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URBE
The Adaptive Biodynamics Laboratory (LAB) is directed by Professor Eli Thoré. It is one of five laboratories belonging to the Research Unit in Environmental and Evolutionary Biology (URBE) within the Department of Biology. The LAB is also a member of the Institute of Life, Earth, and Environment (ILEE).
Life is dynamic, complex, and deeply interconnected at all scales. At the LAB, we take an integrative approach to understanding how animals respond to environmental changes—particularly those driven by human activity—across space and time.
Main Research Topics
- How do animals behave, interact, and respond to environmental changes?
- (Emerging) Chemical Contaminants and Ecotoxicology
- Ecology of temporary ponds
- Sustainable animal production and animal welfare
- Meta-science and open science
Research focuses on the behavioral responses of (aquatic) organisms to pollutants, while exploring the fundamental biological processes to discover why animals behave the way they do. This research is complemented by studies on the underlying physiological and molecular mechanisms, as well as on broader ecological consequences, such as the impact on populations, communities, and ecosystems.
By connecting these scales, researchers strive to advance scientific knowledge and contribute to a sustainable future in which (aquatic) ecosystems not only thrive but also serve as catalysts for biodiversity and sustainable development.
The Interreg ORION Project
An Interreg France-Wallonia-Flanders project to assess and predict the quality of aquatic environments in the Meuse watershed
Using a multidisciplinary approach, the cross-border ORION project—led by UNamur (URBE, Eli Thoré)—aims to assess and predict the quality of aquatic environments in the Meuse River watershed. To this end, it studies the various pressures affecting these natural environments, such as chemical and microbiological pollution (bacteria, viruses, antibiotic resistance), within the context of global warming. The study and monitoring of these environments aim to anticipate the effects of pollution (assessment of vulnerabilities and resilience) and to implement measures for the sustainable management of aquatic ecosystems.
Projet Interreg ORION
News
A new study reveals that anxiolytics disrupt salmon migration
An international research team led by the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences has discovered how pharmaceutical pollution alters the behavior and migration patterns of Atlantic salmon. Professor Eli Thoré, from the Department of Biology and the ILEE Research Institute at the University of Namur, contributed to this groundbreaking field study, which was recently published in *Science*.
Photo credit: Michael Bertram
