My Scientific interests

My researches focus on the impacts of global changes (alone and in combination) on freshwater ecosystems:

Biogeography, Ecology and taxonomy of freshwater amphipods

Interactions between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems

Effects of climate change/drying on streams

Salinization of freshwaters

Causes and consequences of biological invasions

 

Biogeography, Ecology and taxonomy of freshwater amphipods

Amphipods are one of the most diverse groups of crustaceans with more than 10,300 species. They can be found in all marine habitats (even the deepest ocean trenches), they also colonize freshwaters or terrestrial habitats and play a crucial role in ecosystem functioning. I am mainly interested in the 3,300 freshwater species (epigean, groundwater and semi-terrestrial and terrestrial species). My researches focus on families located around the Mediterranean Basin and in Central Africa (Gammaridae, Pseudoniphargidae and Talitridae). I am currently working on new species from Algeria, Benin, Cameroon, France, Morrocco and Tunisia.

Interactions between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems

In most countries, changes in agricultural practices have greatly accelerated the degradation of the landscape and the functioning of adjacent aquatic ecosystems. Such alterations can in turn impair the services provided by aquatic ecosystems. My research questions are:
- The consequences of agricultural intensification on freshwater ecosystem functioning in Europe and in Africa
- The role played by interfaces (riparian area and hyporheic zone) in these ecosystems
- The leaf litter recycling in streams
- Role of aquatic insects in terrestrial ecosystems

Effects of climate change/drying on streams

Understanding how aquatic ecosystems will respond to climate change in the future is a priority for freshwater science. My research focussed on two questions:
- How can water temperature alter the role played by freshwater species, mainly amphipods, in the ecosystem functioning?
- What are the consequences of drying/drought on freshwater ecosystem functions?

Salinization of freshwaters

Salinization is a global and growing threat which poses a risk of causing severe biodiversity losses and compromising the ecosystem goods and services that rivers, wetlands and lakes of the world provide. Therefore, salinization has been rated as one of the most important stressors for freshwater ecosystems in the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (2005). My specific objectives are:
- To assess the impact of freshwater salinization on different ecosystem functions and trophic interactions.
- To investigate the interaction of freshwater salinization with other stressors (e.g. drought, eutrophication, biological invasions).

Causes and consequences of biological invasions

The establishment of non-indigenous species is one of the most important factors endangering native biodiversity and ecosystem functions in many aquatic ecosystems. In this context, I use freshwater amphipods as model organisms to answer these questions:
- What is the role played by environmental factors in the dispersal of exotic species in freshwater ecosystems?
- How do exotic species alter ecosystem functioning?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last update 18-Oct-2023