Research team

FORSEAS

Biodiversity and Functioning of coastal ecosystems, Anthropogenic

Manager

Pascal CLAQUIN, Professor, FORSEAS, MERSEA
pascal.claquin@-Code to remove to avoid SPAM-unicaen.fr, +33 2 31 36 22 33

Team Members

Jérémy BENHAMOU, Research contract, FORSEAS, MERSEA
Christelle CAPLAT, Assistant Professor, FORSEAS, MERSEA
christelle.caplat@-Code to remove to avoid SPAM-unicaen.fr, +33 2 31 56 52 97
Camille CARPENTIER, Doctoral student, , FORSEAS, MERSEA
Katherine COSTIL, Assistant Professor, FORSEAS, MERSEA
+33 2 31 56 58 28
Lea DEFLANDRE, Doctoral student, FORSEAS, MERSEA
Lise DELATTE, Doctoral student, , FORSEAS, MERSEA
lise.delatte@-Code to remove to avoid SPAM-unicaen.fr
Maël DELOOR, Research contract, FORSEAS, MERSEA
Wendy DIRUIT, Research contract, FORSEAS, MERSEA
Jean-Marc LEBEL, Professor, FORSEAS, MERSEA
+33 2 31 56 56 62
Clara MASSINOT, Research contract, FORSEAS, MERSEA
Isabelle MUSSIO, Assistant Professor, FORSEAS, MERSEA
Francis ORVAIN, Assistant Professor, FORSEAS, MERSEA
+33 2 31 56 51 16
Jean-Paul ROBIN, Professor, FORSEAS, MERSEA
+33 2 31 56 53 95
Anne-Marie RUSIG, Assistant Professor, FORSEAS, MERSEA
+33 2 31 56 65 79
Antoine SERPENTINI, Assistant Professor, FORSEAS, MERSEA
Pascal SOURDAINE, Professor, FORSEAS, MERSEA

FORSEAS

General theme

The FORSEAS team focuses on the coastal ecosystem of the English Channel, which is characterized by varying degrees of anthropogenic pressure—particularly in areas like the Bay of Seine that are heavily impacted by human activities. The team’s research addresses several key issues related to anthropogenic influence, including eutrophication, contamination, and habitat modification, particularly in the context of offshore wind farm development.

Projects cover both pelagic and benthic compartments and span levels of biological organization from individuals to populations and community dynamics. Our work examines the effects of human activities and climate change on biodiversity and marine organisms, focusing on their acclimation capacity and the resulting impacts on ecosystems and biological resources. We study how contaminants such as pesticides and metals affect various marine species, and how eutrophication influences primary producers—both micro- and macroalgae.

In parallel, the team is involved in ecological restoration initiatives, such as the restoration of mudflats in the Seine estuary, and bioremediation projects using macroalgae. All approaches are coordinated within the team to address key challenges linked to habitat modification, particularly in the context of increasing coastal ecosystem artificialization in the English Channel. These efforts leverage the facilities of the Luc-sur-Mer Marine Station (CREC) of the University of Caen Normandie, analytical platforms from the EMERDODE technical unit, national observation services (e.g., IR ILICO), and a range of regional, national, and European projects.

This ecosystem-scale research on Normandy’s coasts enables us to respond to pressing societal concerns related to climate change, fisheries, aquaculture, invasive species, and more.

The team also develops research partnerships in the Caribbean with the University of the French Antilles, addressing issues related to Sargassum blooms, eutrophication, and photobiology.

Areas of research

The team conducts research focused on three major anthropogenic pressures—contaminants, eutrophication, and habitat alteration—within the broader context of climate change. Two overarching questions guide this work:

What are the acclimation capacities of organisms and populations exposed to various environmental stressors?
What are the effects of these pressures on fundamental ecosystem processes and on biological resources?

Specifically, our research addresses:

Responses of organisms and populations to contaminants

We study the responses to pressures related to chemical contaminants (e.g., pesticides, adjuvants, metals, microplastics) using a variety of biological models such as mollusks (bivalves and cephalopods), microalgae, echinoderms (sea urchins), and elasmobranchs, focusing on both native and potentially invasive introduced species. These studies, conducted under controlled laboratory conditions, allow us to assess acute and chronic effects under single and/or multiple stress conditions (e.g., combined with environmental variations such as pH and temperature) across different life stages. We also investigate the impact of temperature and salinity on the physiology of a model elasmobranch species.
In parallel, we apply an in situ approach through the study of natural populations and/or transplanted organisms in impacted environments (active biomonitoring). We focus on life history traits and molecular and cellular mechanisms related to organismal defense and physiological state (e.g., immunity, reproduction, metabolism). Beyond physiological effects, we also consider the transfer of contaminants through trophic networks.

Responses of organisms and communities to eutrophication

Eutrophication—particularly imbalanced nitrogen-to-phosphorus (N/P) nutrient inputs—is studied across various compartments of primary producers (phytoplankton, microphytobenthos, macroalgae). Our expertise in nitrogen source characterization, combined with ecophysiological and ecological approaches, enables us to:

Assess the impact of nutrient inputs on community structure and primary productivity;
Develop scenarios and trajectories based on nutrient input variation driven by climate change and/or public policies.
This research is supported by strong competencies in photobiology and integrates multi-scale biological, temporal, and spatial analyses using innovative methodologies.

These functional studies are also applied to macroalgal-based bioremediation (N and P reduction), contributing to the development of sustainable integrated aquaculture in Normandy.

Responses of populations and communities to habitat alteration

The highly anthropized systems we study are shaped by significant gradients of human impact due to fishing, maritime infrastructures (e.g., port extensions, riprap, offshore wind farms), erosion of mudflats and shorelines, and seabed disturbance.
Over recent years, various projects led by our Caen-based team have addressed these issues along the Normandy coastline (e.g., Interreg COCKLES and CEPHS&CHEFS, GIP SA PHARESEE, Interreg MARINEFF). These projects have provided opportunities to assess the effects of substrate property changes on biodiversity and system productivity under increasing anthropogenic pressure. This has led to the development of ambitious initiatives involving eco-designed infrastructure and ecosystem restoration, and contributes to improved marine spatial planning through spatialized ecological studies.
Our team’s expertise in ecological restoration is exemplified in the EVEREST project, which focuses on restoring intertidal mudflats in the Seine estuary, targeting key ecological functions of these systems.
This research is underpinned by strong modeling capabilities, which enable us to better understand the regulation of hydro-sedimentary and biogeochemical processes driven by benthic activity.

The team leads and work around the three forcings from anthropogenic major contaminants, eutrophication, and habitat changes, in the context of climate change. Two general questions can be released :

What are the capacities of acclimation of organisms and populations subjected to different environmental pressures ?

What are the effects of these forcings on the fundamental processes in the functioning of these ecosystems and biological resources ?

concretely, we are working on :

The responses of organisms and populations in the face of the contaminants

The responses to the pressures related to chemical contaminants (e.g. pesticides, additives, metals, microplastics) are studied on different biological models such as molluscs (bivalves and cephalopods), microalgae, echinoderms (sea urchins), elasmobranchs in considering indigenous species or introduced potentially invasive. These studies carried out in controlled conditions are used to measure the effects of acute or chronic condition mono-and/or multi-stress (e.g. coupling with environmental pressures such as changes in pH, temperature) on the different stages of life. The impacts of temperature and salinity on the physiology of a model elasmobranch will also be considered. In parallel, another approach (in-situ) is led from the study of natural populations and/or organizations transplanted into the natural environment impacted (bio-active). The desired effects are centered on the life history traits as well, and on the molecular and cellular mechanisms associated with the defense agencies, and the physiological state (immunity, reproduction, and metabolism). Beyond the physiological effects, the transfer of contaminants within food webs is also considered.

The responses of organisms to communities in the face of eutrophication

Eutrophication and in particular the input unbalanced nutrient salts N/P are studied on the different compartments of primary producers (phytoplankton, microphytobenthos, macroalgae). The expertise on the characterization of the sources of nitrogen, associated with the approaches ecophysiological and ecological, allows the team to (1) understand the impact of these contributions on the community structure and primary productivity of the environment, and 2) to work on trajectories and scenarios involving the variation of the contributions due to climate change and/or public policy. These works are based on strong powers in photobiology which integrate work in multi-scale biological, temporal and spatial, based on innovative methodologies.

These functional studies are applied to bioremediation by macroalgae (reducing N and P) in development, in Normandy, an integrated aquaculture sustainable.

The responses of populations and communities in the face of habitat changes.

Highly anthropized that we study are characterized by strong gradients of human impact induced by the fishing, the sea infrastructure (e.g. extensions port, rock, wind farms), by the erosion of mudflats and shoreline and by the alteration of the fund. In recent years, with different projects of our team caennaise have studied these issues on the coasts of normandy (Interreg COCKLES and CEPHS&HEADS, GIP ITS PHARESEE, Interreg MARINEFF). The opportunity to measure the effects of the change of the properties of the substrates on the biodiversity and productivity of the systems in a context of anthropisation growing, allowing the development of ambitious projects incorporating infrastructure development eco-design and restoration of ecosystems, while helping with studies spatialized for a better planning of thespace marine. The skills of the team in terms of ecological restoration will, for example, result in the framework of the project EVEREST by the restoration of intertidal mudflats of the estuary of the Seine, focusing on the ecological functions of major systems. This work hunched along with skills in modeling, which allow a better understanding of the regulation of the process hydrosédimentaires and biogeochemical related to the activity of the benthos.

Recent publications

Journal articles

2025

ref_biblio: Blanc-legendre, M., Gosselin, T., Caplat, C., Safi, G., & Cousin, X. (2025). Short and long-term exposure of marine medaka (Oryzias melastigma) to an aluminum salt and to the cocktail of elements released by galvanic anode cathodic protection (GACP): impact on survival, growth, reproduction and behavior. Aquatic Toxicology, 283, 107329. <10.1016/j.aquatox.2025.107329>. <hal-05080327>.

ref_biblio: Bonnefond, L., Pinaud, D., Bollache, L., Schmidt, N.M., Lang, J., Hansen, L.H., Sittler, B., Moreau, J., & Gilg, O. (2025). Intraseasonal variations in the spatial behaviour of an Arctic predator. Movement Ecology, 13 (1), 13. <10.1186/s40462-024-00522-5>. <hal-04979679>.

ref_biblio: Claquin, P., Mussio, I., Navon, M., Rusig, A.-M., Chatagnon, A., & Dromard, C. (2025, Nov). Sargassum leachate initially inhibits then stimulates phytoplankton growth in coral reef waters. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 593, 152146. <10.1016/j.jembe.2025.152146>. <hal-05355744>.

ref_biblio: Delatte, L., Massinot, C., Stoltz, G., Marais, F., Hernández-fariñas, T., & Claquin, P. (2025, Dec). How nitrogen and phosphorus stoichiometry drive the physiology and photosynthesis of Scrippsiella acuminata (Dinophyceae). Journal of Phycology. <10.1111/jpy.70117>. <hal-05403095>.

ref_biblio: Hervé, V., Morelle, J., Lambourdière, J., Lopez, P.J., & Claquin, P. (2025). Together throughout the year: seasonal patterns of bacterial and eukaryotic microbial communities in a macrotidal estuary. Environmental Microbiome, 20 (1), 8. <10.1186/s40793-025-00664-y>. <hal-04903207>.

ref_biblio: Jeanne, F., Pilet, S., Bernay, B., Lagadu, S., Delépée, R., Dufour, S., & Sourdaine, P. (2025). Characterization of a direct role of GnRHs in the control of spermiogenesis and steroidogenesis in the small-spotted catshark Scyliorhinus canicula. General and Comparative Endocrinology, 368, 114734. <10.1016/j.ygcen.2025.114734>. <hal-05048773>.

ref_biblio: Jeanne, F., Pilet, S., Combarnous, Y., Bernay, B., Dufour, S., Favrel, P., & Sourdaine, P. (2025, Jul). Pleiotropic signaling of single-chain thyrostimulin (GPB5-GPA2) on homologous glycoprotein hormone receptors (ScFSHR, ScLHR, ScTSHR) in the elasmobranch Scyliorhinus canicula reproduction. Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology, 604, 112553. <10.1016/j.mce.2025.112553>. <hal-05044952>.

ref_biblio: Jeanne, F., Pilet, S., Heighton, S., Bernay, B., & Sourdaine, P. (2025, Nov). Proteomic analysis of the zone of degeneration at the mitosis--meiosis transition stage in wild-caught male catshark ( Scyliorhinus canicula ), correlated with an unusually high-water temperature in the English Channel. Journal of Fish Biology. <10.1111/jfb.70267>. <hal-05406275>.

ref_biblio: Lamb, A., Franklin, D., Morris, S., Sokolnicki, J., Sulpice, R., Fort, A., Inabi, M., Richier, S., Le Bris, A., Lemesle, S., Rusig, A.-M., Mussio, I., Van Der Schatte Olivier, A., Morrall, Z., & Watson, G. (2025, Jun). Macroalgal mat species diversity, composition, and seasonality at four coastal sites across the English Channel/La Manche region. European Journal of Phycology, 1-12. <10.1080/09670262.2025.2500007>. <hal-05153053>.

ref_biblio: Laptikhovsky, V., Moreno, A., Oesterwind, D., Perales-raya, C., Pierce, G., Robin, J.-P., Sobrino, I., Valls, M., Villanueva, R., Allen, A., Abad, E., Bello, G., Bobowski, B.T.C., Fernández-álvarez, F.&., Cabanellas-reboredo, M., González, &., Hernández-urcera, J., Krstulovi\'c \v Sifner, S., Lefkaditou, E., Macleod, E., Valeiras Mota, J., Onsoy, B., Pereira, J., Salman, A., Seixas, S., & Power, A.M. (2025, Dec). The reproductive ecology of Loligo squids (Cephalopoda: Myopsida) in Lusitanian zoogeographical province. Regional Studies in Marine Science, 91, 104506. <10.1016/j.rsma.2025.104506>. <hal-05289586>.

ref_biblio: Marcout, A., Gras, M., Foucher, E., & Robin, J.-P. (2025, Apr). Biological sampling at Port-en-Bessin fish market: assessing the diversity and size structure of squid and cuttlefish populations in the English Channel. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 105, e35. <10.1017/S0025315425000281>. <hal-05043037>.

ref_biblio: Marcout, A., Foucher, E., Pierce, G., & Robin, J.-P. (2025, Mar). Derivation of a standardized index to explore spatial, seasonal and between-year variation of squid (Loligo spp.) abundance in the English Channel. Fisheries Research, 285, 107333. <10.1016/j.fishres.2025.107333>. <hal-05041580>.

ref_biblio: Pierce, G.J., Roumbedakis, K., Pita, C., Mendes, R., Moreno, A., Villasante, S., Ainsworth, G.B., Pita, P., Garcia Rodrigues, J., Longo, C., Montero-castaño, C., Macho, G., Oesterwind, D., Valeiras, J., Robin, J.-P., Larivain, A., & Power, A.M. (2025, Jul). Problems and solutions in European cephalopod fisheries. Oceanography and marine biology, 63, 114--162. <10.1201/9781003589600-4>. <hal-05222100>.

ref_biblio: Richard, A., Orvain, F., Dairain, A., Morelle, J., Roméro-ramirez, A., Rodolfo Damiano, T., De Montaudouin, X., & Maire, O. (2025). Influence of cockle bioturbation on microphytobenthic primary producers: habitat and density-dependent effects. Marine Biology, 172 (5), 70. <10.1007/s00227-025-04629-0>. <hal-05026490>.

ref_biblio: Vial, M., Costil, K., Agogué, J., Gissat, L., Gueuné, H., & Caplat, C. (2025, Mar). A 15 month-monitoring of biofouling in relationship with hydrological parameters and contaminants in three French harbours of the English channel. Environmental Research, 269, 120925. <10.1016/j.envres.2025.120925>. <hal-05127018>.

2024

ref_biblio: Jeanne, F., Pilet, S., Klett, D., Combarnous, Y., Bernay, B., Dufour, S., Favrel, P., & Sourdaine, P. (2024, Nov). Characterization of gonadotropins and their receptors in a chondrichthyan, Scyliorhinus canicula, fills a gap in the understanding of their coevolution. General and Comparative Endocrinology, 358, 114614. <10.1016/j.ygcen.2024.114614>. <hal-04720812>.

ref_biblio: Larivain, A., Zatylny-gaudin, C., Gonzalez, E., Pierce, G., Power, A., & Robin, J.-P. (2024). Progress in the analysis of English Channel loliginid squid diets using DNA-metabarcoding techniques. Marine Biology, 171 (7), 135. <10.1007/s00227-024-04448-9>. <hal-04601649>.

ref_biblio: Lehuen, A., Rose-marie, O., Zhengquan, Z., Jaco De, S., Lennart Van, I., Francesco, C., Tjeerd, B., & Francis, O. (2024, Aug). Multispecies macrozoobenthic seasonal bioturbation effect on sediment erodibility. Journal of Sea Research (JSR), 201, 102525. <hal-04608768>.

ref_biblio: Marcout, A., Foucher, E., Pierce, G.J., & Robin, J.-P. (2024). Impact of environmental conditions on English Channel long-finned squid (Loligo spp.) recruitment strength and spatial location. Frontiers in Marine Science, 11, 1433071. <10.3389/fmars.2024.1433071>. <hal-04691689>.

ref_biblio: Morelle, J., Huguet, A., Richard, A., Laverman, A.M., Roose-amsaleg, C., Parlanti, E., Sourzac, M., Mesnage, V., Lecoq, N., Deloffre, J., Viollier, E., Maire, O., & Orvain, F. (2024). Antagonistic impacts of benthic bioturbator species: Interconnected effects on sedimentary properties, biogeochemical variables, and microbial dynamics. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 573, 152000-152000. <10.1016/j.jembe.2024.152000>. <hal-04477915>.

ref_biblio: Raoux, A., Salauen, J., Pezy, J.-P., Vivier, B., Navon, M., Deloor, M., Claquin, P., Pioch, S., Niquil, N., & Dauvin, J.-C. (2024). A trophic modelling framework: Key metrics for the ecological assessment of artificial structures. Regional Studies in Marine Science, 80. <10.1016/j.rsma.2024.103890>. <hal-05060957>.

ref_biblio: Slaby, S., Geffard, A., Fisson, C., Bonnevalle-normand, M., Allonier-fernandes, A.-S., Amara, R., Bado-nilles, A., Bonnard, I., Bonnard, M., Burlion-giorgi, M., Cant, A., Catteau, A., Chaumot, A., Costil, K., Coulaud, R., Delahaut, L., Diop, M., Duflot, A., Geffard, O., Jestin, E., Le Foll, F., Le Guernic, A., Lopes, C., Palos-ladeiro, M., Peignot, Q., Poret, A., Serpentini, A., Tremolet, G., Turiès, C., & Xuereb, B. (2024, May). Advancing environmental monitoring across the water continuum combining biomarker analysis in multiple sentinel species: A case study in the Seine-Normandie Basin (France). Journal of Environmental Management, 358, 120784. <10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.120784>. <hal-04542022>.

ref_biblio: Taormina, B., Leclerc, J.-C., Rusig, A.-M., Navon, M., Deloor, M., Claquin, P., & Dauvin, J.-C. (2024, Oct). Diversity and structure of epibenthic communities across subtidal artificial hard habitats in the Bay of Cherbourg (English Channel). Biofouling, 1-15. <10.1080/08927014.2024.2419572>. <hal-04761463>.

Conference papers

2025

ref_biblio: Claquin, P., Navon, M., Franck, J., Deloor, M., Guillaume, I., & Répécaud, M. (2025, Oct). Estimation of primary production from hourly to annual scales: More than seven years of high-frequency measurements from the SMILE buoy. Paper presented at the Long term coastal in situ observation from automated platforms of small temporal and spatial scales, Boulogne-sur-Mer, France. <hal-05355770>.

ref_biblio: Costil, K., Guegan, C., Coulaud, R., Caplat, C., & Serpentini, A. (2025, May). Effects of 21-day exposure to copper and high temperatures on the survival, behaviour and physiology of female shrimp, Palaemon serratus. Paper presented at the 12th CEMEPE SECOTOX, Mykonos Island, Greece. <hal-05133465>.

2024

ref_biblio: Bonnefond, L., Pinaud, D., Bollache, L., Moreau, J., & Gilg, O. (2024, Feb). Intra-seasonal variations in the spatial behaviour of an Arctic predator. Paper presented at the BioMove Symposium, Postdam, Germany. <hal-05066814>.

ref_biblio: Bonnefond, L., Pinaud, D., Bollache, L., Schmidt, N.M., Lang, J., Hansen, J., Sittler, B., Moreau, J., & Gilg, O. (2024, Aug). Intra-seasonal variations in the spatial behaviour of an Arctic predator. Paper presented at the Ecology & Behaviour conference, Villiers-en-Bois, France. <hal-05066802>.

ref_biblio: Bonnefond, L., Pinaud, D., Bollache, L., Schmidt, N.M., Lang, J., Hansen, J., Sittler, B., Moreau, J., & Gilg, O. (2024, Oct). Intra-seasonal variations in the spatial behaviour of an Arctic predator. Paper presented at the International conference of the French Society of Ecology and Evolution (SFE2), Lyon, France. <hal-05066791>.

ref_biblio: Robin, J.-P. (2024, Sep). Cephalopod Stocks in the North-Eastern Atlantic: Historical review of Stock Assesment trials.. Paper presented at the South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organisation 12th Scientific Committee, Lima (Pérou), Peru. <hal-05135087>.

ref_biblio: Voisin, A., Gailhard-rocher, I., Lheureux, A., Jude-lemeilleur, F., Costes, L., Mornet, L., Lequeux, J., Labourdette, N., Nowaczyck, A., Parra, R., Meteigner, C., Rumebe, M., Rigouin, L., Gouriou, L., Ganthy, F., Antajan, E., Savoye, N., Lemoine, M., Claquin, P., Lefebvre, A., Sautour, B., & Del Amo, Y. (2024, Nov). Evolution long-terme des communautés planctoniques autotrophes dans les écosystèmes côtiers : tendances pluriannuelles. Paper presented at the EVOlution à Long terme des Ecosystèmes COtiers (EVOLECO), Plouzané, France. <hal-04963371>.

Other publications

2024

ref_biblio: Savoye, N., Lizon, F., Breton, E., Claquin, P., Joly, O., Sultan, E., Bozec, Y., Jung, J.-L., Boulard, C., Rimmelin-maury, P., Leynart, A., Agogué, H., Pineau, P., Del Amo, Y., Conan, P., Mostajir, B., Grégori, G., Mousseau, L., & Fabrice, M. (2024). SOMLIT (Service d'Observation en Milieu Littoral) time series (French Research Infrastructure ILICO): long-term core parameter monitoring of French coasts. <10.17882/100323>. <hal-04780540>.

Preprints, Working Papers, ...

2025

ref_biblio: Lehuen, A., Dancie, C., Grasso, F., Smolders, S., Cozzoli, F., & Orvain, F. (2025). A novel quantile regression approach to define optimal ecological niche: a case study on habitat suitability of cockle populations (Cerastoderma edule). <hal-04438267>.

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