Services

Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) has two experimental platforms (Aquatic Metratron and PLANAQUA) that provide the possibility for scientists to study ecosystems in artificial environments or controlled in situ environments. Services include physical access to the infrastructure to perform on-site experiments.

The AQUATIC METATRON hosts:

1. A lentic platform with 144 basins that can be connected to each other to allow for the dispersal of aquatic organisms and with a capacity to simulate temperature variation accurately and independently,

2. A lotic platform with 12 artificial rivers.

Outdoor mesocosms are equipped with a range of sensors and can be monitored with a range of mobile and laboratory instruments.

Breeding rooms are available to host laboratory populations of small invertebrates (e.g. gammarids) and small freshwater fish species, including non-model organisms (e.g., minnows, mosquitofish etc.).

For more information, see the Aquatic Metatron webpage.

Support offered

Both CNRS platforms have procedures in place to provide support to all external users, who will have access to the range of available laboratories, office space and instruments as well as lodging on site.

Users will benefit from support provided by permanent staff to assist with technical advice and purchase of consumables, and the adaptation and further development of equipment and instruments based on agreements made before the beginning of an experiment.

All external users will receive support in terms of planning of activities before and after arrival as well as hands-on training by the local scientific and technical staff.

Modality of access

Users have autonomous access to all experimental facilities and a dedicated schedule based on their project request and the availability of the platform.

Costs are calculated daily based on unit cost (tank/day) including (1) number of days of use of animal breeding facilities, (2) number of days of use of outdoor mesocosms and (3) requests for instruments and support laboratory space. Mesocosms will be costed as actual costs.

A large number of mesocosms-month will be allocated to external users through TA with access to laboratory and instruments. Efforts will be made to accommodate all kinds of independent experiments that could rely on the mesocosms offered. Access is offered to at least 6 people for 30 days each year.