Project Description

Project Context :

For the exploitation of hydraulic power at Petit-Saut, in 1994, the dam flooded a primary tropical forest, hence altering the scenery and ecosystem balance. Thousands of submerged trees, remnants of the original forest, now provide habitat for numerous species. Since 2022, an industrial project has been harvesting dead logs on a large scale, primarily for biomass, modifying the ecological balance. Logging of the submerged forest raises ecological concerns, particularly for the giant otter, an endangered species inhabiting the reservoir, whose local population status has not yet been assessed.

Project Objectives :

This project aims to assess and preserve the remarkable biodiversity of the Petit-Saut Lake in French Guiana by developing standardized monitoring protocols for the Giant Otter. It combines field observations, camera traps, and eDNA to estimate population size, territories, and habitat use. The objective is to establish a baseline of the populations to support management and anticipate the impacts of deadwood extraction activities on this ecosystem.

Project Results

The project aims to estimate the population and group structure of giant otters in Petit-Saut Lake, define the size of their territories, and analyze habitat use. These results will support the development of standardized protocols for conservation.

To go further

Useful Links :

https://hal.inrae.fr/ECOFOG/hal-04380529v1

Contact : marina.ciminera[at]ofb.gouv.fr