Specialisms

• Animal Behaviour
• Animal Physiology
• Ecology
• Evolution

Research Overview

• Ageing
• Life history theories
• Metabolism, mitochondrial function & oxidative stress
• Personality traits & cognition
• Signalling in sexual and social contexts

Current Research

The common thread that runs through my different research topics is the mitochondrion.

Mitochondria are small organelles present in most animal cells that are responsible to convert food into cellular energy. Hence, mitochondria functions are vital to support growth, reproduction and body maintenance, and ultimately for a healthy living. My current research aims to better understand (1) the sources of variation in mitochondrial function and (2)their consequences at the phenotypic level.

1. Sources of variation in mitochondrial function

A fascinating aspect of mitochondria biology is that they possess their own genome that is inherited through the mother only, whereas the nuclear genome is inherited from both parents. Because ultimately mitochondrial function relies on a ‘machinery’ with pieces that are encoded both in the mitochondrial and nuclear genomes, key questions are whether some mito-nuclear genome combination leads to more efficient/deficient mitochondria, and whether epigenetic interaction between these two genomes helps resolve conflicts.

To address these questions, I have developed a unique study system of four experimental lines of wild-derived voles with distinct combinations of mitochondrial and nuclear genomes (nuclear^{mitochondrial}: C^C, C^W, W^C, W^W). This is allowing me to perform the most comprehensive study so far in a mammal species on effects of these two genomes on traits ranging from epigenetic variation in the mitochondrial and nuclear genomes and mitochondrial functions to the whole organism metabolism and metabolic health.

Main collaborator: Dr Antoine Stier (Turku), Dr Tyler Stevenson (Glasgow)

2. Linking mitochondrial function to the phenotype

Mitochondria & life history theories

Life histories describe how organisms grow, mature, reproduce and age, and substantial evidence has now accumulated that most of the variation in life histories of mammals and birds falls along a slow-fast continuum. Organisms with slow paces of life are characterised by slow growth, delayed maturity, low reproductive investments and extended lifespan, whereas organisms with fast paces of life possess the opposite combination of traits. The absence of alternative combinations of these traits implies constraints on the diversification of life histories. Besides the production of cellular energy vital to ensure growth, reproduction and maintenance, mitochondria are also producing reactive oxygen production (ROS) that can damage the cell and hasten ageing. Hence, variation in mitochondrial function may play a key role in shaping animal life history trajectories.

I am investigating the links between mitochondria, oxidative stress and life history trajectories in various animal species, both in the lab and in the field.

Main collaborators: Dr Antoine Stier (Turku) and Dr François Criscuolo (Strasbourg)

Mitochondria & behavioural and cognitive traits

Inter-individual variation in cognitive abilities, such as learning, has been related to variation in reproductive success in the wild. However, whether learning has a causal influence on reproductive success is an open question. Notably, it remains unclear how ageing, cognition and reproductive performance are inter-connected. Dysfunction in mitochondrial function with age can lead to a gradual accumulation of oxidative damage in the brain and muscles, which in turn may account for a spurious association between cognitive abilities and (reproductive) performance. A causal association between cognitive abilities and reproductive performance can arise through a better exploitation of the habitat. Because dietary antioxidants can mitigate cognitive ageing and improve reproduction, an alternative hypothesis is that cognitive abilities are key attributes allowing individuals to better exploit their habitat, increase reproductive success and live longer and healthier.

I am addressing this topic by measuring mitochondrial function, oxidative stress, cognitive abilities and reproductive performance in wild bird populations.

Main collaborators: Dr Blandine Doligez (Lyon) and Dr Laure Cauchard (Montreal)

Supervision

Current post-doctoral fellows and PhD students

Post-doctoral fellows

2018-23  Dr Laure Cauchard (2-year fellowship from the Canadian Science Foundation & 2.5-year Marie Curie Fellowship. Project title: Testing the importance of oxidative stress and dietary antioxidants in linking cognitive traits and fitness in free living animals

Ph.D. students, main advisor (3 to 4-year project)

2020-24  Michela Dumas. DTP University of Ottawa. Jointly supervised with Dr Julien Martin, University of Ottawa, Canada. Project title:  Sexual selection and mate choice in a species with little apparent sexual dimorphism, the Alpine swift

2018-22  Francesca Gray. NERC QUADRAT DTP. Jointly supervised with Dr Rory Doherty, Queen's University Belfast, and Dr Christoph Meier, Swiss Ornithological Station. Project title: Flying sentinels: using a long-distance migratory bird to assess exposure to POPs over two continents and their health consequences

2018-22  Christina Biamis. NERC QUADRAT DTP. Jointly supervised with Prof Gary Hardiman, Queen's University Belfast, and Prof Paul Thompson, University of Aberdeen. Project title: Actions of endocrine-disrupting chemicals in seabirds

2018-22  Mark Williamson. BBSRC EASTBIO DTP. Jointly supervised with Dr Cath Jones, University of Aberdeen, and Dr Leighton Pritchard, James Hutton Institute. Project title: Interactions of microbiota and invasive molluscan crop pests: impacts on food security and ecosystem services in a changing world

2018-21  Tracey Hammer. IDEX DTP, Strasbourg. Jointly supervised with Dr Jean-Patrice Robin and Dr Vincent Viblanc, University of Strasbourg, France. Project title: Impact of social and environmental pressures on King penguins’ quality and fitness

2017-21  Alexandra Jebb. BBSRC EASTBIO DTP. Jointly supervised with Dr Julien Martin, University of Aberdeen. Project title:  Effects of early and adult environment conditions on the biology of long-lived species: testing the predictive adaptive response hypothesis.

Past students and post-doctoal researchers

Post-doctoral fellows

2011-14  Dr Vincent Viblanc (one-year fellowship from the Fyssen Foundation, France; two-year fellowship from the AXA Foundation); Vincent is now a permanent researcher at the CNRS, Strasbourg, France

2014-15  Dr Luiza Duarte (one-year fellowship from the CAPES Brazilian Science Foundation)

Ph.D. students

2013-16  Quentin Schull. Doctoral School of Strasbourg. Jointly supervised with Dr Jean-Patrice Robin and Dr Vincent Viblanc, University of Strasbourg, France. Quentin is now permanent researcher at IFREMER, Sete, France.

2011-15  Charlotte Récapet. Doctoral School of Lyon. Jointly supervised with Dr Blandine Doligez, University of Lyon, France. Charlotte is now an Assistant Professor at the University of Pau, France.

2009-14  Mikko Lehto Hürlimann. Swiss NSF. University of Lausanne, Switzerland. Mikko is now a permanent researcher at Agroscope, Switzerland.

Ph.D. visiting student, (1-year project) | 1 student

2014-15  Barbara Henning. One year PhD sandwich from the CAPES Brazilian Science Foundation. Barbara is currently a post-doctoral researcher at State University Campinas, Brazil.

 M.S. students, main advisor (6 to 12-month project) | >40 students so far

B.S. and Hons. students, main advisor (3 to 4-month project) | >40 students so far

Research Funding and Grants

As Principal Investigator

2019 -23        NERC, QUADRAT DTP, PhD studentship

2018               Carnegie Trust, research incentive grant           

2018               Grants Academy, University of Aberdeen

2015               British Ornithological Union

2015               Percy Sladen Memorial Fund, research grant

2014               British Ecological Society, research grant

2014               Royal Society of London, research grant

2014               Carnegie Trust, travel grant

2013               Fondation Agassiz, University of Lausanne, research grant

2012 - 13        Swiss National Science Foundation, SNF research grant

2009 - 12        Swiss National Science Foundation, SNF research grant

2005 -08         Swiss National Science Foundation, SNF post-doctoral fellowship

Asoociated as Co-Investigator

2021-24         French NSF (ANR Agence Nationale pour la Recherche). PI: B.Doligez, CNRS Lyon 1, France

2020 - 23       EU Horizon 2020, Marie Curie PDR fellowship awared to Dr Laure Cauchard to come to Aberdeen

2019 - 23       NERC, QUADRAT DTP, PhD studentship: PI: G. Hardiman, Queen University Belfast

2019 - 22        International programme to support scientific cooperation (CNRS-PICS) between France and UK. CNRS, France. PI: Dr J.-P. Robin, CNRS-Strasbourg, France

2018 - 22       BBSRC, EASTBIO DTP, PhD studentship: PI: C. Jones, University of Aberdeen

2017 -21        BBSRC, EASTBIO DTP, PhD studentship: PI: J. Martin, University of Aberdeen

2016 - 18       Institut Polaire Français Paul Emile Victor, France. PI: Dr J-P Robin, CNRS-Strasbourg, France.

2015 - 16        Institut Polaire Français Paul Emile Victor, France. PI: Dr J-P Robin Robin, CNRS-Strasbourg, France.

2011 - 14        Institut Polaire Français Paul Emile Victor, France. PI: Dr J-P Robin Robin, CNRS-Strasbourg, France.

2010 - 13        International programme to support scientific cooperation (CNRS-PICS) between France and Switzerland. PI: Dr F Criscuolo, CNRS-Strasbourg, France.

2010                Projets Exploratoires Pluridisciplinaires (PEPS). CNRS, France. PI: Dr B Doligez, CNRS-Lyon, France.