P15 - HYDRÔ REUNION
Hydrô Reunion is a private NGO created in 1991, was created at the initiative of the Regional Council of Reunion in order to enhance the development aquaculture in Reunion island. Actually, four major tasks are developed: (1) R&D in aquaculture, (2) Studies & Valorisation of continental aquatic systems (Freshwater Centre), (3) Research & Development management of fishery resources (CAP RUN), and a unit on biotechnology and marine environment (CBEM). Activities of this unit are conducted by the scientific team in the following themes: ecotoxicology of marine biotoxins both on environmental approaches and laboratory studies (isolation of microalgae, culture and extracts production, bioassays); environment monitoring, (i) water quality, pesticides, etc., under the EU water framework, (ii) tropical bioindicator in link with coral reefs; biotechnology focused on the valorisation of microalgae and macroalgae. Hydrô Reunion has deep expertise in collection and isolation of microalgae and cyanobacteria (benthic and planktonic), first identification, culture (small scale) in controlled conditions, first extraction (crud extract), toxicity testing in mouse bioassay (standard method, for detected marine biotoxins) and experience of almost 20 years in risk management of ciguatera fish poisoning. Hydrô Reunion facilities include 200 m2 of a devoted laboratory, with 15 m2 for microalgal and cyanobacteria culture collection and production at 26°C, room for chemistry extraction, microscopic room, animal facilities with European standards. Hydrô Reunion are also on CYROI technological site with different equipments subject to mobilization (www.cyroi.fr). Hydrô Reunion will play an important role in the project, particularly in the isolation, identification and culture of marine microalgae, mainly benthic. Hydrô Reunion have a regional culture collection of tropical marine benthic microalgae (PHYTOBANK). Samples of fish and sea urchins will be collected, toxins extracted with standardized methods, implementation of toxicity testing and transfer of samples to identified partners.
Key personnel involved
Jean Turquet (PhD)
is Environmental Toxicologist since 1998, works in a laboratory since 1993. In Hydrô Reunion, he coordinates some program in relevant to the topic of microalgae cultures: PHYTOBANK: set up and maintain of a library of live tropical microalgae (dinoflagellates, diatoms, cyanobacteria). ERICOR: (pesticide risk assessment link to tropical coral reefs), ARISTOCYA: “toxic risk assessment linked to tropical benthic marine cyanobacteria blooms”.
Fanny Maillot
is Hydrô Reuniontechnician for laboratory culture of microalgae and toxins interactions and analyses.
Alina Tunin-Ley (PhD) has been a marine biologist since 2004 and currently work in the Hydrô Reunion laboratory. She specialises on marine benthic and planktonic microalgae. In charge of the PHYTOBANK, she is responsible for the enrichment of the microalgae collection with new strains, and for the identification of the microalgae species.
