BIOSEFAIR

Our regular newsletters bring you the latest on the Biosefair metaprogramme and its themes of biodiversity and ecosystem services.

Lakes and ponds of the Aquitaine Atlantic coast are unique natural ecosystems, not only at the national but also at the European scale. These systems host a high taxonomic diversity, especially for aquatic plants. Indeed, isoetid communities represent a set of species with high conservation value, also including one endemic species. These communities are however highly threatened, especially by anthropogenic activities, and most of the coastal Aquitaine’s lakes have already experienced their extinction. Knowledge on these species is still however scarce, particularly concerning their genetic diversity. While conservation and restoration actions are emerging with the redaction of a National Plan for preserving these communities, understanding their genetic diversity, their relationships with taxonomic and functional diversity appear as a major issue.

The Camargue (Rhône delta) is a complex social-ecosystem with important issues regarding biodiversity conservation and economic and cultural activities. In a context of global change, anthropogenic (water management in agricultural and natural areas, agricultural practices) and climatic (rainfall, evapotranspiration) drivers affect the hydro-saline balance. This hydro-saline functioning is a central element in the dynamics of the Camargue's habitats and species, and the associated networks of activities and services.