REEFLUX builds upon recent and independent research by the team members on the evolution of coral reef structure and functioning. Despite using different approaches, our research consistently suggests a potentially key role of crypto-benthic fish assemblages in supporting the productivity of coral reef ecosystem. Specifically, we posit that the ability of crypto-benthic fishes to efficiently utilize microscopic resources, along with their life-history characteristics, make these taxa a true catalyzer of the trophic dynamics on coral reefs. This would help explaining the high productivity of coral reef system despite their oligotrophic environment. However, crypto-benthic fish fauna strongly depends on the structural complexity of the coral habitat and this structural complexity is presently at risk. Climate-induced coral bleaching produced in 2016 the most distructive global event on record, and for the first time such event is repeating itself for the second year in a row (2017). Future coral reefs will likely be subjected to annual die-off of corals while the ecological consequences of this phenomenon are still largely unknown. If our hypothesis is correct, one of the main source of coral reef food-webs is severely at risk. This would imply that the energy flow reaching large commercial fish species that sustain coastal human population may be severely impacted. REEFLUX aims at building the most detailed food-web for a marine ecosystem using next-generation techniques (i.e. metabarcoding, stable isotopes and compound-specific stable isotopes). Then, we will collect ecological information on the metabolic needs of species and quantify how these needs relate to their food intake. Using field experiments and mesocosms we will study the relationship between crypto-benthic assemblages and climate-induced habitat destruction. Using modeling and simulations informed by field data and experiments we will then test and quantify changes in energy fluxes and productivity of coral reef system according to climate-induced habitat loss.

The main objective of the MELODIA project is to systematically study the algebraic structure of isogeny graphs of abelian varieties. Our investigations will be focused on low-dimensional abelian varieties defined over finite fields and directed towards attacking important open problems in number theory and cryptography.

In 30 years, pearl culture has become one of the most important industries in French Polynesia. However, this industry, which is based on the exploitation of a single cultivated species, the pearl oyster Pinctada margaritifera, is currently undergoing an unprecedented crisis. POLYPERL project will develop an integrated and participative action research of the pearl oyster culture system, focusing on the environmental, technological, economical and societal dimensions impacting the industry and going beyond of the solely private profitability of farms. For that purpose, POLYPERL is a project taking into account a set of research topics applied to pearl culture, from the understanding of biological processes to socio-economic drivers relating to pearl farming and integrating risk management (anthropic, sanitary and climatic risks). To broaden the range of technological, economic and social solutions that can guarantee viable pearl culture on the long term, the goal of POLYPERL is to improve our knowledge of the pearl oyster and of pearl aquaculture, at the scale of French Polynesia, though an interdisciplinary and multi-stakeholders approach favouring the development of new knowledge on ecology, physiology, animal husbandry, genetics, physics, modelling, economics, social sciences, epidemiology, etc. The project offers the dual interests of scientific advancement and applied innovations: on one hand it will enable knowledge of the species and its culture to be broadened; on the other it will provide innovations and decision-making tools in view of sustainable and integrated management of pearl culture in French Polynesia. The project, whose objective is to enlarge the range of technological, economic and social solutions in order to guarantee viable pearl culture, is organised in four parts: (1) Characterization of the resource, the pearl oyster P. margaritifera, its genetic diversity, functionning and structure, so as to ensure the viability of its production; (2) Development of tools and methods to improve the eco-efficiency of the pearl farming industry; (3) Sustainability and governance; and (4) dissemination, transfer and promotion of the knowledge. This project, bringing together 10 partners (institutional, industrial and non gouvernemental organization) partners, is scheduled to run for a period of 3 years.

GreenCosmIn aims to form a tight multisectoral and interdisciplinary network for the implementation of green approaches for natural resources exploration and exploitation, towards the production of cosmetics. Extraction, advanced phytochemical analysis and dereplication, in vitro screening, and biotechnological production technologies will be applied in the development of natural cosmetic ingredients and their incorporation into final products. GreenCosmIn will use the prior knowledge of the consortium in biodiversity exploitation and green chemistry extraction with innovative extraction media in lab and pilot scale, for the discovery of extracts and compounds with bioactivity related to skin cosmetic properties (antioxidant, anti-hyperpigmentation, anti-ageing, anti-inflammatory, emollient, antimicrobial, prebiotic), and safety to humans and the environment. Biotechnology approaches and microorganism assisted methodologies will be applied to produce active compounds both in lab and large scale. Active ingredients will be incorporated into final products with preformulation studies and LCA/consumer satisfaction analyses will be performed. A balanced consortium of six Academic partners in the field of natural products chemistry, biodiversity, biotechnology, cosmetology, and biology, will efficiently interact with five Non-Academic partners in the field of metabolomics, biotechnology, cosmetics, and natural ingredients development. Among them, three Associated partners from biodiversity hot spots, ensure the collaboration towards innovative results, and secondments of researchers meaningful for their career and skill development, and the foundation of strong collaborations to be retained after completion of the project. Finally, GreenCosmIn will provide training and transfer of knowledge to developing countries of the consortium, such as Mongolia, Tunisia, French Polynesia, and vice versa as well.