After Guadeloupe in 2012 and Guyana in 2014, now it’s the turn of the marine life of Martinique to be inventoried by the National Museum of Natural History (MNHN). Indeed, a large-scale expedition is underway, led by the malacologist (specialist in mollusks) and naturalist explorer Philippe Bouchet, head of the expedition for the MNHN. This project, called Madibenthos, is part of the knowledge acquisition program about the marine environment Acquimart, led by the marine protected areas agency, the environment, planning and housing directorate, the water office, the sea directorate, and the territorial community of Martinique. ‘ Inventorying biodiversity was an idea that became outdated ‘, states Philippe Bouchet. But ‘ in the eighties, the perspective changed. We realized that 80% of the species still needed to be inventoried on land and, thanks to the collapse in DNA analysis costs, everything became possible. The golden age of exploration is now! ».
An expedition led by the National Museum of Natural History…Encompassed in one of the main marine regions, the Antillean arc concentrates exceptional marine biodiversity. However, only the most emblematic species are well known (fish, marine reptiles, corals). With the Madibenthos expedition, thousands of different species will thus be cataloged to create the most complete inventory possible: algae, sponges, mollusks, crustaceans, echinoderms, and ascidians in particular.
Researchers, students, top-level amateurs, and technicians (logisticians, administrative staff, boat pilots,…) from 13 different nationalities make up the bulk of the participants in this extraordinary expedition (one-third in the field and two-thirds in the laboratory). Every morning, boats leave the naval base to take the scientists to the sites where they will collect their various samples between 0 and 40 meters deep. Upon the boats’ return, these samples are analyzed, sorted, and mostly photographed (colors are an essential aid for species identification). However, the real data exploitation will begin after the expedition to provide policymakers with the necessary elements for managing the marine environment and to raise public awareness of the beauty and richness of the marine natural heritage. The collected data will be stored in national and international biodiversity databases, as well as at the Martinique observatory of biodiversity.
…in 2 phasesAll types of habitats will be sampled (mangroves, estuaries, soft bottoms, seagrass beds, algae, coral communities, underwater caves…), on both the Caribbean and Atlantic coasts. The first part of the expedition will explore until September 21 the Caribbean coast, and the second will inventory the Atlantic coast from September 25 to October 11, 2016. The Caribbean coast is known for its rich coral communities but devoid of reef constructions, except in its southern part. Pounded by swells, the Atlantic coast, or ‘windward’ coast, shelters barrier or fringing reefs, very little known due to their more difficult access.Not to be missed!Madibenthos also involves educational and communication activities during and after the expedition: an itinerant photo exhibition, the production of documentary films about the expedition, open days, and laboratory visits for classes, field training for teachers, and numerous interventions by researchers and facilitators in primary and secondary schools as well as at the university.Dates of the itinerant exhibition of the Madibenthos expeditionUntil September 17 at the Le Rond-Point shopping center, lighthouse road, 97200 Fort-de-France
From September 19 to October 1 at the La Galleria shopping center, Acajou, 97232 Le Lamentin
From October 3 to 15 at the Océanis shopping center, Quartier Gaschette, 97231 Le Robert
From October 17 to 29 at the La Batelière shopping center, 97233 Schoelcher
The debriefing conference on the overview and impacts of the great expedition for Martinique will take place on October 10, as part of the science festival, at 6 PM at the Charles Julius amphitheater of the University of the Antilles, 97233 Schoelcher.
You can follow the expedition on the blog, as well as on the Facebook and Twitter accounts of the Museum.
Morgane CONSTANTIN