Staff

DECANTER Nolwenn

Ph.D. Student Theme(s) : Population dynamics, life history trait, Ecology Phone: +33 2 2348 70 38 Email : nolwenn.decanter@inrae.fr Address: UMR DECOD, 65 rue de Saint-Brieuc Bât. 19, CS 84215, 35042 Rennes Cedex, France Keywords: Evolutionary biology, Population genetics, Reproductive isolation, Bioinformatics, Sex determination and differentiation

Expertise

Evolutionary biology, Population genetics, Reproductive isolation, Bioinformatics, Sex determination and differentiation

Current Position

Ph.D. student supervised by Guillaume Evanno (Ecology and Ecosystem Health research unit – INRA – France) and Thomas Boehm (Max Planck Institute of immunology and epigenetics – Germany)

Research

Title of the thesis

Genomic divergence and speciation in lampreys

Current Research Topics

The thesis research will investigate the genomic basis of species divergence using lampreys as model system. Two paired species found in Europe are used: Lampetra fluviatilis (LF) and Lampetra planeri (LP). Despite distinct life histories, both species use the same breeding habitats and may represent two ecotypes of a single species.

The objectives of the thesis are to:

• Identify the genomic regions linked to the divergence between both species using available genomic data

• Measure the level of hybridization in wild LF and LP populations and the frequency of different hybrids types using SNPs genotyping. Controlled crosses with hybrids and individuals from both parental species will be performed to measure the viability of different hybrid types.

• Investigate the role of immune system genes in reproductive isolation. Controlled crosses will also be performed to test the effect of genes of the immune system on pre-zygotic reproductive isolation. This part of the project will be conducted in close collaboration with the laboratory of Thomas Boehm in Freiburg.

Current projects

M.Sc. Students