Observatoire Océanologique de Villefranche sur mer
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181, Chemin du Lazaret 06230 Villefranche-sur-Mer France http://www.obs-vlfr.fr |
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The Observatoire Océanologique de Villefranche-sur-Mer, located between Nice and Monaco, has the most intriguing origins. In the beginning it was part of a small research station established in 1885 by Alexis de Korotneff (University of Kiev) and Carl Vogt (University of Geneva) in buildings rented from the Russian military that date from the mid 18th century - and that were originally a prison built by the House of Savoy. The majority of the scientists were Russian and the station was known locally as the "Russian Station".
The station administration was transferred to the University of Paris (now UPMC) in 1932. Today the Observatoire de Villefranche-sur-Mer is composed of two joint laboratories, Biodev (Biologie du Developpement, Developmental Biology Laboratory) and LOV (Laboratoire d'Océanographie de Villefranche, Oceanography Laboratory). The station operates and maintains one of the three longest-running deep marine environmental monitoring stations in the world as well as an important long term pelagic observation program.
Research themes: Biodev, processes related to early development stages such as: oocyte maturation, cell motility, cell division developmental determinants, egg organization, tissue specification and calcium signaling. LOV, pelagic and coastal oceanography at regional and global scales, biological and biogeochemical cycles in marine environment, carbon cycling, phytoplankton production, biological diversity of zooplankton communities.
Laboratories: Laboratories and climate control rooms with access to all basic research equipments. Access to library, a database on local environmental physico-chemical and biological parameters.
Marine facilities: two vessels, the "Sagitta" and the "Velelle" dedicated to littoral observations and research work and diving.
Main marine model organisms: chaetognaths, ascidians, ctenophores, jellyfish, sea urchins, Pelagia noctiluca, Clytia hemispherica, Xenopus laevis, Beroe ovata.
Supervisory bodies: UPMC, CNRS
The OOV has recently celebrated its 125th birthday (in french)
The OOV, partner of the Shamash Project. This project started in december 2006 and it s goal is to produce biofuel from autotrophic microalgae (video in french).
