
• the relationships between biodiversity and the functioning, stability and sustainability of ecosystems and coupled human-natural systems.