My research is in the fields of evolutionary ecology. I work chiefly on the evolution of life history traits and include immunity among them. For instance, I’m focused on the interplays between hosts’ characteristics (condition, immunity, age, …) and the exploitation strategies evolved by parasites and their effects on infection outcomes on both host and parasite fitness. In this research area, I also investigate whether anthropogenic modifications of environment (ie habitat artificialization or fragmentation, change in parasite exposure, contaminant circulation…) may affect host immunity through alteration of life history options opened to organisms, and how this may offer opportunity for parasites to spread within and among populations.
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This entails using both descriptive and experimental approaches, field and lab studies, and several techniques to measure immune reaction, from visual assessment of haemagglutination to flow cytometry to quantify circulating cytokines and immunity gene expression.
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Additionally, in a more applied field, I’m involved in long term monitoring of riparian bird communities to investigate whether bird assemblages of these upstream-downstream polarized systems show changes over several decades, and if these changes are consequence of specific alteration of stream dynamic or/and consequences of global warming.
LAB MICE – Evolutionary significance of regulation mechanisms of inflammation :
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how regulation modulates the negative outcomes of immune activation in terms of auto-immune damage and consequences on host’s fitness.
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how immune evasion strategies evolved by parasites for their own persistence and spread within the infected organism (for instance, the down-regulation of the host’s immune response) may shape the benefits/costs ratio of immune activation and affect host fitness.
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how environment imposed by host immunity affects down-regulation strategies expressed by parasites and with which outcomes on host and parasite fitness.
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GREAT AND BLUE TITS – Influence of urbanization on life history traits and immunity :
Is urban habitat more constraining than forest habitat on tit immune response, and if yes which environmental variables (resources, contaminants, …) could be causal factors with which consequences on trade-offs between immune response and other life-history traits.
SEVERAL CARIBBEAN AND GUIANESE TERRESTRIAL BIRDS – Influence of forest fragmentation on bird populations :
Given that many forest tropical bird species are reluctant to disperse across unsuitable habitats, what are the consequence on inter-tropical forest fragmentation on spatial genetic structuration, morphology, immune abilities and parasite prevalence.
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RIPARIAN BIRD COMMUNITIES OF LOIRE AND ALLIER RIVERS – Long term change in bird communities :
Are there specific changes of riparian ecosystems that explain long term change in bird community composition, and that may enhance or dampen expected effects of global warming on bird communities?
IMMUNITY AND SEXUAL SELECTION - This research focused on resource allocation trade-offs between immune response and the expression of secondary sexual traits. Model : Blackbird Turdus merula.
SENESCNECE, OXIDATIVE STRESS AND LIFE HISTORY TRAITS – This research explored whether oxidative stress components may mediate trade-offs between life history traits through age. Model : Zebra finch Taeniopygia guttata.
HABITAT SELECTION AND CONSERVATION – Interference between forest exploitation and habitat selection in raptor species. Model : European goshawk Accipiter gentilis.
SECONDARY CONTACT BETWEEN SIBLING BIRD SPECIES – This research explored ecological and evolutionary consequences (including hybridization) of secondary contact between sibling species. Model : icterine and melodious warblers Hippolais icterina and H. polyglotta.