The general objective of the works led by the laboratory Biology of the Interactions is to contribute to the understanding of mechanisms at the origin of and which underlie the biodiversity through the study of the interactions between species. These interactions between species represent one of the important dimensions of the biodiversity because they establish the mechanisms which bind the elements of the biodiversity between them. This laboratory is situated on the Agronomic Campus of Kourou, French Guiana, within the buildings INRA of the UMR EcoFoG. Our research activities concern community assembly rules and the ecological adaptation and the plasticity of species traits in answer to the variations and to the constraints of their biotic and abiotic environment. These works lean largely on field studies in an integrative approach associating chemical, behavioral, molecular ecology and functional perspectives. The privileged models of study are leaf litter ants and the networks of mutualist interactions between insects, plants and microorganisms, such as associations between ants, plants and fungi and the trophic aquatic networks of phytotelmes. The interactions of predation and competition are also studied, with ants as main model, through the quantification of the functional processes in which these organisms are involved and of the biochemical and structural characterization of venoms, in a fundamental and applied perspective. This lab possesses: • Binocular loupes (Leica : S8APO (x2), S6T, MZ75, M80 - Wild : M5) with cold-light source (col de cygne), acquired in 2010, they allow the observation of samples of small sizes, with progressive zoom (7,5x à 60x) with a maximal height de 7,5 cm (for S8APO). Object field from 3 cm to 3 mm, according to the zoom level. • Microscope Olympus BX51, acquired in 2010, 4x, 10x, 20x, 40x, 100x. • A macroscope Leica Z16 APO (fully apochromatic zoom system for high contrast, high-resolution, detailed analysis) installed on a single beam path providing 2D images and ensuring parallax-free imaging. The lab uses 0.5x, 1x and 2x objectives, allowing a maximum magnification of 230x and a digital camera DFC450 (max resolution : 2560x1920). • Lyophiliser Alpha 1-2 LD, acquired in 2010. • Heating chamber, acquired in 2013, to maintain samples between 30 and 80°C. • Extractor hood (Sorbone), acquired in 2012, to manipulate toxic products.

The UMR EcoFoG possesses an herbarium reference collection based on samples harvested all along the different forest plots studied by our teams. This collection is maintained by a botanist and stored on the Agronomical Campus of Kourou, INRA building. A Excel database is linked to this collection and the taxa found in it are listed in the Guyafor database. The collection gathers more than 3000 samples representing 74 families, 288 genera and more than 800 taxa.

The “Herbier IRD de Guyane” (CAY) was established in 1965 by R.A.A. Oldeman and harbors nearly 200000 specimens, mostly from French Guiana and nearby countries Suriname, Guyana, Brazil (particularly the state of Amapá), and Venezuela (state of Amazonas). The dataset presented here is the fruit of 30-years’ work by CAY’s staff as well as that of numerous other botanists who have helped make CAY a key scientific platform and leading center of botanical research for the Guiana Shield.

The site Roche Koutou is composed of four 2 to 3km-transects (20m wide). 4411 trees with dbh>=20cm have been recorded by Office national des forêts (ONF). Fauna inventories have been made by Office national de la chasse et de la faune sauvage (ONCFS) few days after. 756 under-storey plants have been inventoried on 34 plots on this site (IRD). Soils have been described using 16 samples (1.20m depth max.). No laboratory analysis available for soils.

The site Toponowini is composed of four 3km-transects (20m wide). 4603 trees with dbh>=20cm have been recorded by Office national des forêts (ONF). Fauna inventories have been made by Office national de la chasse et de la faune sauvage (ONCFS) few days after. 506 under-storey plants have been recorded on 20 25m²-plots by Institut de recherche pour le développement (IRD). Soils have been described using 23 samples (1.20m depth max.). Laboratory analysis are available for two soil-profile.

The site Quartzites is composed of two 3km-transects (20m wide). 2638 trees with dbh>=20cm have been recorded by Office national des forêts (ONF). No fauna inventories available. 276 under-storey plants have been recorded on 17 25m²-plots by Institut de recherche pour le développement (IRD). Soils have been described using 13 samples (1.20m depth max.) and two soil pits (1.50m depth). Laboratory analyses are available for one profile and for the two soil pits

The site Piton de l'Armontabo is composed of four 3km-transects (20m wide). 4054 trees with dbh>=20cm have been recorded by Office National des Forêts (ONF). Fauna inventories have been made by Office national de la chasse et de la faune sauvage (ONCFS) few days after. There is no inventory of under-storey plants on this site. Soils have been described using 15 samples (1.20m depth max.). Laboratory analyses are available for one soil-profile.

The site Yaroupi is composed of four 3km-transects (20m wide). 3965 trees with dbh>=20cm have been recorded by Office national des forêts (ONF). Fauna inventories have been made by Office national de la chasse et de la faune sauvage (ONCFS) few days after. No under-storey plots on this site. Soils have been described using 22 samples (1.20m depth max.). Laboratory analysis are available for one soil-profile.

The Nouragues forestry experimental site is located the Nouragues experimental station in French Guiana (other experimental sites than Nouragues plots are established in Nouragues station). This experimental site is composed by several plots not contiguous, some of them are divided into smaller plots (1ha). For each plot, the following information is recorded for all trees and lianas with DBH ≥ 10cm : 1. location of individuals inside the plot, 2. botanical identification (when it is possible), 3. diameter at breast height, or 30 cm above last aerial root, last buttress or last irregularity, 4. total height of tree (subsample). Since 2012, on Grand Plateau and Petit Plateau : 1. coefficient of light exposure 2. coefficient of infestation by lianas in tree crown.

This “Inventaire Papetier” was conducted by the CTFT in 1975. The block covers 40 556 ha. 25 735 trees have been inventoried in 169 plots (82 ha) Pre-census DBH is 15 cm on all plot (originally trees with DBH 10-15cm have been measured on one plot out of 10 but not included in the digital version) DBH have been measured by classes : 15-20 cm for the first class and with a range of 10 cm since 20 cm. Plots have been located on GIS in 2009 using original maps and field note-books (indicating slopes, rivers, etc...).