Benoit Demars
Benoît has studied fish farming (BTSA, Ahun), natural resource development (MSc, Corsica) and ecology (DEA, Paris XI) in France with research projects on aquatic plants at the University of Leicester (England) and Glasgow (Scotland). He then worked at the University of Metz (France) before joining again the University of Leicester where he gained his PhD demonstrating that aquatic plant distribution in lowland rivers was mostly due to plant dispersal and the impact of weirs rather than inorganic Nitrogen and Phosphorus.
Current research interests
Since arrival at the Institute, Benoit has pursued his work on trying to link multiple stressors to aquatic plant distribution, diversity and stoichiometry. This time the focus has been primarily on the upland River Spey across a wide range of aquatic systems, but also across ecoregions throughout the UK and France.
Benoit has now set up whole ecosystem experiments at the Macaulay research station (Glensaugh) and in Tarland catchment where he has manipulated nutrient availability (Carbon, Nitrogen, Phosphorus) and study the effects on nutrient cycling and whole stream metabolism (respiration and photosynthesis). Benoit is also currently studying whole ecosystem responses to temperature changes using geothermal streams in Iceland. This river reach scale work can be scaled up to river catchment for holistic river management and quantification of ecosystem services.
Benoit is currently collaborating with colleagues from Denmark (NERI, University of Aarhus), France (University of Rennes, University of Metz, University of Strasbourg), Iceland (University of Iceland; Institute of Freshwater Fisheries), Sweden (Linkoping University), UK (Biomathematics and Statistics Scotland, Queen Mary University of London), and USA (Stockton College, NJ).
Benoit is on the Editorial Board of Freshwater Biology and co-editor of a special issue in Knowledge and Management of Aquatic Ecosystems Modern Problems of Aquatic Ecology, IV International Scientific Conference to commemorate Professor G.G. Winberg, 11-15 October 2010, St. Petersburg, Russia (in preparation).
Benoit is also member of several professional organisations: British Ecological Society, American Society of Limnology and Oceanography, Freshwater Biological Association, International Society of Limnology, Botanical Society of the British Isles, North American Benthological Society.
Bibliography
Benoit's highlighted publications
- Temperature and the metabolic balance of streams., Demars, B.O.L.; Manson, J.R.; Olafsson, J.S.; Gislason, G.M.; Gudmundsdottir, R.; Woodward, G.; Reiss, J.; Pichler, D.; Rasmussen, J.J.; Friberg, N., (2011) Freshwater Biology, 56, 1106-1121.
- Integrated experimental and computational hydraulic science in a unique natural laboratory., Manson, J.R.; Demars, B.O.L.; Wallis, S.G., (2011) In: Experimental methods in hydraulic research (ed. P. Rowinski). Springer Book Series, Geoplanet: Earth and Planetary Sciences, Vol. 1, pp123-131.
- River phosphorus cycling: separating biotic and abiotic uptake during short-term changes in sewage effluent loading., Stutter, M.I.; Demars, B.O.L.; Langan, S.J., (2010) Water Research, 44, 4425-4436.
- Distribution of aquatic macrophytes in contrasting river systems: a critique of compositional-based assessment of water quality., Demars B.O.L.; Edwards A.C., (2009) The Science of the Total Environment, 407, 975-990.
- Aquatic macrophytes as bioindicators of carbon dioxide in groundwater fed rivers., Demars, B.O.L.; Tremolieres, M., (2009) The Science of the Total Environment, 407, 4752-4763.
Benoit's most recent publications
- The Tarland Catchment Initiative and its effect on stream water quality and macroinvertebrate indices., Bergfur, J.; Demars, B.O.L.; Stutter, M.I.; Langan, S.J.; Friberg, N., (2012) Journal of Environmental Quality, 41, 314-321.
- Linking biotopes to invertebrates in rivers: biological traits, taxonomic composition and diversity., Demars, B.O.L.; Kemp, J.L.; Friberg, N.; Usseglio-Polatera, P.; Harper, D.M., (2012) Ecological Indicators, 23, 301-311.
- Macroinvertebrate abundance and proportion of trait categories in river biotopes across England and Wales., Demars, B.O.L.; Kemp, J.L.; Friberg, N.; Usseglio-Polatera, P.; Harper, D.M., (2012) Supplement to: Demars, B.O.L.; Kemp, J.L.; Friberg, N.; Usseglio-Polatera, P.; Harper, D.M. (2012): Linking biotopes to invertebrates in rivers: biological traits, taxonomic composition and diversity. Ecological Indicators, 23, 301-311.
- River macrophyte indices: not the Holy Grail!, Demars, B.O.L.; Potts, J.; Tremolieres, M.; Thiebaut, G.; Gougelin, N.; Nordmann, V., (2012) Freshwater Biology, 57, 1745-1759.
- Consistent temperature dependence of respiration across ecosystems contrasting in thermal history., Perkins, D.M.; Yvon-Durocher, G.; Demars, B.O.L.; Reiss, J.; Pichler, D.E.; Friberg, N.; Trimmer, M.; Woodward, G., (2012) Global Change Biology, 18, 1300-1311.
- Assessing the impacts of small scale hydroelectric schemes on rare bryophytes and lichens., Demars, B.O.L.; Britton, A.J., (2011) Scottish Natural Heritage Commissioned Report, No 421, Scottish Natural Heritage, Inverness.
- Stream hydraulics and temperature determine the metabolism of geothermal Icelandic streams., Demars, B.O.L.; Manson, J.R.; Olafsson, J.S.; Gislason, G.M.; Friberg, N., (2011) Knowledge Management of Aquatic Ecosystem, 402(5), 17pp.
- Prioritising species and habitat actions by Local Biodiversity Action Partnerships in Scotland., Pakeman, R,J.; Beale, C.; Brooker, R,; Chamberlain, D.; Demars, B.O.L.; Iason, G.R.; McLeod, J.; Littlewood, N.; Lisewski, V.; Taylor, A.F.S., (2011) Report to Scottish Natural Heritage.
- Tissue nutrient concentrations in aquatic macrophytes: comparison across biophysical zones, surface water habitats and plant life forms., Demars B.O.L.; Edwards A.C., (2008) Chemistry and Ecology, 24, 413-422.
- Distribution of aquatic plants in the Northern Vosges rivers: implications for biomonitoring and conservation., Demars, B.O.L.; Thiebaut, G., (2008) Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, 18, 619-632.
- Linking biological and physical processes at the river basin scale: the origins, scientific background and scope ofeEcohydrology., Zalewski M.; Harper D.M.; Demars B.O.L.; Jolankai G.; Crosa G.; Janauer G.; Pacini N. , (2008) In: Ecohydrology: Processes, Models and Case Studies (ed. D.M. Harper, M. Zalewski and N. Pacini). CAB International, Wallingford, pp 1-17.
- A seasonal survey of surface water habitats within the River Spey basin, Scotland: major nutrient properties., Demars, B.O.L.; Edwards, A.C., (2007) Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, 17, 565-583.
- River sediments provide a link between catchment pressures and ecological status in a mixed land use Scottish river system., Stutter, M.I.; Langan, S.J.; Demars, B.O.L., (2007) Water Research, 41, 2803-2815.
- Water column and sediment phosphorus in a calcareous lowland river and their differential response to point source control measures., Demars, B.O.L.; Harper, D.M., (2005) Water, Air and Soil Pollution, 167, 273-293.
- Impact of phosphorus control measures on in-river phosphorus retention associated with point source pollution., Demars, B.O.L.; Harper, D.M.; Pitt, J.; Slaughter, R., (2005) Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, 9, 43-55.
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