Theme 2 : Qualité de l’eau et biodiversité le long du continuum terre-mer

Les effluents domestiques, industriels et agricoles auxquels sont soumis les bassins versants à travers le monde ont entraîné une augmentation considérable des apports d’azote (N) et de phosphore (P) dans les milieux aquatiques. En conséquence, on observe une amplification des symptômes d’eutrophication symptoms associated with these nutrient loads along the land-sea continuum, with high health and socio-economic impacts. In view of these challenges, the structuring objectives of this theme in the ZABrI territory can be summarised as follows:

• Comprendre les processus en jeu dans la qualité de l’eau et l’état trophique du système ;
• Understand the system's responses to external and local anthropogenic forcings;
• Analyse the uses and the relationship of populations to the water resource in order to identify the levers/obstacles (economic, legal, social, technical) to changes in practices;
• Carry out retrospective and prospective analyses of the socio-ecosystem, including the relevant public policy instruments for tackling water pollution.

Issues at the interface between human societies and their environment, such as eutrophication, require an interdisciplinary approach, between natural sciences and human and social sciences. Thus, theme 2 has led to the formulation of transversal issues:

• Quels sont les indicateurs les plus pertinents pour définir l’état écologique du milieu ?
• Quelles perspectives pour une construction sociale des critères de jugement de l’état du milieu, dans une optique de développement d’une cogestion adaptive ?

These questions contribute to the emergence of socio-ecosystemic approaches and the development of sustainability sciences. In terms of coordination, theme 2 is heavily involved in the development of the new bay contract in the Bay of Brest.

Issues at the interface between human societies and their environment, such as eutrophication, require an interdisciplinary approach, between natural sciences and human and social sciences. Thus, theme 2 has led to the formulation of transversal issues:

• What are the most relevant indicators to define the ecological status of the environment?
• What are the prospects for a social construction of criteria for judging the state of the environment, with a view to developing adaptive co-management?

These questions contribute to the emergence of socio-ecosystemic approaches and the development of sustainability sciences. In terms of coordination, theme 2 is heavily involved in the development of the new bay contract in the Bay of Brest.