Original articleIles Eparses (SW Indian Ocean) as reference ecosystems for environmental research
Section snippets
Iles Eparses overview
The Iles Eparses are a collection of French overseas island territories in the Western Indian Ocean managed by the French Southern and Antarctic Lands (French: Terres Australes et Antarctiques Françaises, TAAF, Box. 1) since February 2007 (fifth district of TAAF along with Kerguelen, Crozet, Saint Paul and Amsterdam, and the Terre Adélie). They are composed of the following islands: Europa, Juan de Nova and Glorieuses archipelago (Grande Glorieuse, Roches Vertes and Ile du Lys) in the
Biodiversity sanctuaries
The Iles Eparses are among the last sanctuaries of marine and terrestrial tropical biodiversity in the South Western Indian Ocean. Geographic isolation and historically very limited human occupation have largely preserved these territories. Despite the introduction of some exotic species they are home to a remarkable native flora and fauna (including many endemic species) and well-preserved complex ecosystems such as mangroves and coral reefs. Each island supports high levels of species
Anthropogenic pressures and threats
Although Iles Eparses natural ecosystems have been little altered over the past centuries, they are now facing numerous threats. These threats, resulting from climatic phenomena or from past and present human activities, are commonly encountered with varying intensities in tropical islands. In the Iles Eparses, the level of pressure exerted on the ecosystems highly varies from an island to another depending on the history (past human occupation), geographical location and accessibility as well
Conciliating biodiversity conservation and sustainable development
With an exceptional biodiversity and a preserved environment, the Iles Eparses represent a unique opportunity for the French government to fulfill its national and international commitments in terms of sustainable development and biodiversity conservation. TAAF also play a key role in the national strategy aiming at the constitution of a regional network of protected areas. Relying on their experience in the Iles Australes (since 1955), TAAF are currently elaborating a sustainable management
Reference ecosystems for global research
The international scientific community considers the geographical location and the conservation status of the Iles Eparses provide a unique support for the development of cross-disciplinary research (Obura et al., 2012). Beyond the development of research in the tropics, the addition of the Iles Eparses as research sites promotes, within a single French public authority (TAAF), the setting up of large scale studies along a latitudinal gradient that extends from 11°S (Glorieuses) to 66°S (Terre
What future for the Iles Eparses?
TAAF strategy for sustainable development of the Iles Eparses, which is still being built, must integrate all stakes at play: a complex regional context, an increasing pressure on the resources and the ambitions of the French government for these islands. The future of the Iles Eparses is thus following a clear pathway whose main objective is to prevent biodiversity erosion with the development of conservation tools adapted to the specific context of each island and the development of
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Cited by (16)
Do microbial planktonic communities reflect the ecological changes of Glorieuses coral reefs (Iles Eparses, Western Indian Ocean)?
2022, Marine Pollution BulletinCitation Excerpt :Glorieuses islands (Grande Glorieuse, Île du Lys), belonging to the Iles Eparses and part of the TAAF (Terres Australes et Antartiques Françaises), located in the Western Indian Ocean (WIO), display an extraordinary and rich biodiversity in terms of marine species (Durville et al., 2003; Poupin et al., 2014; Conand et al., 2014; Chabanet et al., 2015; Bouvy et al., 2016; Dupuy et al., 2016; Quetel et al., 2016). These islands are associated with a tropical wet climate (Quod et al., 2007; Quetel et al., 2016) and are recognized as being uninhabited (other than a limited military presence) as well as geographically isolated (located 222 km north of Madagascar and 253 km north of Mayotte). As a result, Glorieuses islands can be considered as equivalent tropical pristine ecosystems, only being touched by natural disturbances such as climatic actions.
Rat eradication restores nutrient subsidies from seabirds across terrestrial and marine ecosystems
2021, Current BiologyCitation Excerpt :We surveyed all five of the Scattered Islands (Les Îles Éparses), which are located in the western Indian Ocean and are managed by the French Southern and Antarctic Lands (Terres Australes et Antarctiques Françaises, TAAF).59 The islands have no permanent human populations, although four of the islands are occupied by small numbers of military/TAAF personnel on a rotating basis.59 Black rats (R. rattus) were introduced to Europa and Île du Lys in the 1800s and to Juan de Nova in the 1900s, while brown/Norway rats (R. norvegicus) were introduced to Grande Glorieuse in the 1800s and Tromelin between the mid-1800s and mid-1900s.61
Critical gaps in the protection of the second largest exclusive economic zone in the world
2021, Marine PolicyCitation Excerpt :It should be noted that the strongest levels of protection occur in those territories that are both the most remote from urban centers and where France sovereignty is disputed with other countries, such as Clipperton with Mexico and some islands of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands with Madagascar. While these areas host remarkable ecosystems that clearly deserve full and high protection [37,38], the overrepresentation of the strongest levels of protection in those areas might reflect geopolitics [39] and ease of establishment [40]. The CBD Aichi target 11 stipulates that protected areas have to be “ecologically representative” [10].
Dealing with the effects of ocean acidification on coral reefs in the Indian Ocean and Asia
2019, Regional Studies in Marine ScienceCitation Excerpt :Annually, around 36.5 million visitors pay to enjoy the beauty of the region’s coral reefs. However, all coral reefs are impacted by these various activities including fishing in particular, although some are much less affected due to geographical isolation and low human populations, such as those coral reefs that occur around Iles Eparses in the Western Indian Ocean (Quétel et al., 2016). Healthy coral reefs not only provide food, jobs and income for coastal communities, they are also important for providing protection from storms and coastal erosion.