Abstract: Bio-logging is a methodological approach in which miniature data recording devices are temporarily attached to free-ranging animals to monitor their movement, behaviour and physiology, as well as the physical parameters of the environment directly surrounding the animals, turning them into bio-plateformes. Unsurprisingly bio-logging emerged from marine and polar studies where the monitoring of individuals in these harsh and remote places cannot be done using traditional approaches. Miniaturization and technological advances has meant that the range of species that can be instrumented, as well as the diversity of the questions that can be sought through bio-logging, are expanding fast. New sensors are constantly being developed, pushing further the limits of this field. Instrumented animals deliver information not only on their activities but also on the physical characteristics of the environments they go through. For instance, over the last two decades, loggers attached to deep diving seals have supplemented physical oceanographic measurements with hydrographic profiles from CTD loggers but also with new series of biological measurements. For examples, fluorescence and light sensors provided information on the concentration of phytoplankton in the euphotic layer; miniature echo sounders together with high sensitivity and fast responding light sensor to detect bioluminescence, brought considerable progress in detecting small size particles (>1-2 mm) such as marine snow, zooplankton, but also fish and squids and estimate their abundance.

Abstract: Coloniality is associated with various benefits and costs for animals affecting their fitness. Breeding colonies are heterogeneous both in terms of physical and social parameters, thus, breeding territories are of different quality relative to their location within the colony. In king penguins, increased conspecific density has been correlated with increased stress level in individual birds, suggesting a cost of colonial breeding. We used a cross-fostering approach to question the relationship linking breeding location, phenotype and reproduction success. We crossfostered eggs shortly after laying within and between high-and low-density colony areas. This design allowed us to unravel the influences of early genetic and maternal effects together with rearing environments on chick growth trajectories, stress physiology and survival. We tested whether chick phenotype is determined at birth to match their early environment or if higher social density conferred an advantage for reproduction.

Abstract: The sub-Antarctic islands are remote and isolated environments with original flora and fauna composed of a few species that are highly adapted to cold oceanic conditions. Their peculiar naturalness makes these ecosystems intrinsically fragile.This book focuses on terrestrial ecosystems and, in particular, on invertebrates – earthworms, mollusks, spiders and insects – that inhabit the French sub-Antarctic islands of the South Indian Ocean. All native and introduced species are presented in the form of individual fact sheets, which include the main identification criteria, geographical distribution and principal ecological traits. Numerous summary tables, distribution maps of introduced species, and a discussion on the originality and vulnerability of this fauna are also included.The Terrestrial Macroinvertebrates of the Sub-Antarctic Iles Kerguelen and Ile de la Possession is based on an expansive literature base, as well as on observations and photographs taken as part of a research program funded by the French Polar Institute Paul-Emile Victor (IPEV). The book also gives an important part to the history of the discoveries of the different species, as well as current conservation issues.

Abstract: Group-living is associated with both fitness benefits and costs for animals. In seabird colonies, spatial heterogeneity in social density and other environmental parameters may affect the quality of breeding territories. For instance, in king penguins, increased conspecific density has been correlated with increased stress hormone levels and increased energy expenditure in individual birds, suggesting a cost of colonial breeding. We unravelled the influences of early (genetic and early maternal effects) and rearing environments on chick growth trajectories, stress physiology and survival. Our results suggest that the rearing social environment (rather than biological background) can influence chicks’ phenotype, growth and survival. Especially, chicks reared in high density areas of the colony showed increased weight gain and survival probabilities. These results suggest either a difference in terms of parental quality between individual breeding at high and low social densities or a difference in chick’s competitiveness due to their early life social environment.