Louanne Poumarat

My thesis is on sponges of the genus Oscarella observed in the Mediterranean along two complementary lines of inquiry. The first focuses on their ranges. Previous studies have often regarded them as endemic to this region. However, recent observations by recreational divers suggest the presence of at least two species in the Atlantic. The aim is therefore to sample the Mediterranean, the Atlantic coast and the Red Sea in order to assess the distribution of each species using an approach combining morphology and barcoding. The second line of research focuses on the resilience of Oscarella in the face of rapid temperature fluctuations caused by heatwaves or episodes of the mistral. Monitoring in situ using photogrammetry will provide a better understanding of the impact of these variations on their life cycle.