Florence Caurant

Florence Caurant is a Lecturer in ecology at the University of La Rochelle and a Lecturer-researcher at CEBC (Centre d'Études Biologiques de Chizé). She serves as Co-Director of the Pelagis Observatory, which is involved in marine mammal research and stranding monitoring along the French Atlantic coast. Her work focuses on the bioaccumulation of trace elements and persistent organic pollutants in marine top predators, with particular expertise in using cadmium as an ecological tracer for diet and habitat.

Dr. Caurant's research interests include:

• Marine Ecology and Marine Mammal Biology
• Toxicology and Bioaccumulation of Trace Elements
• Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) in Marine Ecosystems
• Use of Ecological Tracers (e.g., cadmium, stable isotopes)
• Population Health Monitoring of Marine Species

Her publication record demonstrates consistent research on marine contamination spanning multiple geographic regions including the Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, Southern Indian Ocean, and South Pacific. Through stable isotope analysis and trace element measurements, she has contributed to understanding trophic interactions, population structure, and health status of marine species. Her work shows a progression from initial studies on pilot whales to broader investigations of marine food webs across diverse taxa including sharks, seals, turtles, and cephalopods.

Dr. Caurant is actively involved in conservation efforts through her work with the National Stranding Network, where she implements strategies for monitoring the health status of marine populations to determine pathologies and identify main causes of mortality. She has supervised doctoral research and continues to contribute to marine science through the Pelagis Observatory's mission of marine mammal conservation and research.