The lab, led by Dr Renaud Grover, runs a Sercon Integra2, and their work aims to understand the effects of climatic disturbances on coral ecosystems by focusing on calcification and symbiosis, key processes underlying the evolutionary success of coral reefs. The team of researchers is also studying the impact of the nutrient environment on the different partners of the coral holobiont, which includes a host animal, dinoflagellate algae, and microorganisms (bacteria, viruses, fungi).
The organisation has a long and fascinating history: created in 1960 by the Prince Rainier III, Prince of Monaco, it aimed to provide the Principality of Monaco, with the means to conduct scientific research and to support the action of Governmental and International Organizations that are responsible for protecting and conserving marine life.
Since 1989, the CSM has specialised in the study of the functioning of coral ecosystems (tropical and Mediterranean) in relation to global climate change.
Marine Biomineralization and Symbiosis, key biological processes of these ecosystems, are studied from the molecular and cellular to the organismal scale by two research teams with complementary skills: a Physiology and Biochemistry team and an Ecophysiology team.
The Coral Physiology/Biochemistry team was created at the end of the 1980’s. initially with just two researchers: Dr Marie Christine Grillo and Pr Denis Allemand, currently Scientific Director of the CSM. Since 2003, and now led by Dr Sylvie Tambutté, the team focuses on the mechanisms underlying the formation of coral skeletons. This process, called Biomineralization, focuses on the organism’s scale to the gene. This team is now composed of 1 research director, 3 researchers, post-doctoral fellows, PhD and MSc students, technicians, with expertise in fields ranging from molecular biology to physiology, microscopy, biochemistry and bioinformatics.
