Claude Payri

• Research Director at Institute of Research for Development

The resilience of Moorea Island's coral reefs has been extensively discussed. In this debate, and despite their greater exposure to anthropogenic disturbances, shallow reef flats have often been overlooked compared to oceanic forereefs. This study assesses changes in the reef flat habitats over 67 years (1955–2022) in Tiahura in the northwest of Mo...

Crustose coralline algae (CCA) play a critical role in the ecology and resilience of coral reefs by contributing to reef carbonate production and facilitating coral recruitment. However, little is known about their rates of in situ growth and calcification, particularly at the species level. To investigate the spatial and seasonal dynamics of CCA g...

The ecological success of shallow water corals hinges on their association with photosynthetic Symbiodiniaceae algae. This is affected by environmental drivers among which sea temperature is pivotal. In 2016, a prolonged heat wave challenged New Caledonia reefs triggering a severe bleaching event. Here, we tracked 72 coral colonies comprising two s...

Caulerpa J.V. Lamouroux is a genus of green macroalgae belonging to the family Caulerpaceae in the order Bryopsidales. The genus comprises 104 currently accepted species, of which 51 have been recorded from Pacific Islands. Among these islands, French Polynesia is found in the middle of the South Pacific Ocean and includes five archipelagos (i.e.,...

Context The dynamic habitat use by dugongs (Dugong dugon) in small coral reef lagoon systems spatially limited by tides is not well understood and has hampered adaptive management. Aims We investigated how dugongs locally used a high conservation value coral-reef lagoon system during different seasons and tides to support local management. Method...

Widespread coral bleaching has generally been linked to high water temperatures at larger geographic scales. However, the bleaching response can be highly variable among individual of the same species, between different species, and across localities; what causes this variability remains unresolved. Here, we tracked bleached and non-bleached coloni...

Simple Summary The French Polynesian islands represent a unique insular system in the Pacific Ocean. Previous surveys of the marine flora of French Polynesia were mostly established on traditional morphology-based taxonomy. DNA barcoding allowed us to provide a major revision of French Polynesian marine flora, with an updated total of 702 species f...

The family Euphylliidae consists of reef-building zooxanthellate scleractinian corals distributed across the Indo-Pacific. Seven extant genera comprising a total of 22 valid species are currently recognised. Recent studies have re-organised the taxonomy of the family at the genus level based on molecular and morphological data, including a comprehe...

Avrainvillea is a green macroalgal genus of the family Dichotomosiphonaceae (order Bryopsidales). Many species have been morphologically described, but few studies have addressed the genetic diversity of this genus. Based on a rich collection of specimens from the tropical Western Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans, we aimed to (1) reassess Avrain...

The seaweed industry is booming, opening new opportunities for many countries outside traditional producers in Asia to participate in the global market. In the South Pacific, Australia is setting an example. Over the past four years, the country has developed significant expertise, raised substantial funds and launched a national alliance to stimul...

We re-evaluated the diversity of Lobophora using an integrative taxonomic approach based on a broad sampling across French Polynesian archipelagos. Our results show that French Polynesia supports at least 37 Lobophora species of which ~57% (21) are endemic. This level of endemicity is comparable to that presently known in the Caribbean and the west...

In February 2017, a 33-year-old patient with no previous medical history visited a clinic in Lifou Island, New Caledonia, for severe photophobia, bilateral eye burning sensation and visual blur that had begun to develop 3 h earlier. The clinical examination revealed conjunctival injections, but no foreign body was found. A fluorescein test showed b...

We investigated the globally distributed red algal genus Pterocladiella, comprising 24 described species, many of which are economically important sources of agar and agarose. We used DNA-based species delimitation approaches, phylogenetic, and historical biogeographical analyses to uncover cryptic diversity and infer the drivers of biogeographic p...

To assess the photophysiological capacity of the recently described Ulva batuffolosa to form blooms in coral reefs, we monitored its biomass and photophysiological capacity with pulse amplitude modulated (PAM) fluorometry over a year period on a coastal barrier reef in New Caledonia, along with temperature and light. Effective and maximum quantum e...

Ulva is a green macroalgal genus with rich species diversity and worldwide distribution. While current knowledge on Ulva diversity focuses on temperate regions, genetic and morphological data in tropical and subtropical areas are scarce and the species richness is not clearly defined. The genus is known for its bloom-forming ability that can induce...

There is a growing interest in elucidating the biogeographical processes underlying biodiversity patterns of seaweeds, with recent studies largely focusing on red and brown macroalgae. This study focuses on the siphonous green algal family Udoteaceae, which is diverse and globally distributed in tropical to warm-temperate seas, and includes species...

Introduction La dermatite toxique à algues est liée à l’exposition aux dermatotoxines d’une cyanobactérie marine la Lyngbya majuscula (LM). En 2017, une étude épidémiologique, clinique et environnementale a été menée en Nouvelle Calédonie lors d’une épidémie touchant des personnes fréquentant une même plage. Matériel et méthodes Un cas était défin...

The brown algal genus Lobophora (Dictyotales, Phaeophyceae) is an important ecological component of tropical marine systems. Although still scantily sampled, 35 species of Lobophora were discovered previously from the western Indian Ocean. This study updates previous diversity estimates by incorporating recent collections from Madagascar, Mozambiqu...

Despite their ecological role and multiple contributions to human societies, the distribution of Indo-Pacific seagrasses remains poorly known in many places. Herein, we outline a hierarchical spatially-explicit assessment framework to derive nation-wide synoptic knowledge of the distribution of seagrass species and communities. We applied the frame...

According to current experimental evidence, coral reefs could disappear within the century if CO2 emissions remain unabated. However, recent discoveries of diverse and high cover reefs that already live under extreme conditions suggest that some corals might thrive well under hot, high-pCO2, and deoxygenated seawater. Volcanic CO2 vents, semi-enclo...

The resilience of coral reefs is dependent on the ability of corals to settle after disturbances. While crustose coralline algae (CCA) are considered important substrates for coral settlement, it remains unclear whether coral larvae respond to CCA metabolites and microbial cues when selecting sites for attachment and metamorphosis. This study teste...

Seagrass beds are increasingly impacted by human activities in coastal areas, particularly in tropical regions. The objective of this research program was to study seagrass beds characteristics under various environmental conditions in the French Antilles (FA, Caribbean Sea). A total of 61 parameters, from plant physiology to seagrass ecosystem, we...

Seagrass ecosystems provide critical contributions (goods and perceived benefits or detriments) for the livelihoods and wellbeing of Pacific Islander peoples. Through in-depth examination of the contributions provided by seagrass ecosystems across the Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs), we find a greater quantity in the Near Oceania (...

Seagrass ecosystems exist throughout Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs). Despite this area covering nearly 8% of the global ocean, information on seagrass distribution, biogeography, and status remains largely absent from the scientific literature. We confirm 16 seagrass species occur across 17 of the 22 PICTs with the highest number...

Genera and species of the tribes Rhipileae and Rhipiliopsideae are abundant in most coral reef ecosystems worldwide. However, the group has been largely overlooked, and very little genetic data is available to accurately assess its diversity, phylogenetic relationships, and geographical distribution. Our study provided an in‐depth reassessment of t...

According to current experimental evidence, coral reefs could disappear within the century if CO2 emissions remain unabated. However, recent discoveries of diverse and high cover reefs that already thrive under extreme conditions seem to contradict these projections. Volcanic CO2 vents, semi-enclosed lagoons and mangrove estuaries are unique study...

Aim: Historical processes that shaped current diversity patterns of seaweeds remain poorly understood. Using Dictyotales, a globally distributed order of brown seaweeds as a model, we test if historical biogeographical and diversification patterns are comparable across clades. Dictyotales contain some 22 genera, three of which, Dictyota, Lobophora...

Despite the necessary trade-offs between spatial and temporal resolution, remote sensing is an effective approach to monitor macroalgae blooms, understand their origins and anticipate their developments. Monitoring of small tropical lagoons is challenging because they require high resolutions. Since 2017, the Sentinel-2 satellites has provided new...

Udoteaceae is a morphologically diverse family of the order Bryopsidales. Despite being very widespread geographically, this family is little known compared to the closely related Halimedaceae or Caulerpaceae. Using the most extensive Udoteaceae collection to date and a multilocus genetic dataset (tufA, rbcL and 18S rDNA), we reassessed the species...

Turbinaria J.V. Lamouroux is a genus of brown algae of the family Sargassaceae (Fucales, Phaeophyceae) found throughout the tropics, subtropics, and occasionally in temperate marine regions. There are currently 22 recognized species, although the taxonomy of Turbinaria is under current refinement with the advancement of genetic analysis techniques...

The coral reefs of French Polynesia (FP) have experienced repeated macroalgal blooms over the last decades. These events have prompted intense efforts in fundamental and applied research on macroalgae in this ecoregion, especially regarding species of the order Fucales (Turbinaria ornata and Sargassum pacificum). Recently, however, these proliferat...

Distributed in tropical and warm‐temperate waters worldwide, Lobophora species are found across the Greater Caribbean (i.e., Caribbean sensu stricto, Gulf of Mexico, Florida, the Bahamas, and Bermuda). We presently discuss the diversity, ecology, biogeography and evolution of the Greater Caribbean Lobophora species based on previous studies and an...

Macroalgae are critical components of coral reef ecosystems. Yet, they compete for space with corals, and in case of environmental disturbances, they are increasingly involved in phase-shifts from coral-dominated to macro-algae-dominated reefs. As regard to climate change, ocean acidification (OA) has been shown to be detrimental to corals and coul...

Tydemania Weber-van Bosse is a genus belonging to the family Udoteaceae (Bryopsidales, Chlorophyta) and currently thought to be monospecific throughout its distribution range in the Indo-Pacific. We tested the assumption that Tydemania is a single species using species delimitation methods, morphological observations and phylogenetic reconstruction...

Crustose coralline red algae (CCA) are important components of marine ecosystems thriving from tropical waters and up to the poles. They fulfill important ecological services including framework building and induction of larval settlement. Like other marine organisms, CCAs have not been spared by the increase in marine disease outbreaks. The white-...

Mayotte Island is located in Comoros archipelago and shelters multispecific meadow where nine seagrass species inhabit and which are frequented by their grazers the green turtle (Chelonia mydas) and more rarely by the dugong (Dugong dugon). With the increase of demography and coastal activities, the conservation of this threatened lagoon habitat an...

Article en page 8 de la newsletter. La mutualisation des actions nationales « herbiers » de l’Ifrecor et de la DCE a conduit au lancement d’une phase de recherche et développement afin de développer des protocoles et des indicateurs sur les herbiers répondant aux objectifs de ces deux programmes. C’est dans ce cadre que la thèse intitulée « Dévelo...

Article en page 24 de la newsletter. La mutualisation des actions de l'Ifrecor et de la DCE a conduit au lancement d’une phase de recherche et développement afin de développer des protocoles et des indicateurs « herbiers ». C’est dans ce cadre que la thèse intitulée « Développement d’outils méthodologiques pour le suivi et l’évaluation de l’état d...

Sampling in the framework of the research program called ‘La Planète Revisitée’ in Kavieng and Madang (Papua New Guinea) brought thus far unknown diversity of the brown algal genus Lobophora to the surface. DNA‐assisted alpha taxonomy allowed identifying the presence of 16 species Lobophora from these two localities, which only share four species i...

Among comparative metabolomic studies used in marine sciences, only few of them are dedicated to macroalgae despite their ecological importance in marine ecosystems. Therefore, experimental data are needed to assess the scopes and limitations of different metabolomic techniques applied to macroalgal models. Species of the genus Lobophora belong to...

The understanding of macroalgae functions and processes requires a good understanding of the spatial distribution of the functional diversity of macroalgae. In coral reef environments, this information remains fragmentary. Here, based on 314 species sorted according to a set of 10 functional traits, the functional niches of macroalgae at three remo...

Supplementary material - High metabolomic variation for seaweeds in response to environmental changes: a case study of the brown algae Lobophora in coral reefs

In the marine environment, macroalgae face changing environmental conditions and some species are known for their high capacity to adapt to the new factors of their ecological niche. Some macroalgal metabolites play diverse ecological functions and belong to the adaptive traits of such species. Because algal metabolites are involved in many process...

Dans le cadre de la programmation 2016-2020 du réseau « Récifs » de l'IFRECOR, plusieurs collectivités ont insisté sur l’importance de définir des protocoles de suivi opérationnels et standardisés ainsi que d’accompagner les gestionnaires sur la conduite à tenir en cas de blanchissement corallien. Ce besoin est renforcé au niveau international par...

Workshop Biodiversity in Oceania, Nouméa, NCL, 24-/06/2019 - 25/06/2019

Workshop Biodiversity en Oceania, Nouméa, NCL, 24-/06/2019 - 25/06/2019

Atelier Biodiversité en Océanie, Nouméa, NCL, 24-/06/2019 - 25/06/2019

New Caledonia archipelago is located in the South West Pacific between Australia and the Vanuatu archipelago. The land covers 19,100 km2, and the EEZ and territorial waters extend to 1,450,000 km2. The main island, Grande Terre, is surrounded by a barrier reef of 1100 km length enclosing a large lagoon of 24,000 km2 and up to 60 m deep. The complex...

In Taiwan the algal reefs in Taoyuan County are the largest, composed of recent and fossil non-geniculate coralline algae. However, their diversity and phylogenetics in the region have never been documented. In this study, we analyzed the phylogenetic relationships of the non-geniculate coralline algae species collected from Taoyuan algal reefs and...

Adeylithon gen. nov. with one species, A. bosencei sp. nov., belonging to the subfamily Hydrolithoideae is described from Pacific coral reefs based on psbA sequences and morpho‐anatomy. In contrast with Hydrolithon, A. bosencei showed layers of large polygonal “cells”, which resulted from extensive lateral fusions of perithallial cells, intersperse...

Aim Biogeographical processes underlying Indo‐Pacific biodiversity patterns have been relatively well studied in marine shallow water invertebrates and fishes, but have been explored much less extensively in seaweeds, despite these organisms often displaying markedly different patterns. Using the marine red alga Portieria as a model, we aim to gain...

The Udoteaceae family (Bryopsidales, Chlorophyta) is known to be highly diverse morphologically in the Caribbean region, but only few studies have studied its genetic diversity. Using an integrative taxonomic approach, this study aimed at (1) exploring the Udoteaceae species diversity using a combination of five DNA-based species delimitation metho...

Les algues des récifs coralliens regroupent un ensemble hétérogène d’organismes tous capables de faire la photosynthèse, mais que l’histoire évolutive a fait diverger en plusieurs grandes lignées indépendantes. Bien qu’il n’ait aucune signification taxonomique, le terme « algue » est utilisé par commodité pour évoquer des végétaux marins aux formes...

We investigate the ability of coralline red algae to record historical nickel mining activity that occurred between the early 1960s and 1981 in the Coulée River watershed, southwest New Caledonia. Laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICPMS) was used to determine high-resolution (sub-annual) variations of trace metal ratio...

Corals are the main reef builders through the formation of calcium carbonate skeletons. In recent decades, coral calcification has however been impacted by many global (climate change) and local stressors (such as destructive fishing practices and changes in water quality). In this particular context, it is crucial to identify and characterize the...

A multi‐gene (SSU, LSU, psbA and COI) molecular phylogeny of the family Corallinaceae (excluding the subfamilies Lithophylloideae and Corallinoideae) showed a paraphyletic grouping of six monophyletic clades. Pneophyllum and Spongites were reassessed and recircumscribed using DNA sequence data integrated with morpho‐anatomical comparisons of type m...

Les algues des récifs coralliens regroupent un ensemble hétérogène d’organismes tous capables de faire la photosynthèse mais que l’histoire évolutive a fait diverger en plusieurs grandes lignées indépendantes. Bien qu’il n’ait aucune signification taxonomique, le terme ‘algue’ est utilisé par commodité pour évoquer des végétaux marins aux formes et...

10th MetaboMeeting, metabolomics field.

The biomass of the algal bloom of Sargassum polycystum along the lagoon shores of Funafuti Atoll (Tuvalu) was estimated in November 2014 using a multispectral spaceborne Pleiades image and concurrent field data. Field work established (1) the geographical limit of the distribution of the algae in the lagoon, (2) the different types of S. polycystum...

In the Indo-Pacific region, several species of the green seaweed genus Caulerpa Lamouroux (1809) are very popular as human food because of their delicious taste and crunchy texture, which are pleasing to the palate, and because of their health benefits: Caulerpa contains proteins, fiber, minerals, vitamins, polyunsaturated fatty acids, and bioactiv...

Recent volcanic lava flows extending into the ocean represent an ideal opportunity to study the long-term successional development of marine floral assemblages on the bare new substratum. We describe the floral assemblages of nine lava flows of different ages (prehistoric to 2007) at Piton de la Fournaise (Reunion Island, Indian Ocean) based on a s...

The genus Aethesolithon was established by Johnson (1964) based on Miocene fossil of coralline algae from Guam, Mariana Islands. The type species, A. problematicum J.H.Johnson, was described in the Bonya Limestone, dated as Tertiary f, which now is known to extend from the early Miocene (Burdigalian) to the late Miocene. According to the protologue...

Context Sound understanding of temporal changes in the abundance of wildlife species is required for assessing their status and for effective conservation and management. In New Caledonia, a single baseline aerial survey of dugongs in 2003 estimated a population of 2026 (± 553 s.e.) individuals. A second, similar survey in 2008 produced a lower est...

Seabirds concentrate nutrients from large marine areas on their nesting islands playing an important ecological role in nutrient transfer between marine and terrestrial ecosystems. Here we investigate the role of guano on corals reefs across scales by analyzing the stable nitrogen isotopic (δ15N) values of the scleractinian coral Pocillopora damico...

The sensitivity of corals and their Symbiodinium to warming has been extensively documented; however very few studies considered that anthropogenic inputs such as metal pollution have already an impact on many fringing reefs. Thus, today, nickel releases are common in coastal ecosystems. In this study, two major reef-building species Acropora muric...

The tropical to warm-temperate marine brown macroalgal genus Lobophora (Dictyotales, Phaeophyceae) recently drew attention because of its striking regional diversity. In this study we reassess Lobophora global species diversity, and species distributions, and explore how historical factors have shaped current diversity patterns. We applied a series...

IntroductionThe Latitudinal Gradient Hypothesis (LGH) foresees that specialized metabolites are overexpressed under low latitudes, where organisms are subjected to higher herbivory pressure. The widespread macroalga Asparagopsis taxiformis is composed of six distinct genetic lineages, some of them being introduced in many regions. Objectives To stu...

The systematics of the Laurencia complex was investigated using a taxon-rich data set including the chloroplast ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase large subunit (rbcL) gene only and a character-rich data set combining mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase 1 (COI-5P), the rbcL marker, and the nuclear large subunit of the ribosomal operon (LS...

Although Lobophora belongs to a marine algal family (Dictyotaceae) that produces a large array of secondary metabolites, it has received little attention compared to other genera, such as Dictyota, in terms of natural compounds isolation and characterization. However, metabolites produced by Lobophora species have been found to exhibit a wide array...

Despite their potential importance as analogs of primitive microbial metabolisms, the knowledge of the structure and functioning of the deep ecosystems associated with serpentinizing environments is hampered by the lack of accessibility to relevant systems. These hyperalkaline environments are depleted in dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), making th...

Scleractinian corals (i.e. hard corals) play a fundamental role in building and maintaining coral reefs, one of the most diverse ecosystems on Earth. Nevertheless, their phylogenies remain largely unresolved and little is known about dispersal and survival of their planktonic larval phase. The small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) is a commonly-us...