Services

BMSA is in a pristine area on the north shore of Brittany under oceanic influence far from urbanized watersheds, anthropogenic pressures and populations of wild bivalves. BMSA is dedicated to multistress (temperature, pH, contaminants, pathogens) and transgenerational experiments from early stages (gametes, larvae and post-larvae) to adulthood. Temperature, salinity, pH, turbidity and food are controlled under different stress conditions like pollutants and plastics, toxic algae, and pathogens.

The experimental area is ~800 m² corresponding to 6 experimental rooms (each housing 5 L cylinders (larvae, n=36) 10 L tanks (spat, n=100), 45 L (spat, adult, n=50) or 400 L (n=16), allowing replication and high statistical power) under flow-through or recirculating conditions, 1 micro-algae production room in small volumes, 1 large-volume micro-algae production room (1200 L d-1), 3 wet laboratories and a quarantine area, 3 dry laboratories.

BMSA is fully equipped with microscopy and image analysis, two electronic particle counters (Bekman multisizer Z3 and Z4) for monitoring phytoplankton growth and controlling food, a recording of larval behaviour (ethovision) and an ecophysiological measurement system allowing the monitoring of individual clearance, oxygen consumption and assimilation rates.

BMSA offers the possibility to conduct short- and long-term multigenerational experiments under multistress and realistic conditions for all life stages.

Bioresources available

FMSP produces pathogen-free oysters using a standardised procedure twice a year. These oysters are distributed for experimental purposes to various research institutions.

Support offered

The TA user will be supported by the local IFREMER staff, and a local research scientist will be appointed as first contact person. The supporting staff will advise the TA users about the IFREMER regulations, the experimental set-up, zootechnical procedures and maintenance in compliance with animal experimentation laws and regulations, device utilisation and sample storage.

In addition, the administrative staff will assist in finding accommodation and transportation. The TA user will get access to a computer with internet access, scientific databases and local laboratories.

Modality of access

Modality of access cost is combined costs. Preference will be given for TA users to be present on site during the experiments. For longer experiments, the TA users should be present at the beginning and the end of the project for a minimum of 5 consecutive days.

The TA user is responsible for the daily running of the experiment, coordination of the sampling and data analyses, in close relationship with local technical staff. Units of access include technical assistance with tasks that cannot be performed by the TA user.

For BMSA, TA project is expected to last between 1 week up to 6 months (BMSA). The unit of access is one fully equipped experimental room/week covering access to wet labs, dry labs, and phytoplankton production when necessary.