Didier GALOP

CNRS Research Director

Contact details

Personal Website
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Didier-Galop

Taught academic discipline(s)

  • National School of Architecture and Landscape of Bordeaux
  • Master in Archaeology, University of Perpignan
  • Master in Geography, Environment and Landscape, University of Toulouse 2
  • Master in Archaeology, University of Toulouse 2
  • Bachelor’s Degree in Geography, University of Toulouse 2
  • Bachelor’s Degree in Archaeology, University of Toulouse 2


Co‑supervision of PhD Theses :

  • Chahrazed Gherzouli - Environmental dynamics in Petite Kabylie over the last centuries – UT2J
  • Elodie Faure -  Environmental history of the Monts d’Aubrac and the Lévézou – UT2J
  • Carole Cugny -  Contributions of non‑pollen microfossils to the history of pastoralism on the northern Pyrenean slope. Between modern reference collections and past reconstruction – UTM, defended on 27 September 2011.
  • Damien Rius – Reconstruction and evolution of Holocene fires in the Pyrenees between bioclimatic and anthropogenic controls – University of Franche‑Comté. Co‑supervision: B. Vannière, H. Richard and D. Galop, defended on 7 December 2010.
  • Florence Mazier – Modelling the relationship between modern pollen rain, vegetation and pastoral practices in mid‑mountain areas (Pyrenees and Jura). Application to the interpretation of fossil pollen data. University of Franche‑Comté. Co‑supervisors: A. Butler and D. Galop, defended on 3 November 2006. Recruited as Research Scientist (CR), Section 31, in 2009.

Research topics

  • Ecology and Historical Geography
  • Environmental History
  • Paleoecology
  • Palynology

D. Galop’s research focuses on the study of long‑term environment–society relationships and co‑evolutions. It relies on an interdisciplinary retro‑observation of socio‑ecological processes that combines multi‑proxy analysis of the palaeobiological content of sedimentary archives (pollen, non‑pollen microfossils, stomata, micro‑charcoal) with eco‑historical approaches (textual archives, historical maps, etc.).
Mainly oriented toward the study of dynamics specific to mountain environments (Pyrenees, Massif Central, Tyrol), his research also concerns tropical areas (Saint‑Martin Island, Marie‑Galante, Guadeloupe, Jamaica, Réunion Island) and southern regions (Chilean Patagonia).
His current research concerns the study of anthropisation processes in the high Pyrenean mountains, and in particular those that contributed to the transformation of lake ecosystems over the last 300 years (history and impact of fish introductions).
D. Galop coordinates and leads several environmental observatories and instrumented sites in the Pyrenees and abroad within the framework of the Labex DRIIHM (OHM Pyrenees and OHMI Patagonia, co‑directed with A. Salazar (UC Chile)), as well as the Pyrenean Observatory of High‑Altitude Lakes. This observatory component aims, among other objectives, to promote the transfer between observation / retro‑observation and contemporary management of high‑altitude areas.

Keywords: socio‑ecological dynamics, environmental observatories, retro‑observation, palynology, historical ecology, biological invasions, mountain environments, Pyrenees, mountain environments, tropical island environments.

Activities / Resume

  • 2009-2025 : Observatoire Hommes-Milieux du Haut Vicdessos - Labex DRIIHM
  • 2017-2025 : Observatoire Hommes-Milieux Bahia Exploradores (Chili) - Labex DRIIHM
  • 2017-2020 : Improvement of knowledge, functional analysis and development of management plans for a chain of mountain ponds – Agence de l’Eau – ONF
  • 2016-2019 : FISH 1 et FISH 2 PNP - Région Occitanie et Labex DRIIHM
  • 2017 : CULTILAC – Cultiver les lacs MSH - Toulouse
  • 2014-2016 : ROECEPAL 2 - Establishment of a Pyrenean lake observatory, Water Agency
  • 2012-2015 : ROECEPAL - Retro‑Observation, Evaluation and impact of Environmental Changes in the Central Pyrenees from Lake Archives, Midi‑Pyrénées Region -Pyrénées Agence de l'Eau
  • 2012-2013 : Dynamics of anthropisation in a Sahelian context – Ferlo (Senegal), OHMI‑Tessékéré, Labex DRIIHM
  • 2010-2013 : DYVAH – Vegetation Dynamics and Anthropisation in the Haut Vicdessos, OHM Haut‑Vicdessos / Labex DRIIHM

Publications extraites de HAL affiliées à Geode : Géographie de l'environnement