Spatial analysis and modelling for the bioregionalisation of pelagic habitats (MSFD) in the Western Mediterranean
My postdoctoral research is part of the INDIBIO project (INDIcators and BIOregionalization: methodological developments to support the MSFD for pelagic habitats), which aims to develop innovative tools to assess and monitor changes in planktonic communities in marine ecosystems.
More specifically, my work focuses on identifying and characterizing pelagic bioregions in the Mediterranean based on environmental data and observations of planktonic communities. Unlike previous regionalization studies, which were generally limited to the surface and static, this study will incorporate vertical gradients of the water column (0–200 m) as well as the spatio-temporal variability of these bioregions at both annual and seasonal scales. This will make it possible to distinguish stable areas from transition zones and highly variable zones.
This biogeographical study, both integrative and dynamic, will improve our understanding of the ecological functioning of Mediterranean planktonic ecosystems. It will also represent an operational tool to support the management of pelagic habitats, particularly by optimizing monitoring strategies to be representative of water masses and habitats.
