Research interests
I am a post-doc at the Department of Ecology and Evolution since 2011. I am interested in all factors defining and influencing the temporal, spatial and demographic dynamics of species participating in biological interactions.
During my PhD at the University of Neuchâtel (Switzerland), I worked on the comparative phylogeographies of obligate and specific mutualistic and antagonistic interactions. I have the chance to work on phylogeography, a relatively new and very open-minded area of study. This is how during my career -besides learning several techniques on phylogeography- I could collaborate with different extremely motivated and competent scientists, from whom I acquired knowledge on ecological-niche modeling (Loïc Pellissier) and the potentialities they can provide when combined with genetic data (Bryan Carstens), on more phylogenetic, systematical (Jan Jezek ; Verner Michelsen) and biogeographical topics (Sven Buerki), and on purely ecological and biological topics related to interactions (Marc Gibernau).
Currently, I am interested in the use of next-generation sequencing technology on the investigation of the (co)phylogeography of European plant-insect interactions. My research focuses on two mutualistic, specific and obligate interactions happening on the Eurasian continent:
i) the nursery pollination interaction present between the globeflower (Trollius europaeus) and its Anthomyiids pollinators of genus Chiastocheta;
ii) the oil-collecting pollination displayed by the yellow loosestrife (Lysimachia vulgaris) and its oil-collecting bees of genus Macropis.
