Planktonic compartment of Ahe Atoll (Tuamotu Archipelago, French Polynesia): potential preys for pearl oyster Pinctada margaritifera

Among coral reef systems, Tuamotu atolls are of great interest because they are very productive compared to the surrounding ocean and they host numerous pearl oysters farms in their lagoons, with a high economic value. To improve the understanding of the nutritional behavior of larvae, juveniles and adults of the pearl oyster Pinctada margaritifera, an European program has begun in 2008 for 3 years (1) to study the planktonic productivity of Ahe atoll and (2) to evaluate experimentally the contribution of the various nature and size of organisms and particles (Transparent Exopolymeric Particle, bacteria, piconanophytoplancton, microphytoplankton, protists, metazooplankton) to the diet of pearl oysters.