IMBE – Institut Méditerranéen de Biodiversité et d'Ecologie marine et continentale

Une floraison exceptionnelle à ne pas manquer au jardin botanique de Saint-Jérôme !

Borchiellini Carole — Thu, 28 May 2026 14:18:22 +0000

One of the largest inflorescences in the Mediterranean basin is currently in flower in the Saint-Jérôme botanical garden (near the gate on the Ponte and Rouard amphitheatre side - follow the arrow).

This is the Arum dragon (Dracunculus vulgaris), a plant that is as fascinating as it is astonishing.

Its spectacular inflorescence, up to 30-60 cm long, lasts just a few days. Behind its impressive colour lies a very specific strategy: the flower gives off the smell of decomposing meat to attract necrophagous insects, which are essential for pollination.

Even more surprising, this plant is one of the rare species capable of producing heat: its inflorescence can reach up to 4°C above the ambient temperature, reinforcing its power of attraction.

👃 A unique sensory experience to see... and smell!

To enable as many people as possible to observe (and sniff!) this remarkable specimen, the east gate of the garden (on the Ponte and Rouard amphitheatre side) will be exceptionally open on 28 and 29 May.

Make the most of it, nature can't wait!

Le radeau des glaces : l’expertise de l’IMBE mise en lumière

Borchiellini Carole — Fri, 22 May 2026 07:14:51 +0000

The documentary “The ice raft“recently broadcast on Arte, takes viewers on a scientific expedition to the Southern Ocean, organised by director Jérôme Bouvier, to find a giant iceberg adrift.

In this context, Yvan Perez (IMBE) acted as scientific advisor to the documentary on questions relating to the biology of zooplankton, and took part in the Endoume Marine Station to produce macro-videographs of living zooplankton organisms, images that reveal the discreet richness of these ecosystems up close. Research focus: the role of icebergs in ocean biogeochemical cycles. As they melt, they release nutrients that can boost biological productivity, while also altering the ecological balance of sub-Antarctic zones.

This documentary sheds light on as yet little-known processes at the crossroads of oceanography and ecology, in particularly sensitive environments and reminds us of the need to protect the marine environment. the role of fieldwork and scientific images in communicating these issues to the general public.

La mixité forestière : un levier face aux contraintes des milieux méditerranéens arides

Borchiellini Carole — Thu, 21 May 2026 16:52:06 +0000

Mediterranean forests are subject to increasing anthropogenic and climatic pressures, which are particularly marked in the most challenging areas of the Mediterranean basin, characterised by semi-arid to arid climates. In this context, gaining a better understanding of the mechanisms that promote the resilience of forest ecosystems is a major challenge.

A recent study published in Forest Ecology and Management by Catherine Rébufa and its employees, conducted in these environments explored the effects of mixed forestry on ecosystem functioning, by comparing mixed stands (composed of around 60 % of Aleppo pine and 40 % of Berber cedar) with pure stands. Using an integrated approach to the soil-plant continuum, the results highlight several significant benefits associated with mixed planting.

In terms of soils, mixed stands have better porosity and permeability, as well as organic matter that is more easily decomposed. This dynamic is confirmed by increased microbial activity, reflecting more active biological functioning than in monospecific stands.

In terms of plants, Aleppo pine has longer needles when grown in mixed stands with Berberian cedar. Berberia cedar, for its part, has a higher concentration of flavonoids, compounds involved in stress tolerance, particularly in the face of drought and UV radiation.

These results underline the value of mixed forestry as a means of adapting to climate change, particularly in the Mediterranean regions most vulnerable to desertification.

Dépolluer des sols contaminés au chlordécone : un défi scientifique majeur !

Borchiellini Carole — Tue, 12 May 2026 09:44:48 +0000

Take a closer look at the DéMETer project, funded by the Agence Nationale de la Recherche (French National Research Agency) and in which IMBE is participating, which aims to develop and evaluate innovative solutions for soil decontamination.

You will discover different complementary approaches studied :

La in situ chemical reduction (ISCR), which transforms pollutants to reduce their toxicity; ;
Phytoremediation, based on the action of plants to capture or immobilise contaminants; ;
Biodegradation, mobilising micro-organisms capable of degrading pollutants.

These methods are currently being tested in laboratories and greenhouses before being rolled out on a larger scale. Initial results show concentration reductions of up to 70 % under certain experimental conditions.

👉 Dive into the heart of this project and discover how research is taking concrete action to restore soil.

Les bousiers, témoins des interactions entre élevage et réintroduction des grands herbivores

Borchiellini Carole — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 13:15:11 +0000

In Europe, where livestock farming has largely replaced wild ungulates over the centuries, dung beetle communities have become highly dependent on domestic herbivore farming practices. They could therefore constitute good indicators of the impact of reintroducing large herbivores into ecosystems.

In a study carried out on three dry grasslands in the Causse Méjean (southern France), researchers compared dung beetle communities and the rate at which dung disappeared in systems grazed by three types of herbivore: a population of Przewalski's horses managed by natural selection, a herd of sheep and a herd of endurance horses.

The results show significant differences in dung composition between herbivores, but an overall similar dung beetle community between sites. However, the structure of this community varies: burrowing dung beetles dominate everywhere, while rolling dung beetles are more abundant in domestic livestock systems, and sedentary dung beetles become more represented in Przewalski horse pastures.

These differences could explain why sheep droppings decompose more quickly than horse droppings. They also highlight the close link between the history of sheep pastoralism and the dynamics of dung beetle communities in European semi-natural grasslands.

This study, published in Journal of Environmental Management by Clémentine Mutillod, William Perrin, Élise Buisson, Laurent Tatin, François Mesléard, Pierre Jay-Robert et Thierry Dutoit, highlights the importance of dung beetles as ecological indicators of grazing systems.

La fièvre jaune perturbe les déplacements d’un primate en danger

Borchiellini Carole — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 12:57:48 +0000

Infectious diseases are emerging more frequently these days, in connection with the loss of biodiversity and climate change. They represent a major threat to both wildlife and human populations, but their effects are often difficult to anticipate.

In social species such as primates, interactions between individuals can influence disease dynamics. However, for vector-borne diseases such as yellow fever, transmission relies primarily on the activity of mosquitoes. In primates, group size and movement influence exposure to vectors and, consequently, the risk of infection.

In this article, published in Journal of Animal Ecology, Aurore Ponchon, Rémi Choquet, Andreia F. Martins, Carlos Ruiz-Miranda, Cécile H. Albert and Valeria Romano, The authors explore these dynamics through the case of yellow fever in primates in Brazil, and in particular the golden lion tamarin (Leontopithecus rosalia), an emblematic and threatened species.

The results show that’an epidemic episode can not only affect the survival of individuals, but also modify their dispersal behaviour and movements in a highly fragmented forest landscape. These changes have major consequences for population dynamics and underline the importance of better understanding the links between diseases, behaviour and species conservation.

Les grottes sous-marines du Cap-Vert révèlent une diversité cachée d’éponges

Borchiellini Carole — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 12:35:29 +0000

The island nature and volcanic origin of the Cape Verde archipelago favour the formation of underwater caves, the preferred habitats of sponges of the Homoscleromorpha class. Until recently, very little was known about the biodiversity of these organisms in the tropical eastern Atlantic.

The oceanographic campaign DISCOVER (coord. C. Fauvelot, T. Pérez, L. Bramanti) was to fill these gaps. Targeted exploration of the underwater caves revealed a particularly rich fauna, including many species new to science.

In an article published in the Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, an international team (Clément Cabioch, César Ruiz, Marie Grenier, Alexander Ereskovsky, Fernando Moraes, Cécile Fauvelot and Thierry Pérez) uses an integrative taxonomic approach (morphology, histology/cytology and genetics) to highlight an unsuspected diversity of Homoscleromorpha in Cape Verde.

The authors describe a new genus and five new species, all of which are typical of dark caves, and sometimes associated with very specific facies:

Oscarella antea sp. nov.
Aspiculina malanoba gen. nov. sp. nov.
Plakinastrella fauvelotae sp. nov.
Plakinastrella freitasi sp. nov.
Plakinastrella cachupa sp. nov.

The last species was identified from historical specimens kept at the Naturalis Museum (Leiden), initially mistakenly attributed to P. simplex and P. monolopha. These results call into question the presence of these species in Cape Verde.

Beyond these discoveries, this study highlights the importance of integrative taxonomy in revealing the true diversity of sponges and better understanding their evolutionary history.

Isolée mais pas seule : une plante rare attire une plus grande diversité de visiteurs floraux qu’une plante commune chez Teucrium (Lamiaceae)

Borchiellini Carole — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 09:52:08 +0000

In the south of France, in the Parc national des Calanques, Teucrium polium subsp. purpurascens (Lamiaceae) is a rare and threatened plant, confined mainly to the Frioul archipelago, an insular coastal habitat close to the mainland. To better understand its ecological interactions, this study compared its floral visitors to those of a more common plant in the same genus, Teucrium flavum.

Posted in Plant Ecology, This work of Claire Bouchot, Laurence Affre , Clément Beaumont , Gabriel Nève and Benoît Geslin, highlights a strong differentiation of pollinator communities between the two plants:

T. p. purpurascens is visited by a high diversity of pollinating insects (Hymenoptera, Diptera, Lepidotera and Coleoptera).
T. flavum is mainly foraged by bees, a more specialised community.

Both plants also have distinct floral appeal strategies :

T. p. purpurascens produces many small flowers rich in highly concentrated nectar, attracting a guild of small, short-tongued bees.
T. flavum on the other hand, offers fewer, larger flowers with more abundant and less concentrated nectar, attracting large, long-tongued bees.

So, despite their phylogenetic proximity, these two species illustrate contrasting ecological strategies, shaping distinct pollination networks in the same environment.

PeachPalm4LIFE : science, savoirs et territoires autour de la chonta amazonienne

Borchiellini Carole — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 13:54:04 +0000

Did you know that the chonta is the only domesticated palm tree in Amazonia?
An emblematic species of Amazonian biodiversity, it plays a central role in the food, cultural and economic systems of the peoples of the Upper Amazon.

It is around this key resource that the research project PeachPalm4LIFE (ANR, 2026-2030) which aims to enhance the value and sustainable management of chonta (also known as chunda or uwí), by promoting dialogue between science, local knowledge and local stakeholders.

At the first launch workshop, organised with the support of the IRD, Ikiam University and the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, researchers, academics, representatives of the Kichwa, Sapara, Quijo and Shuar peoples and various international partners came together to build a common vision.

L'IMBE (Mediterranean Institute of Biodiversity and Ecology) is proud to co-sponsor this transdisciplinary project with DIADE (Diversity, Adaptation and Development of Plants), contributing its expertise in ethnoecology, ecology and biodiversity, and participating in the co-construction of knowledge around the socio-ecological dynamics of the chonta

The project has a number of major focuses:
🌱 studying the genetic, ecological and cultural diversity of chonta
🌾 strengthening traditional agro-ecological systems (chagras and ajás)
💡 the co-construction of innovative solutions for its conservation and sustainable use

Beyond research, PeachPalm4LIFE promotes training, knowledge sharing and dialogue between science and traditional knowledge.

It's an approach that reminds us of the obvious: biodiversity needs to be understood and preserved together, with the regions and the people who live there.

Composition organique des formulations de chlordécone aux Antilles : implications pour la dégradation et les risques sanitaires

Borchiellini Carole — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 13:24:41 +0000

Chlordecone (CLD) is an organochlorine insecticide used in the French West Indies from 1972 to 1993 to control banana weevils. Three decades after its use ceased, it persists in soils and has contaminated all environmental compartments as well as food resources, right up to human beings. Its impact on health is now proven, although it is probably still underestimated.

CLD was applied in the form of 2 commercial formulations: Kepone (1972-1978) and Curlone (1982-1993), in which it was diluted to 5% by mass in a mineral matrix. Until now, very little information was available on the organic chemical composition of these formulations.

In this article published in Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances, Hervé Macarie and co-authors analysed samples of Curlone from 6 bags and a sample of the technical grade Kepone used to manufacture 5% Kepone using gas and liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry.

The results show that no less than 68 organic compounds accompanied the CLD. Although present in trace amounts, these compounds should be taken into account in epidemiological studies, particularly those concerning the cohort of banana workers exposed during spraying.

Among the molecules found, some, which are more soluble or volatile than CLD, may have disappeared from the soil a long time ago and consequently are not currently contaminating the food of the West Indian population. However, their possible detection in the environment will have to be interpreted in the light of their initial presence in the formulations, before concluding that they are CLD degradation products.