PhD thesis, 2011-2014, Centre d'études Biologiques de Chizé (France)
My PhD thesis was supervised by Olivier Chastel at CEBC, and its main question was to study the relationships between persistent organic pollutants (POPs), mercury (Hg) and three major hormonal axes involved in breeding decisions. These axes were those involved in the secretion of stress hormones (glucocorticoids), reproductive hormones (GnRH, LH) and a hormone involved in parental care (prolactin). I studied polar seabirds, mainly black-legged-kittiwakes Rissa tridactyla and snow petrels Pagodroma nivea. These hormonal axes facilitate an individual’s ability to cope with a stressor during reproduction or parental care. An adequate response of these hormonal axes can predict further fitness features such as reproductive success or survival. In brief, we were able to show that POPs, especially PCBs can disrupt the secretion of stress hormones whereas Hg would rather affect prolactin secretion. All the obtained results were published and are listed here!
Post-doc, 2015-2018, Norwegian Polar Institute (Norway)
I spent around three years north to the polar circle at the Norwegian Polar Institute in Tromsø where I studied polar bears and whales with Heli Routti. I mostly investigated the effects of POPs and PFASs on energy metabolism biomarkers (Bear Energy project). In addition, using diet proxies (i.e. nitrogen and carbon stable isotopes) and/or GPS collars, I was able to determine which sources better predicted which type of pollutants as well as to identifying the environmental and biological factors influencing temporal- (seasonal variations) and spatial-heterogeneity (variations according to feeding area) of organic pollutants exposure.
Post-doc, 2019, Centre d'études Biologiques de Chizé (France)
After my postdoc in Norway I returned to CEBC for a new project with Christophe Barbraud and Olivier Chastel, where I studied Hg temporal trends and how environmental conditions could influence kittiwakes exposure. We studied blood Hg concentrations over 20 years in Svalbard kittiwakes and observed a U-shaped Hg trend over the years. In the early 2000s, the high Hg concentrations were likely related to a higher proportion of Arctic prey in kittiwake’s diet. The gradual input of Atlantic prey in kittiwake diet could have resulted in a decrease of Hg concentrations until 2013. Then, a new shift in prey community, added to the shrinking sea-ice associated release of Methyl-Hg in the ocean could explain the increasing trend of Hg observed since 2014.
Post-doc, 2020-2022, Centre d'études Biologiques de Chizé (France)
After nine years spent studying polar marine top predators, I decided to learn more about local pollution issues, and smaller study models. I joined the team of François Brischoux to dive into amphibians, nocturnal fieldwork and indoor experiments. The project aimed at understanding the effects of glyphosate's primary metabolite (AMPA) exposure on spined toad Bufo spinosus. We observed strong effects of AMPA on deformity occurrence on hatchlings, effects on coloration in adults and effects on gut microbiota composition in both tadpoles and adults.
Post-doc, 2022-2024, Université de Liège (Belgium)
In 2021 I was awarded a Marie-Curie grant to study the effects of pharmaceutical pollution on gut microbiome and its consequences on the host health. I was hosted by Liège University in Belgium, and my project was supervised by Johan Michaux (GeCoLAB), Pascal Fournier and Christine Fournier-Chambrillon from the GREGE in France. The aims of this research action were to 1) determine the variation of gut microbiota composition according to biological factors, 2) investigate a threshold effect level for which pharmaceuticals could lead to health effects, 3) test if the individuals with high concentrations of pharmaceuticals were more likely to develop infectious diseases. I investigated these questions in the American mink Neovison vison, an invasive species in France. Some instrument failure and methodological issues have delayed the results but I will be sharing those very soon and everything will be summarized here :)
No fieldwork picture here, just wonderful colleagues!
