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MOANA MATY

2014-ongoing
Funded by the Polynesian Research Delegation, the CNFC, AFB, LEFE CYBER and GMMC calls

Context: The Marquesas Islands (central South Pacific) are characterized by a strong phytoplanktonic enhancement (island mass effect-IME) and rich marine biodiversity. However, the pelagic oceanic environment of this archipelago has been poorly studied and mechanisms at the origin of this IME remain unknown.

Objectives / scientific questions: The objectives of the MOANA-MATY project are: 1) to understand the physical and biogeochemical processes at the origin of the Marquesas IME, 2) to characterize the seasonal and interannual variability of phytoplankton and the physical and biogeochemical processes involved.


To reach these objectives MOANA-MATY is based on the strong and complementary skills of a multidisciplinary/interdisciplinary team of collaborators: marine biogeochemistry, ecology and physics via satellite remote sensing, in situ observations and numerical modeling

Main collaborations: LOPS, LEMAR, MIO, DYNECO, Marine Moss Landing Lab, LOV, EIO, LEGOS

MOANA MATY: Éducation

Associated publications

  • Cassianides, A., Martinez, E., Maes, C., Carton, X., & Gorgues, T. (2020). Monitoring the Influence of the Mesoscale Ocean Dynamics on Phytoplanktonic Plumes around the Marquesas Islands Using Multi-Satellite Missions. Remote Sensing, 12(16), 2520.

  • Martinez, E., Rodier, M., Pagano, M., & Sauzède, R. (2020). Plankton spatial variability within the Marquesas archipelago, South Pacific. Journal of Marine Systems, 212, 103432.

  • Raapoto, H., Martinez, E., Petrenko, A., Doglioli, A., Gorgues, T., Sauzède, R., ... & Lefèvre, J. (2019). Role of iron in the Marquesas Island mass effect. Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, 124(11), 7781-7796. 

  • Caputi, L., Carradec, Q., ...Martinez, E.,  ... & Tara Oceans Coordinators. (2019). Community‐level responses to iron availability in open ocean plankton ecosystems. Global Biogeochemical Cycles, 33(3), 391-419.

  • Martinez, E., Raapoto, H., Maes, C., & Maamaatuaihutapu, K. (2018). Influence of tropical instability waves on phytoplankton biomass near the Marquesas Islands. Remote Sensing, 10(4), 640.  

  • Raapoto, H., Martinez, E., Petrenko, A., Doglioli, A. M., & Maes, C. (2018). Modeling the wake of the Marquesas archipelago. Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, 123(2), 1213-1228.

  • Martinez, E., & Maamaatuaiahutapu, K. (2004). Island mass effect in the Marquesas Islands: Time variation. Geophysical Research Letters, 31(18).

MOANA MATY: Expérience
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