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Evolutionary Biology & Ecology (ULB)
ebe.ulb.ac.be/ebe/ebe-Welcome.html
Parent institute: Université Libre de Bruxelles; Faculté des Sciences (ULB), more

MRG keywords (5) : Alien species; Biochemistry; Biodiversity; Molecular biology; Phylogeny
Persons (5)  Top | Publications 
Persons formerly associated with this organization (6)
Abstract:
Research activities within the unit of Evolutionary Biology and Ecology (EBE) focus on five complementary thematics in evolutionary biology:
  • natural substances produced by organisms that share the same environment from their secondary metabolism play a major role in interactions (intra- or interspecific). EBE focuses on pheromones involved in conspecific recognition among insects but also on the role of chemicals in insect-plants interactions (chemical defense, chemical mimicry);

  • problems of biodiversity conservation are studied in the local area and in tropical forest ecosystems. At a local scale (Brussels and suburbs), EBE is interested in the distribution and behaviour of endangered species, which require to study potential competitors in expansion (invasive species). Bats, birds and ladybirds belong to the focus groups. In tropical forest, focus groups are termites and ants but also trees, on wich an evaluation is conducted of the biodiversity and its variations depending on natural environment conditions and human activities impact;

  • evaluation and own development of available statistical tools to characterise the organisation of genetic diversity and identify the processes involved (genetic drift, dispersal, mutation, selection). Study of the genetic structure of societies and populations of social insects (ants, termites), and their social consequences in terms of reproductive strategies. Phylogeographic studies are conducted, at the interface between populations and species, to gain insights into the geographic distribution of genetic variation and on the mechanisms of speciation;

  • gaining of a deeper understanding of the principles that lead evolution of animal societies and the ecological consequences of social life: organisation of societies, reproductive strategies and conflicts within groups. These researches focus on social insects (ants, termites), using several approaches as behaviour, ecology and genetics;

  • studies of alpha taxonomy (identification and description of genus and species) are made in part for their own interest (inventory of living organisms), but also as a basis for studies on biodiversity estimation. Building of phylogenies, thanks to genetic tools, allows to elaborate evolution outlines for other features: social organisation, behaviour, reproduction.


Within these research activities, marine research topics studied are:
  • biology and conservation of marine turtles;
  • delimitation of marine species using molecular markers and morphology;

  • genome assembly and analyses of marine species, with implications for fisheries in the case of species of economic importance;

  • search for novel enzymes and other natural products (such as antibiotics) in the genomes of marine species (e.g., sponge-associated bacteria);

  • phenotypic and physiological plasticity of marine species (such as coral holobionts);

  • comparative analyses of genome sizes in marine organisms, trophic chains in the sea. The taxa studied include corals, crustaceans, sponges as well as vertebrates (turtles, elasmobranchs).
Publications (27)  Top | Persons 
    ( 24 peer reviewed ) split up filter
  • Peer reviewed article Cruz Portorreal, Y.; Beenaerts, N.; Koedam, N.; Reyes Dominguez, O.J.; Milanes, C.B.; Dahdouh-Guebas, F.; Pérez Montero, O. (2024). Perception of mangrove social–ecological system governance in southeastern Cuba. Water 16(17): 2495. https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/w16172495, more
  • Peer reviewed article Ginevra, L.; Sirot, C.; Campbell, H.; Hermand, F.; Brophy, D.; Flot, J.-F.; Graham, C.T. (2024). Do fish gut microbiotas vary across spatial scales? A case study of Diplodus vulgaris in the Mediterranean Sea. Anim. Microbiome 6(1). https://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s42523-024-00319-2, more
  • Peer reviewed article Bizic, M.; Brad, T.; Ionescu, D.; Barbu-Tudoran, L.; Zoccarato, L.; Aerts, J.W.; Contarini, P.-E.; Gros, O.; Volland, J.-M.; Popa, R.; Ody, J.; Vellone, D.; Flot, J.-F.; Tighe, S.; Sarbu, S.M. (2023). Cave Thiovulum (Candidatus Thiovulum stygium) differs metabolically and genomically from marine species. ISME J. 17: 340-353. https://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41396-022-01350-4, more
  • Peer reviewed article Francis, W.R.; Eitel, M.; Vargas, S.; Garcia-Escudero, C.A.; Conci, N.; Deister, F.; Mah, J.L.; Guiglielmoni, N.; Krebs, S.; Blum, H.; Wörheide, G. (2023). The genome of the reef-building glass sponge Aphrocallistes vastus provides insights into silica biomineralization. Royal Society Open Science 10(6): 230423. https://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsos.230423, more
  • Peer reviewed article Steenacker, M.; Tanabe, L.K.; Rusli, M.U.; Fournier, D. (2023). The influence of incubation duration and clutch relocation on hatchling morphology and locomotor performances of green turtle (Chelonia mydas). J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol. 569: 151954. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jembe.2023.151954, more
  • Peer reviewed article Boutet, I.; Alves Monteiro, H.J.; Baudry, L.; Takeuchi, T.; Bonnivard, E.; Billoud, B.; Farhat, S.; Gonzales-Araya, R.; Salaun, B.; Andersen, A.C.; Toullec, J.-Y.; Lallier, F.H.; Flot, J.-F.; Guiglielmoni, N.; Guo, X.; Li, C.; Allam, B.; Pales-Espinosa, E.; Hemmer-Hansen, J.; Moreau, P.; Marbouty, M.; Koszul, R.; Tanguy, A. (2022). Chromosomal assembly of the flat oyster (Ostrea edulis L.) genome as a new genetic resource for aquaculture. Evol. Appl. 15(11): 1730-1748. https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/eva.13462, more
  • Peer reviewed article Farhat, S.; Bonnivard, E.; Espinosa, E.P.; Tanguy, A.; Boutet, I.; Guiglielmoni, N.; Flot, J.-F.; Allam, B. (2022). Comparative analysis of the Mercenaria mercenaria genome provides insights into the diversity of transposable elements and immune molecules in bivalve mollusks. BMC Genom. 23(1): 192. https://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12864-021-08262-1, more
  • Peer reviewed article Ramírez-Portilla, C.; Baird, A.H.; Cowman, P.F.; Quattrini, A.M.; Harii, S.; Sinniger, F.; Flot, J.-F. (2022). Solving the coral species delimitation conundrum. Syst. Biol. 71(2): 461-475. https://dx.doi.org/10.1093/sysbio/syab077, more
  • Peer reviewed article Rodriguez Jimenez, A.; Guiglielmoni, N.; Goetghebuer, L.; Dechamps, E.; George, I.F.; Flot, J.-F. (2022). Comparative genome analysis of Vagococcus fluvialis reveals abundance of mobile genetic elements in sponge-isolated strains. BMC Genom. 23(1): 618. https://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12864-022-08842-9, more
  • Peer reviewed article Vecchioni, L.; Faraone, F.P.; Stoch, F.; Arculeo, M.; Marrone, F. (2022). Diversity and distribution of the inland water decapods of Sicily (Crustacea, Malacostraca). Diversity 14(4): 246. https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/d14040246, more
  • Peer reviewed article Baird, A.H.; Guest, J.R.; Edwards, A.J.; Bauman, A.G.; Bouwmeester, J.; Mera, H.; Abrego, D.; Álvarez-Noriega, M.; Babcock, R.C.; Barbosa , M.B.; Bonito, V.; Burt, J.; Cabaitan, P.C.; Chang, C.-F.; Chavanich, S.; Chen, C.A.; Chen, C.-J.; Chen, W.-J.; Chung, F.-C.; Connolly, S.R.; Cumbo, V.R.; Dornelas, M.; Doropoulos, C.; Eyal, G.; Eyal-Shaham, L.; Fadli, N.; Figueiredo, J.; Flot, J.-F.; Gan, S.-H.; Gomez, E.; Graham, E.M.; Grinblat, M.; Gutiérrez-Isaza, N.; Harii, S.; Harrison, P.L.; Hatta, M.; Ho, N.A.J.; Hoarau, G.; Hoogenboom, M.; Howells, E.J.; Iguchi, A.; Isomura, N.; Jamodiong, E.A.; Jandang, S.; Keyse, J.; Kitanobo, S.; Kongjandtre, N.; Kuo, C.-Y.; Ligson, C.; Lin, C.-H.; Low, J.; Loya, Y.; Maboloc, E.A.; Madin, J.S.; Mezaki, T.; Min, C.; Morita, M.; Moya, A.; Neo, S.-H.; Nitschke, M.R.; Nojima, S.; Nozawa, Y.; Piromvaragorn, S.; Plathong, S.; Puill-Stephan, E.; Quigley, K.; Ramirez-Portilla, C.; Ricardo, G.; Sakai, K.; Sampayo, E.; Shlesinger, T.; Sikim, L.; Simpson, C.; Sims, C.A.; Sinniger, F.; Spiji, D.A.; Tabalanza, T.; Tan, C.-H.; Terraneo, T.I.; Torda, G.; True, J.; Tun, K.; Vicentuan, K.; Viyakarn, V.; Waheed, Z.; Ward, S.; Willis, B.; Woods, R.M.; Woolsey, E.S.; Yamamoto, H.H.; Yusuf, S. (2021). An Indo-Pacific coral spawning database. Scientific Data 8(1): 35. https://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41597-020-00793-8, more
  • Peer reviewed article Montanari, A.; Cerveau, N.; Fiasca, B.; Flot, J.-F.; Galassi, D.; Mainiero, M.; McGee, D.; Namiotko, T.; Recanatini, S.; Stoch, F. (2021). Stygobitic crustaceans in an anchialine cave with an archeological heritage at Vodeni Rat (Island of Sveti Klement, Hvar, Croatia). International Journal of Speleology 50(1): 1-14. https://hdl.handle.net/10.5038/1827-806X.50.1.2342, more
  • Peer reviewed article Terrana, L.; Flot, J.-F.; Eeckhaut, I. (2021). ITS1 variation among Stichopathes cf. maldivensis (Hexacorallia: Antipatharia) whip black corals unveils conspecificity and population connectivity at local and global scales across the Indo-Pacific. Coral Reefs 40(2): 521-533. https://hdl.handle.net/10.1007/s00338-020-02049-8, more
  • Peer reviewed article van der Ven, R.M.; Flot, J.-F.; Buitrago-Lopez, C.; Kochzius, M. (2021). Population genetics of the brooding coral Seriatopora hystrix reveals patterns of strong genetic differentiation in the Western Indian Ocean. Heredity 126(2): 351-365. https://hdl.handle.net/10.1038/s41437-020-00379-5, more
  • Peer reviewed article Zanvo, M.S.; Salako, K.V.; Gnanglè, C.; Mensah, S.; Assogbadjo, A.E.; Kakaï, R.G. (2021). Impacts of harvesting intensity on tree taxonomic diversity, structural diversity, population structure, and stability in a West African mangrove forest. Wetlands Ecol. Manag. 29: 433-450. https://hdl.handle.net/10.1007/s11273-021-09793-w, more
  • Peer reviewed article Baudry, L.; Guiglielmoni, N.; Marie-Nelly, H.; Cormier, A.; Marbouty, M.; Avia, K.; Mie, Y.L.; Godfroy, O.; Sterck, L.; Cock, J.M.; Zimmer, C.; Coelho, S.M.; Koszul, R. (2020). instaGRAAL: chromosome-level quality scaffolding of genomes using a proximity ligation-based scaffolder. Genome Biol. 21(1): 148. https://hdl.handle.net/10.1186/s13059-020-02041-z, more
  • Peer reviewed article Delić, T.; Stoch, F.; Borko, S.; Flot, J.-F.; Fišer, C. (2020). How did subterranean amphipods cross the Adriatic Sea? Phylogenetic evidence for dispersal-vicariance interplay mediated by marine regression-transgression cycles. J. Biogeogr. 47(9): 1875-1887. https://hdl.handle.net/10.1111/jbi.13875, more
  • Peer reviewed article Stoch, F.; Christian, E.; Flot, J.-F. (2020). Molecular taxonomy, phylogeny and biogeography of the Niphargus tatrensis species complex (Amphipoda, Niphargidae) in Austria. Org. Divers. Evol. 20(4): 701-722. https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s13127-020-00462-z, more
  • Peer reviewed article Banguera-Hinestroza, E.; Ferrada, E.; Sawall, Y.; Flot, J.-F. (2019). Computational characterization of the mtORF of pocilloporid corals: insights into protein structure and function in Stylophora lineages from contrasting environments. Genes 10(5): 324. https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/genes10050324, more
  • Peer reviewed article Celis, J.S.; Wibberg, D.; Ramirez-Portilla, C.; Rupp, O.; Sczyrba, A.; Winkler, A.; Kalinowski, J.; Wilke, T. (2018). Binning enables efficient host genome reconstruction in cnidarian holobionts. GigaScience 7(7): 1-12. https://dx.doi.org/10.1093/gigascience/giy075, more
  • Peer reviewed article Dierckxsens, N.; Mardulyn, P.; Smits, G. (2017). NOVOPlasty: de novo assembly of organelle genomes from whole genome data. Nucleic Acids Res. 45(4): e18. https://dx.doi.org/10.1093/nar/gkw955, more
  • Peer reviewed article Fourdrilis, S.; Mardulyn, P.; Hardy, O.J.; Jordaens, K.; de Frias Martins, A.M.; Backeljau, T. (2016). Mitochondrial DNA hyperdiversity and its potential causes in the marine periwinkle Melarhaphe neritoides (Mollusca: Gastropoda). PeerJ 4: 33 pp. https://dx.doi.org/10.7717/peerj.2549, more
  • Peer reviewed article Li, X.; Liu, Y.; Tzika, A.C.; Zhu, Q.; Van Doninck, K.; Milinkovitch, M.C. (2011). Analysis of global and local population stratification of finless porpoises Neophocaena phocaenoides in Chinese waters. Mar. Biol. (Berl.) 158(8): 1791-1804. https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00227-011-1692-9, more
  • Peer reviewed article Tzika, A.C.; D’Amico, E.; Mangel, J.C.; Van Waerebeek, K.; Milinkovitch, M.C. (2010). Molecular identification of small cetacean samples from Peruvian fish markets. Conserv. Genet. 11(6): 2207-2218. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10592-010-0106-8, more
  • Bergacker, S.; Kochzius, M.; Flot, J.-F. (2024). Phylogeography of the semi-pelagic spotted eagle ray (Aetobatus ocellatus), in: Mees, J. et al. Book of abstracts – VLIZ Marine Science Day, 6 March 2024, Oostende. VLIZ Special Publication, 91: pp. 53, more
  • Dissanayake, P.A.K.N.; Huyghe, F.; Op't Roodt, L.; Akbal Keskin, S.; Bergacker, S.; Kochzius, M. (2024). Assessing the population genetics and connectivity patterns of reef fauna in Sri Lanka to define conservation priorities, in: Mees, J. et al. Book of abstracts – VLIZ Marine Science Day, 6 March 2024, Oostende. VLIZ Special Publication, 91: pp. 70, more
  • Stoch, F.; Marrone, F.; Bruno, M.C. (2024). Classes Copepoda and Ichthyostraca, in: Maasri, A. et al. Identification and ecology of freshwater arthropods in the Mediterranean Basin. pp. 131-156. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-821844-0.00012-0, more
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