Their mission:
Observing the Impact of Global Change on Biodiversity
The CEBC observatories focus their scientific activities on the impact of global and human-induced changes on biodiversity.
They collect long-term information on a diversity of animal populations in several marine and terrestrial ecosystems. They are interested in a wide range of marine ecosystems from polar to tropical environments, but also forest, urban and agro-ecosystems, thanks to the scientific and technical skills of its partners in biodiversity sciences and ecology.
The main goals
Long-term Observations
To develop long-term observations in animal ecology on a diversity of organisms (mainly insects, spiders, reptiles, birds, mammals) and plants
Questioning farming practices
Study the consequences of landscape dynamics and agricultural practices on biodiversity
Databases
Maintenir des bases de données environnementales référencées aux niveaux national et international
Networking
Maintain nationally and internationally referenced environmental databases
Influencing public policies
Responding to the demands of public policy and environmental managers on the status of biodiversity
Long-term datas answer four fundamental questions:
The origin and assessment of natural and anthropogenic disturbances
The consequences of recent and current environmental changes and their links with human activities, in particular changes in the use of the environment
The response of populations and ecosystems and the mechanisms of interactions at play between individuals, populations and their environment
Possible scenarios on the future evolution of biodiversity
By relying on these observatories and on the constant support of public and private donors, the CEBC is an important player in observational ecology in France and abroad. This implies an ability to mobilize heavy and long-lasting observation resources and recognized scientific and technical skills, particularly in the fields of demography, bio-logging, biological analysis (hormones, metabolites, telomeres, etc.) and the study of diets, in order to study :
Demography and spatio-temporal dynamics of the populations studied
Dynamics of animal communities
Phenology of terrestrial and marine animal communities
Monitoring Contaminants in Terrestrial and Marine Animal Communities
Data
The data collected are of several types (abundance, behaviour, spatial distribution, reproductive performance, etc.) and range from individual and population scales to communities. The CEBC is strongly involved in nationally and internationally labelled systems (Zone Atelier Antarctique, Zone Atelier Plaine et Val de Sèvre, Mammifères Echantillonneurs du Milieu Océanique, Observatoire PELAGIS: observation systems for the conservation of marine mammals and birds).
The observation sites are located in a wide variety of localities (French Southern and Antarctic Lands – TAAF, Spitzberg, Cereal Plain of the Deux-Sèvres, Argenson Sylve Integral Biological Reserve, Exclusive Marine Economic Zones of the French Overseas Departments and Territories).
Location of the different observatories of the CEBC; green = reptiles, red = birds; blue = mammals.
Currently the CEBC’s observatories include the monitoring of about 50 animal populations, some of which have been monitored for more than 65 years. The collection of information in the field involves all CEBC staff (researchers, engineers and technicians, students) as well as Civic Service Volunteers recruited by the French Polar Institute Paul Emile Victor and carrying out one-year missions in the French Southern and Antarctic Lands.
