European Researchers' Night in Evian-Les-Bains

This mini-conference will look at the development of the wels catfish (Silurus glanis) in large Alpine lakes from various angles. The possible origins of its colonization will be presented, followed by a discussion of its place in the lake food chain, based on results obtained in the field. This will be followed by a discussion of possible consequences for the dynamics of native lake species, before turning to the sanitary quality of catfish, with a specific focus on PCBs.

Victor Frossard is a lecturer atUniversité Savoie Mont Blanc. His research focuses on the impact of human-induced pressures on lake ecosystems at different spatial and temporal scales. Among his recent research, the development of the wels catfish in the major Alpine lakes has been the subject of specific investigations concerning the extent of its invasion, its ecology, its potential impacts and its capacity to accumulate pollutants.

The great lakes lakes are highly exposed to anthropogenic pressures, including global warming, as well as significant contamination by plastic particles. For example, around 590 tonnes of plastic are stored in Lake Geneva, including over 350 tonnes from the degradation of tires and pavements. We are exploring the effects of an emerging molecule, present in the composition of tires and therefore in micro-particles coupled with a rise in temperature, on two species in our Alpine lakes.

Emilie Réalis is a research engineer. Her work focuses on the ecology of stress through the study of multi-stressors (chemical pollutants such as micro-plastics and PCBs, as well as physical stressors such as noise) coupled with temperature increases. His studies focus on the early life stages of invertebrates and vertebrates, in particular Arctic char, a sentinel species for climate change and the emblematic fish of peri-alpine lakes.

Frédéric Rimet will introduce you to the biodiversity of microalgae and their interest in monitoring the state of aquatic environments.

Fréderic Rimet is a research engineer (HDR) specializing in algae, their ecology and diversity. His current work focuses on the use of algae to assess the ecological quality of lakes and rivers. For several years now, he has been developing molecular approaches to better decipher biodiversity.

Microalgae (or phytoplankton) are an indispensable resource for zooplankton. Some phytoplankton species can be parasitized by aquatic fungi of the chrytrid family. But are these fungi just parasites? It turns out that the interactions are far more complex than that. In this presentation, we'll explore the diversity of parasitic fungi of lacustrine algae to understand that algae that are too large cannot be eaten by zooplankton, but that the spores produced by these parasitic fungi are an important resource for planktonic consumers.

Serena Rasconi is a limnologist and researcher specializing in plankton ecology. Her research focuses on biotic interactions and how they influence the functioning of lake ecosystems. She has worked in particular on Lake Maggiore and the relationship between bacteria and the carbon cycle. She also studied parasitic interactions between a group of aquatic fungi, chytrids, and algae.

Children learn how to observe living organisms in Lake Geneva and its tributaries with a binocular magnifying glass and microscope (using slides and coverslips), and how to use basic scientific equipment. They also learn to observe organisms and recognize them using simplified identification keys.

Created in 2019, the Cluster Eau Lémanique Evian is an associative and collegial organization headquartered in Evian-les-Bains. It brings together companies, professionals, research organizations, academics and public institutions committed to implementing a common development strategy for the water sector in the Lake Geneva basin. Its aim is to promote and develop the water industry and solutions for preserving our heritage and improving resource efficiency (water and plants).

Just as a burglar leaves DNA at the scene of a crime, all living things leave DNA traces in their environment. This environmental DNA, or eDNAcan be used to identify all living things in lakes. Find out how to collect and analyze this eDNA to help us discover the many species of fish that live in Lake Geneva.

Marine Vautier is a research engineer in biological techniques applied to environmental DNA. At the CARRTEL laboratory, she works on research projects focusing on environmental DNA to study limnic ecosystems. She has taken part in several projects, including the Interreg EcoAlpsWater project to harmonize eDNA protocols on a European scale, and the QuantiFish project to develop new eDNA-based tools for studying fish.

Learning while having fun: the Féraventure video game, designed by CARRTEL scientists, lets players experience the life of a Féra, from birth to adulthood. Numerous traps will be set up in front of the fish as it searches for food, to avoid predators and fishermen. Through this medium, it is possible to explain the life cycle of a fish and the environmental factors that govern it.

Jean Guillard is a research engineer. His research focuses on the use of hydro-acoustics as a non-invasive method for studying fish populations. Developed in a variety of aquatic ecosystems, his expertise in this field is internationally recognized. He has also contributed to numerous research projects on the ecology of fish populations in peri-alpine lakes.

The acoustic camera is an innovative high-frequency multi-beam sonar that transmits sound pulses into the water and converts the echoes into images in the same way as ultrasound in medical imaging. These cameras thus transform sound into images, enabling us to see what's going on in the water even when visibility is reduced (murky water and darkness). This technology provides a wide range of information on aquatic fauna, thanks to reflected acoustic signals, enabling the monitoring of fish populations, behavior, morphology and species recognition..

Hervé Rogissart is a design engineer with a passion for ichthyology (the branch of zoology concerned with the study of fish) and biodiversity conservation. His skills in ichthyology include understanding fish life-history traits such as age, growth, migration and behavior. He is currently studying the behavior of an invasive mysid crustacean and the reproductive phenology of whitefish using an acoustic camera. He has also analyzed the societal impacts of research into the rehabilitation of salmonids in peri-alpine lakes.

The workshop is open to young and old alike. During this workshop, while learning about the quality of the water in Lake Geneva and the biodiversity of the lake's micro-organisms over the last 200 years, you'll be invited to retranscribe this story in paint, on a large canvas with colorful mixes.

Cécilia Barouillet is a research engineer specializing in paleolimnology (from the Greek, paleo: ancient; limno: lake and logy: science). She has studied the impact of hydroelectric developments and climate on sockeye salmon lakes in British Columbia. In the CARRTEL laboratory, she applies molecular biology techniques to study DNA extracted from sediments. Her research projects involve assessing the impact of eutrophication and climate change on microeukaryotic communities in large French peri-alpine lakes.

Freshwater ecosystems occupy only a small fraction of the planet, but they are home to an exceptionally rich biodiversity. The configuration of these environments is ideal for studying the effect of past climate variations on the birth and accumulation of new species. Is current climate change a factor in biological diversification or unprecedented extinction?

Juan I. Montoya-Burgos is a lecturer in Biodiversity and Conservation and former director of the Animal Evolution and Conservation Laboratory at the University of Geneva, Switzerland. His research focuses on aquatic organisms and environments. He specializes in evolutionary biology, phylogenetics and population genetics of aquatic organisms.