Research interests
I am a plant ecologist investigating the relative influence of local interactions in the ecosystem responses to a changing environment. Through field experiments in severe environments, I am contributing to the scrutiny of the processes underlying the structure and dynamics of plant communities. My research emphasizes the connectedness of these processes across the ecosystem compartments and their spatiotemporal variability, advocating for an integrative approach in ecology.
Research Experience – Projects
2024-Present: Researcher, Institute of Botany, Czech Academy of Sciences, Průhonice, Czech Republic
– Forest microclimate in time and space: real impacts of climate change on selected protected areas (P.I.: J. Brůna)
2023-2024: Independent Researcher, Department of Botany, University of Vienna, Austria
– Microclim: A micro-scale perspective on alpine floras under climate change (P.I.: S. Dullinger)
2020-2023: Academy Scientist, GLORIA Coordination Team, OeAW, Austria
– GLORIA: GLobal Observation Research Initiative in Alpine environments (Leader: H. Pauli)
– Microclim: A micro-scale perspective on alpine floras under climate change (P.I.: S. Dullinger)
2017-2019: Postdoctoral Researcher, Centre for Polar Ecology, University of South Bohemia, Czech Republic
– TRAPA: Multi-trophic functional integration of C sequestration in High Arctic Soils (P.I.: P. Macek & F. de Bello)
2012-2016: Postdoctoral Researcher, Department of Ecology, University of Oulu, Finland
– DeVeSh: Decadal time-scale vegetation shifts at high latitudes: causes & consequences (P.I.: R. Virtanen)
2007-2012: Associate & Postdoctoral Researcher, LECA, CNRS-University of Grenoble & CREA, Chamonix, France
– PhenoAlp: Plant phenology in alpine areas (P.I.: U. Morra di Cella, E. Cremonese & A. Delestrade)
– VALIDATE: Effects of drought and heatwave on subalpine meadows (P.I.: J.F. Soussana & S. Lavorel)
– NEVE: Interactions across the Atmosphere-Snow-Plant-Soil continuum (P.I.: J.C. Clément, F. Domine, S. Morin & P. Saccone)
– ECOVER: Structuring of communities associated with cushion plants on high mountain cliffs (P.I.: C. Albert, S. Ibanez, S. Lavergne & P. Saccone)
– BIOCATCH: Effects of subalpine meadows on water balance in a global change context (P.I.: J.C. Clément)
– Guisane 2080: Alpine plant distribution and functional variability of the community (P.I.: W. Thuiller)
1999-2001: Research assistant (Overwinter), French Polar Institute, CNRS-University of Rennes, France
– BIOSOL: Human and Climate effects on the terrestrial biodiversity of French Subantarctic Islands (P.I: Y. Frenot)
1997 : Research assistant, French Agronomic Institute, Cestas, France
– DELTA:Ecophysiological adaptation of Pinus pinaster to dry stress (P.I. : A. NGuyen-Queyrens)
– Forest microclimate in time and space: real impacts of climate change on selected protected areas (P.I.: J. Brůna)
2023-2024: Independent Researcher, Department of Botany, University of Vienna, Austria
– Microclim: A micro-scale perspective on alpine floras under climate change (P.I.: S. Dullinger)
2020-2023: Academy Scientist, GLORIA Coordination Team, OeAW, Austria
– GLORIA: GLobal Observation Research Initiative in Alpine environments (Leader: H. Pauli)
– Microclim: A micro-scale perspective on alpine floras under climate change (P.I.: S. Dullinger)
2017-2019: Postdoctoral Researcher, Centre for Polar Ecology, University of South Bohemia, Czech Republic
– TRAPA: Multi-trophic functional integration of C sequestration in High Arctic Soils (P.I.: P. Macek & F. de Bello)
2012-2016: Postdoctoral Researcher, Department of Ecology, University of Oulu, Finland
– DeVeSh: Decadal time-scale vegetation shifts at high latitudes: causes & consequences (P.I.: R. Virtanen)
2007-2012: Associate & Postdoctoral Researcher, LECA, CNRS-University of Grenoble & CREA, Chamonix, France
– PhenoAlp: Plant phenology in alpine areas (P.I.: U. Morra di Cella, E. Cremonese & A. Delestrade)
– VALIDATE: Effects of drought and heatwave on subalpine meadows (P.I.: J.F. Soussana & S. Lavorel)
– NEVE: Interactions across the Atmosphere-Snow-Plant-Soil continuum (P.I.: J.C. Clément, F. Domine, S. Morin & P. Saccone)
– ECOVER: Structuring of communities associated with cushion plants on high mountain cliffs (P.I.: C. Albert, S. Ibanez, S. Lavergne & P. Saccone)
– BIOCATCH: Effects of subalpine meadows on water balance in a global change context (P.I.: J.C. Clément)
– Guisane 2080: Alpine plant distribution and functional variability of the community (P.I.: W. Thuiller)
1999-2001: Research assistant (Overwinter), French Polar Institute, CNRS-University of Rennes, France
– BIOSOL: Human and Climate effects on the terrestrial biodiversity of French Subantarctic Islands (P.I: Y. Frenot)
1997 : Research assistant, French Agronomic Institute, Cestas, France
– DELTA:Ecophysiological adaptation of Pinus pinaster to dry stress (P.I. : A. NGuyen-Queyrens)
Education
2003- 2007: PhD in Ecology, CEMAGREF and University of Grenoble
Role of plant interactions and place of exploitative competitor species in forest dynamics under global changes: mountain and riparian cases. Supervised by J.J. Brun and R. Michalet
– INVABIO: Comparison of invasion processes between Rhône and Garonne floodplains
– CONTRACER: Rhône riverbank vulnerability to Acer negundo invasion
1999-2002: M.S. in Ecosystem and Population Biology, University of Montpellier II & in Environmental Biosciences, University of Aix-Marseille III.
Thesis 3: Experimental and functional approaches of floristic differences between calcareous and siliceous substrates in subalpine grasslands in the French Alps. Advised by R. Michalet (University of Grenoble)
Thesis 2:Ecology of Eryngium alpinum (Apiaceae) in the Ecrins mountain range(Southern French Alps). Advised by I. Till-Bottraud (University of Grenoble)
Thesis 1: Consequences of charcoal production on Quercus ilex forest dynamic of Gardon massif. Advised by J-L Vernet (University of Montpellier II) & L. Zeraïa (French Forestry Institute)
1998: B.S. in Organisms and Populations Biology, University of Bordeaux I
Thesis: Physiological consequences of progressive dry stress on Pinus pinaster saplings. Advised by A. Queyrens, INRA
Role of plant interactions and place of exploitative competitor species in forest dynamics under global changes: mountain and riparian cases. Supervised by J.J. Brun and R. Michalet
– INVABIO: Comparison of invasion processes between Rhône and Garonne floodplains
– CONTRACER: Rhône riverbank vulnerability to Acer negundo invasion
1999-2002: M.S. in Ecosystem and Population Biology, University of Montpellier II & in Environmental Biosciences, University of Aix-Marseille III.
Thesis 3: Experimental and functional approaches of floristic differences between calcareous and siliceous substrates in subalpine grasslands in the French Alps. Advised by R. Michalet (University of Grenoble)
Thesis 2:Ecology of Eryngium alpinum (Apiaceae) in the Ecrins mountain range(Southern French Alps). Advised by I. Till-Bottraud (University of Grenoble)
Thesis 1: Consequences of charcoal production on Quercus ilex forest dynamic of Gardon massif. Advised by J-L Vernet (University of Montpellier II) & L. Zeraïa (French Forestry Institute)
1998: B.S. in Organisms and Populations Biology, University of Bordeaux I
Thesis: Physiological consequences of progressive dry stress on Pinus pinaster saplings. Advised by A. Queyrens, INRA
Publications
31- Maliniemi T., Kiilunen P., Bråthen K.A., Kapfer J., Bockelie Rosendal T., Grytnes J.A., Saccone P. & Virtanen R. (in press) Long-term homogenization of vascular plant and lichen communities across Fennoscandian heathlands and tundra is connected to the expansion of an allelopathic dwarf shrub. Ecography. preprint : https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.12.27.630519
30- Rosbakh S., Porro F., …, Saccone P., … & Mondoni A. (2025) Understanding long-term abundance shifts in European alpine plants through the lenses of functional seed trait ecology. Diversity and Distribution doi: 10.1111/ddi.70047 pdf
29- Gould et al. [ManiEcoEvo consortium, including Saccone P.] (2025) Same data, different analysts: variation in effect sizes due to analytical decisions in ecology and evolutionary biology. BMC Biology 23:35 doi: 10.1186/s12915-024-02101-x pdf
28- Michalet R., Gresse J., Randé H., Reis M., Saccone P. & Touzard B. (2024) Differences in species composition between calcareous and siliceous herbaceous communities are primarily explained by competition in favourable climates. Oikos doi:10.1111/oik.10723 pdf
27- Helm N. et al. [MicroClim members, including Saccone P.] (2024) Fine-scale alpine plant community assembly: Relative roles of environmental sorting, dispersal processes and species interactions. Journal of Ecology doi: 10.1111/1365-2745.14401 pdf
26- Malanson G., Dullinger S., Pauli H., Winkler M., Saccone P. & Jiménez-Alfaro B. (2024) Species richness responds to buffer effectiveness and inertia in simulations of alpine microrefugia. Journal of Biogeography doi: 10.1111/jbi.14858 pdf
25- Kemppinen J. et al. [97 authors from SoilTemp network, including Saccone P. as section leader] (2024) Microclimate, an important part of global ecology and biogeography. Global Ecology & Biogeography, 33, e13834. doi: 10.1111/geb.13834 pdf
24- Chytrý K. et al. [MicroClim members, including Saccone P.] (2024) Limited impact of microtopography on alpine plant distribution. Ecography, doi: 10.1111/ecog.06744 pdf
23- Bardy-Durchhalter M. et al. [IGF members, including Saccone P.] (2022) Joint Endeavor Toward Sustainable Mountain Development: Research at the Institute for Interdisciplinary Mountain Research of the Austrian Academy of Sciences. Mountain Research and Development, doi: 10.1659/MRD-JOURNAL-D-22-00002.1 pdf
22- Lembrechts J. et al. [SoilTemp newtwork, including Saccone P.] (2021) Global maps of soil temperature. Global Change Biology, doi: 10.1111/gcb.16060 pdf
21- Jílková V., Devetter M., Bryndová M., Hájek T., Kotas P., Luláková P., Meador T., Navrátilová D., Saccone P. & Macek P. (2021) Carbon sequestration related to soil physical and chemical properties in the high Arctic. Global Biogeochemical Cycles, doi:10.1029/2020GB006877 pdf
20- Roy J., Bonneville J.M., Saccone P., Ibanez S., Albert H. C., Boleda M., Gueguen M., Ohlman M., Rioux D., Clément J.C., Lavergne S. & Geremia R. (2018) Differences in the fungal communities nursed by two genetic groups of the alpine cushion plant, Silene acaulis. Ecology and Evolution, 8: 11568-11581 pdf
19- Maliniemi T., Kapfer J., Saccone P., Skog A. & Virtanen R. (2018) Long-term vegetation changes of treeless heath communities in northern Fennoscandia: Links to climate change trends and reindeer grazing. Journal of Vegetation Science, 29: 469-479 pdf
18- Saccone P., Hoikka K. &Virtanen R. (2017) What if plant functional types conceal species-specific responses to environment? Study on arctic dwarf shrub communities. Ecology, 98: 1600-1612 pdf
17- Eskelinen A., Saccone P., Spasojevic M. J. & Virtanen R. (2016) Herbivory mediates the long-term shift in the relative importance of microsite and propagule limitation. Journal of Ecology, 104: 1326-1334 pdf
16- Jusselme M.D., Saccone P., Zinger L., Faure M., Guillaumaud N., Clément J.C. & Poly F. (2016) Variations in snow depth modify N-related soil microbial abundances and functioning during winter in subalpine grassland. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 92: 27-37 pdf
15- Saccone P. & Virtanen R. (2016) Extrapolating multi-decadal plant community changes based on medium-term experiments can be risky: evidence from high-latitude tundra. Oikos, 125: 76-85 pdf [recommended in F1000Prime]
14- Obojes N., Bahn M., Tasser E., Walde J., Inauen N., Hiltbrunner E., Saccone P., Lochet J., Clément J.C., Lavorel S., Tappeiner U. & Körner C. (2015) Vegetation effects on the water balance of mountain grasslands depend on climatic conditions. Ecohydrology, 8: 552-569 pdf
13- Saccone P., Pyykkonen T., Eskelinen A. & Virtanen R. (2014) Environmental perturbation, grazing pressure and soil wetness jointly drive mountain tundra toward alternative states. Journal of Ecology, 102: 1661-1672 pdf
12– Benot M.L., Saccone P., Pautrat E., Vicente R., Colace M.P., Grigulis K., Clément J.C. & Lavorel S. (2014) Stronger short-term effects of mowing than extreme summer weather on a subalpine grassland. Ecosystems 17: 458-472 pdf
11- Benot M.L., Saccone P., Vicente R., Pautrat E., Morvan-Bertrand A., Decau M.L., Grigulis K., Prud’homme M.P. & Lavorel S. (2013) How extreme summer weather may limit control of Festuca paniculata by mowing in subalpine grasslands. Plant Ecology & Diversity 6: 393-404 pdf
10- Roy J., Albert C.H., Ibanez S., Saccone P., Zinger L., Choler P., Clément J.C., Lavergne S. & Geremia R. (2013) Microbes on the cliff: alpine cushion plants structure bacterial and fungal communities. Frontiers in Terrestrial Microbiology 4: 64 pdf
9– Saccone P., Girel J., Pagès J.P., Brun J.J. & Michalet R. (2013a) Ecological resistance to Acer negundo invasion in a European riparian forest: relative importance of environmental and biotic drivers. Applied Vegetation Science 16: 184-192 pdf
8- Saccone P., Morin S., Baptist F., Bonneville J.M., Colace M.P., Domine F., Faure M., Geremia R., Lochet J., Poly F., Lavorel S. & Clément J.C. (2013b) The effects of snowpack properties and plant strategies on litter decomposition during winter in subalpine meadows. Plant Soil 363: 215-229 pdf
7– Clément J.C., Robson M.T., Guillemin R., Saccone P., Lochet J., Aubert S. & Lavorel S. (2012) The effects of snow-N deposition and snowmelt dynamics on soil N-cycling in marginal terraced grasslands in the French Alps. Biogeochemistry 108: 297-315 pdf
6- Saccone P., Brun J.J. & Michalet R. (2010b) Challenging growth-survival trade-off: a key for Acer negundo invasion in European floodplains? Canadian Journal Forest Research 40: 1879-1886 pdf
5- Saccone P., Pagès J.P., Girel J., Brun J.J. & Michalet R. (2010a) Acer negundo invasion along a successional gradient: direct facilitation by native pioneers and indirect facilitation by conspecifics. New Phytologist 187: 831-842 pdf
4- Albert C.H., Thuiller W., Yoccoz N.G., Soudan A., Boucher F., Saccone P. & Lavorel S. (2010) Intraspecific functional variability: extent, structure and sources of variation. Journal of Ecology 98: 604-613 pdf
3- Saccone P., Delzon S., Pagès J.P., Brun J.J. & Michalet R. (2009) The role of biotic interactions in altering tree seedling responses to an extreme climate event. Journal of Vegetation Science 20: 403-414 pdf
2- Brooker R.W., Maestre F., Callaway R.M., Lortie C.L., Cavieres L.A., Kunstler G., Liancourt P., Tielbörger K., Travis J.M., Anthelme F., Armas C., Coll L., Corcket E., Delzon S., Forey E., Kikvidze Z., Olofsson J., Pugnaire F., Quiroz C.L., Saccone P., Schiffer K., Seifan M., Touzard B. & Michalet R. (2008). Facilitation in plant communities: the past, the present and the future. Journal of Ecology 96: 18-34 pdf
1- Michalet R., Pagès J.P., Saccone P. & Brun J.J. (2008) Les interactions entre espèces d’arbres dans les mélanges illustrées par le cas des feuillus et des conifères dans les forêts de montagnes. Revue Forestière Française 60: 139-153 pdfand palaeoecological proxies. Quaternary Science Reviews 297: 107834. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2022.107834
30- Rosbakh S., Porro F., …, Saccone P., … & Mondoni A. (2025) Understanding long-term abundance shifts in European alpine plants through the lenses of functional seed trait ecology. Diversity and Distribution doi: 10.1111/ddi.70047 pdf
29- Gould et al. [ManiEcoEvo consortium, including Saccone P.] (2025) Same data, different analysts: variation in effect sizes due to analytical decisions in ecology and evolutionary biology. BMC Biology 23:35 doi: 10.1186/s12915-024-02101-x pdf
28- Michalet R., Gresse J., Randé H., Reis M., Saccone P. & Touzard B. (2024) Differences in species composition between calcareous and siliceous herbaceous communities are primarily explained by competition in favourable climates. Oikos doi:10.1111/oik.10723 pdf
27- Helm N. et al. [MicroClim members, including Saccone P.] (2024) Fine-scale alpine plant community assembly: Relative roles of environmental sorting, dispersal processes and species interactions. Journal of Ecology doi: 10.1111/1365-2745.14401 pdf
26- Malanson G., Dullinger S., Pauli H., Winkler M., Saccone P. & Jiménez-Alfaro B. (2024) Species richness responds to buffer effectiveness and inertia in simulations of alpine microrefugia. Journal of Biogeography doi: 10.1111/jbi.14858 pdf
25- Kemppinen J. et al. [97 authors from SoilTemp network, including Saccone P. as section leader] (2024) Microclimate, an important part of global ecology and biogeography. Global Ecology & Biogeography, 33, e13834. doi: 10.1111/geb.13834 pdf
24- Chytrý K. et al. [MicroClim members, including Saccone P.] (2024) Limited impact of microtopography on alpine plant distribution. Ecography, doi: 10.1111/ecog.06744 pdf
23- Bardy-Durchhalter M. et al. [IGF members, including Saccone P.] (2022) Joint Endeavor Toward Sustainable Mountain Development: Research at the Institute for Interdisciplinary Mountain Research of the Austrian Academy of Sciences. Mountain Research and Development, doi: 10.1659/MRD-JOURNAL-D-22-00002.1 pdf
22- Lembrechts J. et al. [SoilTemp newtwork, including Saccone P.] (2021) Global maps of soil temperature. Global Change Biology, doi: 10.1111/gcb.16060 pdf
21- Jílková V., Devetter M., Bryndová M., Hájek T., Kotas P., Luláková P., Meador T., Navrátilová D., Saccone P. & Macek P. (2021) Carbon sequestration related to soil physical and chemical properties in the high Arctic. Global Biogeochemical Cycles, doi:10.1029/2020GB006877 pdf
20- Roy J., Bonneville J.M., Saccone P., Ibanez S., Albert H. C., Boleda M., Gueguen M., Ohlman M., Rioux D., Clément J.C., Lavergne S. & Geremia R. (2018) Differences in the fungal communities nursed by two genetic groups of the alpine cushion plant, Silene acaulis. Ecology and Evolution, 8: 11568-11581 pdf
19- Maliniemi T., Kapfer J., Saccone P., Skog A. & Virtanen R. (2018) Long-term vegetation changes of treeless heath communities in northern Fennoscandia: Links to climate change trends and reindeer grazing. Journal of Vegetation Science, 29: 469-479 pdf
18- Saccone P., Hoikka K. &Virtanen R. (2017) What if plant functional types conceal species-specific responses to environment? Study on arctic dwarf shrub communities. Ecology, 98: 1600-1612 pdf
17- Eskelinen A., Saccone P., Spasojevic M. J. & Virtanen R. (2016) Herbivory mediates the long-term shift in the relative importance of microsite and propagule limitation. Journal of Ecology, 104: 1326-1334 pdf
16- Jusselme M.D., Saccone P., Zinger L., Faure M., Guillaumaud N., Clément J.C. & Poly F. (2016) Variations in snow depth modify N-related soil microbial abundances and functioning during winter in subalpine grassland. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 92: 27-37 pdf
15- Saccone P. & Virtanen R. (2016) Extrapolating multi-decadal plant community changes based on medium-term experiments can be risky: evidence from high-latitude tundra. Oikos, 125: 76-85 pdf [recommended in F1000Prime]
14- Obojes N., Bahn M., Tasser E., Walde J., Inauen N., Hiltbrunner E., Saccone P., Lochet J., Clément J.C., Lavorel S., Tappeiner U. & Körner C. (2015) Vegetation effects on the water balance of mountain grasslands depend on climatic conditions. Ecohydrology, 8: 552-569 pdf
13- Saccone P., Pyykkonen T., Eskelinen A. & Virtanen R. (2014) Environmental perturbation, grazing pressure and soil wetness jointly drive mountain tundra toward alternative states. Journal of Ecology, 102: 1661-1672 pdf
12– Benot M.L., Saccone P., Pautrat E., Vicente R., Colace M.P., Grigulis K., Clément J.C. & Lavorel S. (2014) Stronger short-term effects of mowing than extreme summer weather on a subalpine grassland. Ecosystems 17: 458-472 pdf
11- Benot M.L., Saccone P., Vicente R., Pautrat E., Morvan-Bertrand A., Decau M.L., Grigulis K., Prud’homme M.P. & Lavorel S. (2013) How extreme summer weather may limit control of Festuca paniculata by mowing in subalpine grasslands. Plant Ecology & Diversity 6: 393-404 pdf
10- Roy J., Albert C.H., Ibanez S., Saccone P., Zinger L., Choler P., Clément J.C., Lavergne S. & Geremia R. (2013) Microbes on the cliff: alpine cushion plants structure bacterial and fungal communities. Frontiers in Terrestrial Microbiology 4: 64 pdf
9– Saccone P., Girel J., Pagès J.P., Brun J.J. & Michalet R. (2013a) Ecological resistance to Acer negundo invasion in a European riparian forest: relative importance of environmental and biotic drivers. Applied Vegetation Science 16: 184-192 pdf
8- Saccone P., Morin S., Baptist F., Bonneville J.M., Colace M.P., Domine F., Faure M., Geremia R., Lochet J., Poly F., Lavorel S. & Clément J.C. (2013b) The effects of snowpack properties and plant strategies on litter decomposition during winter in subalpine meadows. Plant Soil 363: 215-229 pdf
7– Clément J.C., Robson M.T., Guillemin R., Saccone P., Lochet J., Aubert S. & Lavorel S. (2012) The effects of snow-N deposition and snowmelt dynamics on soil N-cycling in marginal terraced grasslands in the French Alps. Biogeochemistry 108: 297-315 pdf
6- Saccone P., Brun J.J. & Michalet R. (2010b) Challenging growth-survival trade-off: a key for Acer negundo invasion in European floodplains? Canadian Journal Forest Research 40: 1879-1886 pdf
5- Saccone P., Pagès J.P., Girel J., Brun J.J. & Michalet R. (2010a) Acer negundo invasion along a successional gradient: direct facilitation by native pioneers and indirect facilitation by conspecifics. New Phytologist 187: 831-842 pdf
4- Albert C.H., Thuiller W., Yoccoz N.G., Soudan A., Boucher F., Saccone P. & Lavorel S. (2010) Intraspecific functional variability: extent, structure and sources of variation. Journal of Ecology 98: 604-613 pdf
3- Saccone P., Delzon S., Pagès J.P., Brun J.J. & Michalet R. (2009) The role of biotic interactions in altering tree seedling responses to an extreme climate event. Journal of Vegetation Science 20: 403-414 pdf
2- Brooker R.W., Maestre F., Callaway R.M., Lortie C.L., Cavieres L.A., Kunstler G., Liancourt P., Tielbörger K., Travis J.M., Anthelme F., Armas C., Coll L., Corcket E., Delzon S., Forey E., Kikvidze Z., Olofsson J., Pugnaire F., Quiroz C.L., Saccone P., Schiffer K., Seifan M., Touzard B. & Michalet R. (2008). Facilitation in plant communities: the past, the present and the future. Journal of Ecology 96: 18-34 pdf
1- Michalet R., Pagès J.P., Saccone P. & Brun J.J. (2008) Les interactions entre espèces d’arbres dans les mélanges illustrées par le cas des feuillus et des conifères dans les forêts de montagnes. Revue Forestière Française 60: 139-153 pdfand palaeoecological proxies. Quaternary Science Reviews 297: 107834. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2022.107834