Riwan Leroux
| Riwan Leroux(PROTECT) : How have human activities impacted hydrothermal ecosystems? Or How do researchers' activities, such as exploring and studying deep-sea hydrothermal vents, affect the environment in these unique habitats? Can these activities alter biodiversity and ecosystems in these areas? |
Riwan chose to dedicate his postdoctoral research to a critical question: have the scientific studies conducted at the Lucky Strike hydrothermal field had an impact on this unique environment?
Hydrothermal vents, located in the deep ocean, host unique ecosystems. In the absence of sunlight, organisms rely on a process called chemosynthesis, using energy from chemical compounds emitted by hydrothermal vents. These ecosystems are typically far from human activity, making them relatively undisturbed.
The Lucky Strike hydrothermal vent field, discovered in 1993 off the Azores, has been studied for the past thirty years. Each year, researchers collect biological samples and deploy instruments. They also use equipment that may disturb the environment, such as artificial lights. While these activities are vital for understanding these ecosystems, they could also have negative effects, such as impairing the vision of certain species or altering local biodiversity.
To assess the impact of these studies, Riwan is:
- Conducting a retrospective analysis: catalog all scientific activities carried out on the site over the past 30 years.
- Performing field observations: compare areas that have been heavily studied with those that have seen less activity to identify potential changes in the ecosystems
Why this subject ?
Riwan sees himself first and foremost as an ecology researcher with a passion for the deep-sea environment. Interested in the impact of human activities and the challenges posed by climate change, he finds this topic both stimulating and socially significant.
He particularly enjoys working with large and complex datasets, making this project an ideal challenge. By studying the influence of scientific activities on these ecosystems, he hopes to contribute to a better understanding of how to balance research with the preservation of these extraordinary environments.