Current projects
Intrinsic and extrinsic factors influencing gene flow in wild Trinidadian guppies (main thesis)
For my thesis I am focusing on several factors that can affect gene flow in wild populations. On a large scale, I am studying the effect of geography, and how historical and recent gene flow events influence adaptive traits (Chapter 1), as well as the effect of intense flood events on gene flow (Chapter 2). On a smaller scale, I'm investigating the effect of water flow on the rheotaxis behavior of guppies (Chapter 3). Finally, on a tiniest scale, I'm interested to characterize the skin microbiome of guppies that come from populations with or without ectoparasites, and the interaction between microbiome and parasites (Chapter 4). This work is done under the supervision of Andrew Hendry and Marilyn Scott at McGill University (Montréal, Canada), and in collaboration with Paul Bentzen at Dalhousie University (Halifax, Canada). |
Genetic diversity of Oilbird colonies (side project)
Oilbirds are fascinating birds that live at night, nest and use echolocation to navigate in caves. They are both ecologically and evolutionary unique, as they are the only species in their family. Little is known about the dispersal of this bird, and we are interested to characterize the genetic diversity of several colonies of Oilbirds in Trinidad, to better understand gene flow and movement patterns of this species. This work is in collaboration with Mike Rutherford from the University of the West Indies (Saint Augustine, Trinidad), and Martin Collinson from the University of Aberdeen (Aberdeen, United Kingdom). |
Past projects
Master internships
- “You are what you eat”: Individual feeding strategies of breeding lesser black-backed gulls and mercury contamination. Under the supervision of Luc Lens at Ghent University. Publication doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.05.286
- Dispersal movements in the large white butterfly Pieris brassicae. Under the supervision of Michel Baguette at the Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle (Paris, France).
- Morphometric study of Drosophila suzukii wing during the European invasion. Under the supervision of Vincent Debat at the Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle (Paris, France)