Biology
Africa is home to an enormous variety of species and ecosystems of global importance.
To further knowledge of African biodiversity, we study the taxonomy and phylogeny of different groups of vertebrates and invertebrates using morphological and genetic approaches.
We also study the structure and function of wood, as well as the role of trees and fauna in various African ecosystems. Our researchers assess the impact of human activities on these ecosystems.
Our research combines fieldwork and the study of our collections, which contain 10 million specimens.
We also have two services, JEMU (Joint Experimental Molecular Unit) and BopCo (barcoding facility for organisms and tissues of policy concern), which focus on certain molecular biology techniques.
Our objective is to improve and disseminate our knowledge of African biodiversity through publications, online databases and training courses.
Exchanging knowledge with our African partners is a key focus of our work.