Biodiversity of marine pelagic ecosystems from the Indian Ocean
Informations
- Funding country
France- Acronym
- BIOMEX
- URL
- -
- Start date
- 5/1/2007
- End date
- 4/30/2010
- Budget
- -
Fundings
| Name | Role | Start | End | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indian Ocean Islands Biodiversity [Biodiversité des îles de l'océan Indien] | Grant | - | - | - |
Organisations
Abstract
Biomex aims to study pelagic marine biodiversity in the western Indian Ocean, using a wide range of data sources, having as objective to characterize this biodiversity and assure its consistency. The project will attempt to establish an inventory of pelagic biodiversity based on various sampling elements, which for the first time ever will be united and used for this purpose: (i) the fishing boats used to catch big pelagic fish (observers onboard), (ii) the big predators that sample the intermediary tropic levels through their alimentary behaviour, (iii) the fish concentration devices (FCD) that have the natural capacity to incorporate various pelagic species. Analyses will aim (i) to determine the most relevant indications in order to characterize the pelagic biodiversity, based on the diverse collection of data, (ii) to analyze the temporal and spatial evolution, namely between large contrasted production zones (the big gyre, a strong dynamic swirling zone, subject to the seasonal alternation of monsoons), and between the deep-sea and costal zones (managed by the countries within the zone). A part from an inventory of pelagic marine biodiversity in the western Indian Ocean, including retrospective analyses and new data obtained during the project, Biomex will also eventually offer follow-up mechanisms (monitoring) of this biodiversity including regular and original assessment systems from northern and southern countries, and fast robust analysis tools in order to detect changes in this biodiversity and the causes of these evolutions (climatic or anthropogenic changes).