6533b7d2fe1ef96bd125de6b

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Changement climatique et suivi de la biodiversité marine côtière aux Iles Kerguelen

subject

description

Nearshore marine habitats of the French sub-Antarctic islands concentrate a rich and unique biodiversity that is currently facing climate change and its still not well-understood and multifaceted effects. Understanding the impact of these changes and predicting the potential response of ecosystems requires advanced knowledge of marine life and the achievement of uninterrupted and long-term observing programs. The Proteker program, no. 1044 of the French Polar Institute Paul-Émile Victor, has been developped in partnership with the National Nature Reserve of French Southern Territories in order to establish an observatory of coastal marine biodiversity in the Kerguelen Islands and evaluate the potential effects of environmental changes. Studies are carried out at different scales, from species to community and habitat levels, through multidisciplinary approaches that include hydrographic measurements, habitat mapping and species inventories, genetic, ecophysiological, and trophic analyses. This program aims at providing nature managers with scientifi c criteria to support the production and the achievement of conservation plans.