Foraminiferal Research Consortium

FRESCO "Foraminiferal Research Consortium" is an international project with the aim  to structure the research on coastal benthic foraminifera through an international consortium of researchers (4 laboratories of the Pays de la Loire Region and 15 international partners gathered around the LPG-BIAF Laboratory at Angers).

Since about 20 years, LPG-BIAF is internationally renowned for its studies on Foraminifera, marine micro-organisms.

The 15 international partners of the research consortium are composed of 9 of the world's most prominent research teams working on foraminifera, and 6 larger multidisciplinary European teams, which are renowned internationally for their expertise in complementary topics, such as microbiology, cell biology, geochemistry and (paleo-)oceanography. Such interdisciplinary research will allow us to better understand the highly specific, and still poorly known, vital functions of foraminifera, which allow some species to subsist under strongly adverse conditions.

In summary, because of the very strong complementarity and interdisciplinarity of the research groups involved in the project, FRESCO guarantees the production of significant new results, and an improved understanding of the role of foraminifera in coastal environments.

The financial means provided by the Pays de la Loire Region in the context of its " International Strategy" program will not only reinforce the role of the LPG-BIAF as international leader of the research on foraminifera and perpetuate the international visibility of research performed in the Pays de la Loire Region, but will also strengthen the links between the complementary scientific teams and assure an increase of top level research on the functioning of coastal ecosystems.

FRESCO
fresco @ univ-angers.fr (fresco @ univ-angers.fr)