New project
A New IAEA Regional Program on fruit flies
A regional program (TCProject RAF 5062) of four years duration, financed by IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency), and dealing with fruit flies started at the beginning of 2012. A first workshop bringing together the national coordinators of the program was organized in Mauritius from February 13rd to 15th 2012. The local organizer was the Entomology Division of the Ministry of Agro-Industry and Food Security of Mauritius.
Interview of scientist
Interview with Claudine Ah-Peng : "Bryophytes : the foundation of the tree of life"
17/04/2013
MoreClaudine Ah-Peng is a researcher at the UMR PVBMT (Plant Communities and Biological Invaders in Tropical Environments) and is a specialist on bryophytes. She coordinates the Moveclim Project (Mountain vegetation as listening posts for climate change, using mosses and ferns as bioindicators of climate change).
Ben Warren: "The Mascarene Islands, an ideal place to study evolution of species"
27/10/2011
MoreBen Warren is a post-doctorate evolutionary biologist in the Tropical Plants Joint Research Unit (University of Reunion / Cirad). He explains how species evolve in areas like the Mascarene Islands.
Lab news
Genetics and distribution of varroa in Madagascar
MoreSince it first appeared in 2010, varroa has become a major problem for beekeepers in Madagascar.
Understanding the symbiosis between fungi and orchids
MoreA Franco-German team of researchers from the CNRS and the University of Réunion have studied the interaction between orchids and fungi in Réunion. 73 of the 130 orchid species identified on the island were analyzed. They live in symbiosis with certain species of fungi which colonize their roots, helping them to absorb nutrients.
Red locusts reveal their colour code
MoreFrom now on, it will be possible to warn of the danger of upcoming locust swarms, basedon the colour of the insects, thanks to a recent CIRAD study of red locusts in Madagascar. The study team succeeded in quantifying the link between locust density and the colour of the different parts of the insects' bodies. These results mean that colour variations can now be used as an early indicator of gregarization.
Scientific meetings
International Orchid Conservation Congress 5
At St Denis de la Réunion from 2 to 6 December 2013.