The island offered ecologists an opportunity to study the development of a new eco-system by colonising species, a rare experience in Europe as these are usually associated with new volcanic islands.
 Within months of its appearance the first plants, insects and gulls had arrived on the island and by 2010 12 plant species and 30 species of invertebrates were present, of which around a third were considered well established.
 The estuary is rich in marine life and lies on an important bird migration route.
 Quantities of sea rocket on the island provide sustenance for flies, who are preyed upon by invertebrates who also feed on debris left by the gulls.
 Spiders, blown across by the wind, and ants, travelling by driftwood, have also been recorded on the island.

The fragile eco-system is vulnerable to trampling and has been placed at risk by human landings on the island.
 Several music parties, attended by hundreds of people, have disturbed nesting birds and the island has been used as a landing site by the local parachute club.
 Plans were made in 2011 to place the island under protection as part of a maritime conservation zone.
 The island was since brought within the commune of Le Verdon-sur-Mer in the Gironde department for administrative purposes.

The island survived Cyclone Xynthia in February 2010 but lost 3.5 acres (1.4 ha) of its surface area and was moved 50 metres (160 ft) east.
 On 5 October 2015 a group of 50 people landed on the island and claimed it for the department of Charente-Maritime.
 The  group renamed the island "Tahiti" and an aircraft chartered to tow a banner reading "L’île Tahiti est aux Charentais" ("Tahiti island belongs to the Charentais").
 The flag of the department was erected and the official song of the department sung.
 The island was recognised as a hazardous destination by the port authorities in nearby Royan, Charente-Maritime.
 A notice to mariners was issued in 2017 regarding the island and signs were erected on it requesting that people do not land on it.
The island offered ecologists an opportunity to study the development of a new eco-system by colonising species, a rare experience in Europe as these are usually associated with new volcanic islands.  Within months of its appearance the first plants, insects and gulls had arrived on the island and by 2010 12 plant species and 30 species of invertebrates were present, of which around a third were considered well established.  The estuary is rich in marine life and lies on an important bird migration route.  Quantities of sea rocket on the island provide sustenance for flies, who are preyed upon by invertebrates who also feed on debris left by the gulls.  Spiders, blown across by the wind, and ants, travelling by driftwood, have also been recorded on the island.
The fragile eco-system is vulnerable to trampling and has been placed at risk by human landings on the island.  Several music parties, attended by hundreds of people, have disturbed nesting birds and the island has been used as a landing site by the local parachute club.  Plans were made in 2011 to place the island under protection as part of a maritime conservation zone.  The island was since brought within the commune of Le Verdon-sur-Mer in the Gironde department for administrative purposes.
The island survived Cyclone Xynthia in February 2010 but lost 3.5 acres (1.4 ha) of its surface area and was moved 50 metres (160 ft) east.  On 5 October 2015 a group of 50 people landed on the island and claimed it for the department of Charente-Maritime.  The  group renamed the island "Tahiti" and an aircraft chartered to tow a banner reading "L’île Tahiti est aux Charentais" ("Tahiti island belongs to the Charentais").  The flag of the department was erected and the official song of the department sung.  The island was recognised as a hazardous destination by the port authorities in nearby Royan, Charente-Maritime.  A notice to mariners was issued in 2017 regarding the island and signs were erected on it requesting that people do not land on it.
Île Sans Nom