A key deliverable of SENSEI will be an unprecedented consistent analysis of the impact of sea-ice changes on the foraging, demography and population trajectories of sea-ice associated predators, and a consistent set of sea-ice ecosystem change indicators in both the Arctic and the Antarctic. For this, we develop our investigations within the framework of a conceptual model which hypothesizes an optimum condition intermediate between extremes of disturbance. This conceptual model was explored for Adélie penguin population growth in Antarctica and we propose to extend this conceptual model to foraging and demographic performances of sea-ice dependent top predators and to test its predictions using foraging and demographic datasets of seabirds and seals in the Arctic and the Antarctic. This model predicts that foraging performances, demographic parameters and population growth are highest during conditions of moderate sea-ice coverage (or other physical characteristics).  

Barbraud, C., Delord, K., Kato, A., Bustamante, P. & Cherel, Y. 2021. Sexual segregation in a highly pagophilic and sexually dimorphic marine Predator. Peer Community Journal 1, e71. https://doi.org/10.24072/pcjournal.75

Barreau, E., Ropert-Coudert, Y., Delord, K., Barbraud, C. & Kato, A. 2019. Scale matters : sea ice and breeding success of Adélie penguins. Polar Biology 42:1405-1410. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-019-02531-2 

Divoky, G.J., Brown, E. & Elliott. 2021. Reduced seasonal sea ice and increased sea surface temperature change prey and foraging behaviour in an ice-obligate Arctic seabird, Mandt's black guillemots (Cepphus grylle mandtii). Polar Biology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-021-02826-3

Divoky, G., Jan, P.-L. & Barbraud, C. 2024. An ice-obligate seabird responds to a multi-decadal decline in Arctic sea ice. Ecosphere 15:e4970. https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.4970 

Iles, D.T., Lynch, H., Ji, R., Barbraud, C., Delord, K. & Jenouvrier S. 2019. Sea ice predicts long-term trends in Adélie penguin population growth, but not annual fluctuations: results from a range-wide multiscale analysis. Global Change Biology 26: 3788-3798. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.15085

Jenouvrier, S., Aubry, L., van Daalen, S., Barbraud, C., Weimerskirch, H. & Caswell, H. 2022. When the going gets tough, the tough get going: effect of extreme climate on an Antarctic seabird’s life history. Ecology Letters 25:2120-2131. doi:10.1111/ele.14076.

Jenouvrier, S., La Rue, M., Trathan, P. & Barbraud, C. 2023. Emperor penguins on thin sea ice. Frontiers for Young Minds. 11.1052262. doi:10.3389/frym.2023.1052262

Larousse, S., Fraser, A., Sumner, M., Tamura, T., Pinaud, D., Wienecke, B., Kirkwood, R., Ropert-Coudert, Y., Reisinger, R., Jonsen, I., Porter-Smith, R., Barbraud, C., Bost, C.A., Ji, R. & Jenouvrier S. 2019. Dynamic fine-scale sea icescape shapes adult emperor penguin foraging habitat in East Antarctica. Geophysical Research Letters 46:11206-11218. https://doi.org/10.1029/2019GL084347

Labrousse, S., Fraser, A. D., Sumner, M., Le Manach, F., Sauser, C., Horstmann, I., Devane, E., Delord, K., Jenouvrier, S. & Barbraud, C. 2021. Landfast ice: a major driver of reproductive success in a polar seabird. Biology Letters 17:20210097. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2021.0097 

Le Guen, C., Kato, A., Raymond, B., Barbraud, C., Beaulieu, M., Bost, C.-A., Delord, K., MacIntosh, A., Meyer, X., Raclot, T., Sumner, M., Takahashi, A., Thiebot, J.-B. & Ropert-Coudert, Y. 2018. Reproductive performance and diving behavior share a common sea-ice concentration optimum in Adélie penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae). Global Change Biology. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.14377

Le Scornec, E., Allain, J., Bardon, G., Barracho, T., Chatelain, N., Delord, K., Filippi, D., Ribout, C., Le Bohec, C.* & Barbraud, C.* 2025. Intrinsic and extrinsic drivers of juvenile survival in emperor penguins. Polar Biology 48:41. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-025-03369-7

Mestre, J., Authier, M., Cherel, Y., Harcourt, R., Mc Mahon, C. R., Hindell, M. A., Charrassin, J.-B., Guinet, C. 2020. Decadal changes in blood δ13C values, at-sea distribution, and weaning mass of southern elephant seals from Kerguelen Islands. Proceeding of the Royal Society B-Biological Sciences 287, 20201544. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2020.1544 

Michelot, C., Kato, A., Raclot, T. & Ropert-Coudert, Y. 2020. Adélie penguins foraging consistency and site fidelity are conditioned by breeding status and environmental conditions. Plos ONE 16: e0244298. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0244294#ack 

Michelot, C., Kato, A., Raclot, T., Shiomi, K., Goulet, P., Bustamante, P. & Ropert-Coudert, Y. 2020. Sea-ice edge is more important than closer open water access for foraging Adélie penguins: evidence from two colonies. Marine Ecology Progress Series 640: 215-230. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps13289

Pacoureau, N., Delord, K., Jenouvrier, S. & Barbraud, C. 2019. Demographic and population responses of an apex predator to climate and its prey: a long-term study of south polar skuas. Ecological Monographs 89: e01388. https://doi.org/10.1002/ecm.1388

Ropert-Coudert, Y., Kato, A., Shiomi, K., Barbraud, C., Angelier, F., Delord, K., Poupart, T., Koubbi, P., Raclot, T. 2018. Two recent massive breeding failures in an Adélie penguin colony call for the creation of a marine protected area in D’Urville Sea/Mertz. Frontiers in Marine Science. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2018.00264

Sauser, C., Delord, K. & Barbraud, C. 2018. Increased sea ice concentration worsens fledging condition and juvenile survival in a pagophilic seabird, the snow petrel. Biology Letters. 14: 20180140. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2018.0140

Sauser, C., Delord, K. & Barbraud, C. 2021. Sea ice and local weather affects reproductive phenology of a polar seabird with breeding consequences. Ornithological Applications 123: 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1093/ornithapp/duab032 

Sauser, C., Delord, K. & Barbraud, C. 2021. Demographic sensitivity to environmental forcings: a multi-trait, multi-colony approach. Oikos 130: 943-957. https://doi.org/10.1111/oik.07441

Sauser, C., Delord, K. & Barbraud, C. 2023. Demography of cape petrels in response to environmental changes. Population Ecology 65:25-37. https://doi.org/10.1002/1438-390X.12133

Şen, B., Che-Castaldo, C., LaRue, M., Krumhardt, K., Landrum, L., Holland, M., Lynch, H., Delord, K., Barbraud, C. & Jenouvrier, S. 2025. Temporal and spatial equivalence in demographic responses of emperor penguins (Aptenodytes forsteri) to environmental change. Journal of Animal Ecology 94:932-942. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2656.70025

Sun, R., Fay, R., Ventura, F., Şen, B., Barbraud, C., Delord, K., Krumhardt, K. & Jenouvrier, S. 2024. Climate change impacts pair-bond dynamics in a long-lived monogamous species. Ecology Letters 27:e14555. https://doi.org/101111/ele.14555

Tartu, S., Blévin, P., Bustamante, P., Angelier, F., Bech, C., Bustnes, J. O., Chierici, M., Fransson, A., Gabrielsen, G. W., Goutte, A., Moe, B., Sauser, C., Sire, J., Barbraud, C. & Chastel, O. 2022. A U-turn for mercury concentrations over 20 years: how do environmental conditions affect exposure in Arctic seabirds? Environmental Science & Technology 56:2443-2454. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.1c07633

Vacquie-Garcia, J., Spitz, J., Hammill, M., Stenson, G., Kovacs, K.M., Lydersen, C., Chimienti, M., Mendez-Fernandez, P. & Jeanniard du Dot, T. 2024. Evolution of the foraging habits of an ice-associated seal in the past 30 years and projection of their future suitable habitats in response to a global warming scenario: the case study of the North West hooded seal stock, Cystophora cristata. Global Change Biology 30:e17186.https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/gcb.17186

Viollat, L., Quéroué, M., Delord, K., Gimenez, O. & Barbraud, C. 2024. Bottom-up effects drive the dynamic of an Antarctic seabird predator-prey system. Ecology 105:e4367. https://doi.org/10.1002/ecy.4367

Antoine, Adélie, 2022. Analysis of micro-sonar and movement tag to study the biotic environment and predator-prey interactions in Antarctic Weddell seals. Master 2 Biodiversité, Ecologie et Evolution,  Sorbonne Université, supervisors Sara Labrousse, Jean-Benoit Charrassin. Download pdf

Antoine, Adélie, 2022-2025. Ecologie alimentaire des phoques de Weddell en réponse à la variabilité interannuelle des conditions océanographique et de la glace de mer en Terre-Adélie, Antarctique de l’Est. Thèse de Doctorat, Sorbonne Université. Financement GDR CNRS OMER, supervisors Sara Labrousse, Jean-Benoit Charrassin

Barreau, Emmanuelle. 2018. How inter-annual variations in sea-ice conditions affect the breeding success of Adélie penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae)?. Master 2, Université de La Réunion, supervisors Akiko Kato, Christophe Barbraud, Yan Ropert-Coudert. Download pdf

Bova, Bastien. 2020. Étude de la faisabilité d’évaluer la biomasse en chlorophylle dans la banquise antarctique à partir d’animaux marins instrumentés. Master 1 MOCIS, Sorbonne Université, supervisors Martin Vancoppenolle, Jean-Benoit Charrassin. Download pdf

Bova, Bastien. 2021. Étude de la faisabilité d’évaluer la biomasse en chlorophylle dans la banquise antarctique à partir d’animaux marins instrumentés. Master 2 MOCIS, Sorbonne Université, supervisors Martin Vancoppenolle, Jean-Benoit Charrassin. Download pdf

Héliot, Swann. 2021. Impact de l'environnement océanographique sur le comportement de recherche alimentaire des phoques à capuchon (Cystophora cristata). Master 2, Université de Strasbourg, supervisor Tiphaine Jeanniard du Dot. Download pdf

Le Scornec, Ewen. 2023. Démographie du manchot empereur: apports des suivis récents par capture-marquage-recapture. Master 2, Université de Montpellier Biologie Ecologie, supervisors Christophe Barbraud, Céline Le Bohec.

Mendez-Bye, Andrea. 2023-2026. Impacts of climate change on diving behaviours and foraging success of a keystone species in the Arctic: the hooded seal. Thèse de Doctorat, La Rochelle Université. Financement MESRI Collaboration Internationale. Supervisors : Tiphaine Jeanniard du Dot, Ruth Joy. 

Mestre, Julie. 2017-2020. Entre variabilité interannuelle et stratégies individuelles : effets des paramètres environnementaux sur l’écologie alimentaire et le succès reproducteur des éléphants de mer de l’archipel de Kerguelen. Thèse de Doctorat, Sorbonne Université Paris – Soutenance le 18 Décembre 2020, supervisors Christophe Guinet and Jean-Benoît Charrassin. Download pdf

Michelot, Candice. 2017-2020. Le manchot Adélie, sentinelle de la glace de mer : étude du comportement de recherche alimentaire en réponse aux variations environnementales en période de reproduction. Thèse de Doctorat, La Rochelle Université – Soutenance le 18 Septembre 2020, supervisors Yan Ropert-Coudert a,d Akiko Kato. Download pdf

Pacoureau, Nathan. 2015-2018. Influence de la variabilité climatique, de l’abondance de proies, de la densité-dépendance et de l'hétérogénéité individuelle chez des prédateurs supérieurs longévifs : de l’individu à la population. Thèse de Doctorat, La Rochelle Université - Soutenance le 26 octobre 2018, supervisor Christophe Barbraud. Download pdf

Sauser, Christophe. 2017-2020. Les oiseaux marins polaires, sentinelles de la glace de mer : Réponses démographiques et traits d’histoire de vie. Thèse de Doctorat, La Rochelle Université – Soutenance le 25 septembre 2020, supervisor Christophe Barbraud. Download pdf

Schatz, Camille. 2022-2025. Impact des changements globaux sur la démographie des prédateurs marins vulnérables: une approche comparative. Thèse de Doctorat, La Rochelle Université - en cours, supervisor Christophe Barbraud.

Vacquié-Garcia, Jade. 2021-2023. Lively-Hoods: Evolution of the foraging strategies of an ice-associated seal facing the drastic changes occurring in the Arctic in the last 30 years: the case study of the two hooded seal stocks, Cystophora cristata. Postdoc, CEBC-La Rochelle Université, en collaboration avec Tiphaine Jeanniard du Dot, Jérôme Spitz et Baptiste Picard. 

• • EURING Analytical Meeting & Workshop, 17-21 April 2023, Montpellier, France (C. Barbraud, K. Delord, C. Schatz)

  • Symposium "Sea-ice and seabirds: an amphipolar perspective of the impacts on foraging and demography" at the World Seabird Conference 3, 4-8 October 2021, Hobart, Australia (animated by C. Barbraud)

  • World Seabird Conference 3, 4-8 October 2021, Hobart, Australia (C. Barbraud et al.)

  • World Seabird Conference 3, 4-8 October 2021, Hobart, Australia (P.-L. Jan et al.)

  • World Seabird Conference 3, 4-8 October 2021, Hobart, Australia (S. Jenouvrier et al.)

  • World Marine Mammal Science Conference, 9-12 December 2019, Barcelona, Spain (J. Mestre et al.)

  • American Fisheries Society & The Wildlife Society, October 2019, Reno, USA (F. Abadi et al.)

  • Wildlife Research and Conservation, 30 September-3 October 2019, Berlin, Germany (C. Barbraud)

  • European Ornithologist' Union, 26-30 August 2019, Cluj-Napoca, Romania (C. Michelot et al.)

  • Ma thèse en 180 secondes, 7 March 2019, La Rochelle, France (C. Michelot)

  • Ma thèse en 180 secondes, 7 March 2019, La Rochelle, France (C. Sauser)

  • Comité National Français de la Recherche en Artcique et Antarctique (CNFRA) - 15-17 May 2019, Paris, France (C. Michelot et al.)

  • American Geophysical Union, 10-14 December 2018, Washington DC, USA (G. Divoky)

  • 14èmes journées scientifiques du Comité National Français des Recherches Antarctiques, 25-27 April 2018, Strasbourg, France (C. Sauser et al.)

  • 14èmes journées scientifiques du Comité National Français des Recherches Antarctiques, 25-27 April 2018, Strasbourg, France (C. Michelot et al.)

  • Réunion annuelle de l’équipe Prédateurs Marins du CEBC, 18 May 2018, La Rochelle, France (P. Goulet et al.; E. Barreau et al.; C. Sauser et al.)

  • International Seabird Goup Conference, 3-6 September 2018, Liverpool, UK (N. Pacoureau et al.)

  • Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research Open Science Conference, 19-23 June 2018, Davos, Switzerland (N. Pacoureau et al.)

  • 6th International Bio-logging Science Symposium, 25-29 September 2017, Lake Constance, Germany (P. Goulet et al.)

  • 6th International Bio-logging Science Symposium, 25-29 September 2017, Lake Constance, Germany (A. Takahashi et al.)

  • Arctic Change 2017 Conference, 11-15 December 2017, Québec City, Canada (symposium « Pagophilia in a world without ice : Ecology of ice-associated wildlife in the 21st century » organised by K. Elliott, G. Divoky, C. Barbraud)

  • Arctic Change 2017 Conference, 11-15 December 2017, Québec City, Canada (T. Jeanniard-du-Dot et al.)

  • Arctic Change 2017 Conference, 11-15 December 2017, Québec City, Canada (G. Divoky et al.)

  • Arctic Change 2017 Conference, 11-15 December 2017, Québec City, Canada (K. Elliot et al.)

  • Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research Biology Symposium, 10-14 July 2017, Leuven, Belgium (C. Barbraud, invited speaker)