BioDivMeX

BioDivMeX: BioDiversity of the Mediterranean eXperiment
(2015-2020)

– BioDivMeX website: http://biodivmex.imbe.fr

The BioDivMeX program, one of the axes of MISTRALS meta-project, aimed at a better understanding of research conducted on the Mediterranean Biodiversity, to bring communities of researchers working together in the marine and terrestrial fields in ecology and social sciences and to create a trans-network collaboration on the two major BioDivMeX’s themes which are:

– Theme #1: The biodiversity of poorly known environments and heavily constrained by abiotic and biotic interactions,
– Theme #2: Biodiversity in the historically evolved socio-ecological systems (SES) and the current anthropized landscapes.

– Goal:

BioDivMeX (BioDiversity of the Mediterranean eXperiment) aims to identify and monitor the specific biodiversity of the Mediterranean region, its vulnerability to climatic and anthropogenic pressures that have multiple and often negative impacts on specific habitats of the Mediterranean and finally the diversity of animals, plants and microbial biosystems. The Mediterranean region (sensus lato) is one of the 34 biodiversity hotspots identified worldwide, based on its diversity of plant and animal species, and the presence of a large number of inland and marine endemic species. Favorable biophysical and climatic conditions have encouraged human settlement in the Mediterranean coastal areas, and we see these days a large increase in population pressure and land use, as well as pressure-induced climate change. Biodiversity is not only threatened, but also declines at an alarming rate. In addition to human impacts such as habitat degradation and fragmentation, global warming is a recent and serious threat to the persistence of biodiversity.

Since the end of 2015, three research axes have been defined:
The three BioDivMeX main areas of research are:

1. . Insularities: fragmentation and connectivity in the Mediterranean region, a social and biological perspective [INSULARITIES],
2. . Ecosystems, vulnerability, socio-ecological resilience, values, ecosystem services and conservation [ECOSYSTEMS],
3. . Bio and Agro-diversity of Past and Present Mediterranean Landscapes [PAST & PRESENT LANDSCAPES].

I am a member and coordinator of the Insularities working group (WG2) and therefore part of the BioDivMeX steering committee.

– The WG2 Insularities is an international research group whose theme is:: « Insularities : fragmentation and connectivity in the Mediterranean region, a social and biological perspective ».

It is coordinated equally by:
– Vincent Battesti, anthropologist of the UMR Eco-anthropology at the Musée de l’Homme in Paris,
– Christophe Lejeusne, marine biologist of the UMR Adaptation and Diversity in the Marine Environment at the Roscoff Biological Station,
– Franck Richard, mycologist from the Biotic Interactions team of the CEFE, Montpellier, France.

– Meetings/workshops:

• BioDivMeX Prospective Workshop/ Atelier de prospective BioDivMeX
• Insularity Workshop WG2 in Kerkennah Islands (Tunisia)
• Insularity Workshop WG2 in Cyprus