CNRS opens an international laboratory in Japan dedicated to the biodiversity of coral reefs

The CNRS and theOkinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) are taking a new step in their collaboration by signing, on Monday October 7, 2024 in Kyoto, the creation of the international research laboratory (IRL) EARLY (An Eco-Evo-Devo perspective on corAl Reef fishes Life cycle). This laboratory will be directed and coordinated by Vincent Laudet and will focus in particular on the study of the life cycle of coral fish, with particular attention paid to the anthropogenic pressures which affect these fragile ecosystems.

This IRL aims to explore the complex interactions between developmental biology, evolutionary biology and the ecology of coral fish, using the clownfish as a model. Focusing on key stages of the life cycle, from the pelagic larval phase to the transition to juvenile and adult life on reefs, this multidisciplinary project will provide new insights into fundamental biological processes influenced by hormonal and environmental factors.

This initiative is part of a context of preserving biodiversity in the face of the growing impacts of human activities. IRL EARLY, hosted within the OIST, will contribute to better understanding the dynamics of coral reefs, essential to the balance of marine ecosystems. The research carried out will promote innovative experimental approaches, in collaboration with teams from the Oceanological Observatory of Banyuls-sur-Mer (OOB, CNRS/Sorbonne University) and the Center for Island Research and Environmental Observatory (Criobe, CNRS/ EPHE/University of Perpignan – Via Domitia).

The laboratory will also encourage scientific exchanges between Japan and France, by organizing annual workshops and mobility programs for students and interested researchers. . This international laboratory is thus positioned as a key player in research on the preservation of coral reefs and will open new perspectives for applications in aquaculture and management of marine environments.

This signing marks a turning point in Franco-Japanese cooperation for the preservation of marine ecosystems, with promising benefits for science and the sustainable management of biodiversity.