Martin-de-Viviès
Martin de Viviès (Crozet Archipelago) is owned and managed by the Terres Australes et Antarctiques Françaises (TAAF). Scientific activities are supported and implemented by the French Polar Institute Paul-Emile Victor (IPEV).
Location
Martin de Viviès is a permanent French scientific station on Amsterdam Island, in the South Indian Ocean. This island is entirely volcanic in origin and its shape, roughly circular, is a cone of 50 km² culminating at 881 m a.s.l. (Mont de la Dives). The station is located at the Northern part of the island, at few meters a.s.l. Several huts are distributed in the field as support facilities for scientists or visitors. In 2006, the island was listed as natural reserve. Access to some sites of Amsterdam Island is consequently submitted to permits.
Nearest settlement: 2850 (2850 km)
History
On December 31, 1949, an expedition, consisting of 23 people and directed by the meteorologist Paul Martin de Viviès, were brought to Amsterdam Island to remain for eight months, after having installed the first French permanent scientific station in the Subantarctic province.
Research
The research projects implemented at Martin de Viviès station cover a large range of scientific domains: bird and mammal ecology and physiology, atmosphere chemistry, plant and invertebrate ecology as well as long term Earth science observatories in seismology and magnetism. The island provides an ideal location to study the global impact of atmospheric contaminants, increases in CO2 concentration, sulphur, etc.. Following the eradication of part of cattle in 1988, then its total eradication in 2009 in the framework of the natural reserve, monitoring programs were established in order to document the ecosystems resilience. A Phylica planting program has been also implemented in the less degraded sites of the island.
Biodiversity
Amsterdam Island is not a true subantarctic island beacause the climatic conditions at low altitude are subtropical. Only the peat bogs in high altitude exhibit the characteristics of the subantarctic environments, including wingless insects and high endemism of plants and invertebrate species. Numerous fur seal breed along the coasts, as well as a huge colony of Yellow Nose Albatross on the Western cliffs. Breeding Amsterdam Albatross (Diomedea amsterdamensis) are endemic to Amsterdam Island, nesting only on the Plateau des Tourbières. The breeding population has reached 24 to 26 pairs annually and the total population is estimated to be approximately 140-150 birds (source: ACAP http://www.acap.aq). At low altitude, a tree species, Phylica nitida, is present.
Human Presence
There is no permanent population on Amsterdam Island and the number of staff and scientists vary from about 20 in winter up to 35 in summer.
Climate
Scientific Facilities
Equipment
Basic equipments of laboratories (precision scales, microscopes, stove, distilled water etc..)
Access
Access to Martin de Viviès is only by ship. There are no natural ports or airstrips. The Marion Dufresne is the supply vessel operated by TAAF. It visits Kerguelen Islands 4 times per year, in April, August, November and December. The helicopter on board allows unloading equipment and disembarking passengers. The movement within the archipelago is ordinarily walk.
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