For 14 years, LabEx CEBA has played a central role in structuring research in French Guiana, exploring various disciplines and studying biodiversity in the broadest sense. Amazonian ecosystems, which are particularly vulnerable to human activities, are at the heart of CEBA’s research. Understanding how biodiversity supports ecosystem services and responds to change is now more crucial than ever.
Today, CEBA is a dynamic network of more than 300 researchers, spread across 12 research units and 10 higher education and research institutions, which has produced more than 1,600 publications in leading international scientific journals, with major results.
These five videos show these 14 years of research in the Amazon and reflect the collective commitment of CEBA researchers and partners to understanding and preserving the Amazon in the face of current and future challenges.
Microcosm – The Invisible Life of the Forest
More than 80% of biodiversity remains largely unknown today. This is especially true for groups of organisms other than vertebrates and plants, such as insects, fungi, earthworms, spiders, and more. CEBA scientists study these organisms, which are essential to the functioning of forests, and demonstrate how their reactions to global changes make them valuable indicators of the health of Amazonian ecosystems.
An innovative forest – Biodiversity and sustainable construction in Amazonia
Faced with demographic transition, French Guiana must build quickly while preserving its forests. Scientists at LabEx CEBA are studying the diversity of Amazonian woods to develop innovative, sustainable and climate-resistant materials, while promoting local and residual resources.
Tropical Tree Diversity – Genetic Secrets of Species Native to Amazonia
In French Guiana, one hectare of forest is home to up to 200 species of trees. In total, more than 1,800 have been recorded. How have these tree species evolved? How do they coexist? Using ecological and genetic tools, CEBA scientists are studying these unique Amazonian forests and helping to develop better management practices to preserve their incredible diversity.
Historical Ecology – What Today’s Forest Owes to the Inhabitants of 500 Years Ago
Far from being a virgin forest, Amazonia has been shaped over thousands of years by the peoples who have inhabited it. Scientists at LabEx CEBA are now seeking to take a fresh look at the forest’s past and rethink the exchange of knowledge between the indigenous world and the academic world.
Environmental DNA – Molecular Tools to Monitor Biodiversity
In French Guiana, monitoring biodiversity is particularly complex: the forest is dense, the water is dark and the environments are often difficult to access. CEBA scientists use environmental DNA technology to meet this challenge. Applied in various research projects, this innovative method makes it possible to better assess the impact of human practices on the environment.
