e-mail: Denis.Fournier@ulb.ac.be
Research interests
Biological invasions
Biological invasions have major ecological and economical consequences, especially by disrupting trophic cascades and by homogenising biodiversity. Each invasion process is characterised by three stages: the introduction, the establishment of viable populations, and their proliferation in the new environment. Demographic, ecological and genetic mechanisms occur in each stage.
Our researches aim at studying biological invasions in social insects and lie on a combinatory approach including genetic, behavioural, chemical and ecological data.
Life-history traits of humivorous termites
Humus-feeding termites are abundant and ecologically important in soils of neotropical rainforests. However, their reproductive and dispersal strategies remain poorly known.
Our interests are directed towards investigating population genetic structure and reproductive and dispersal strategies of a guyanese Cavitermes species.
Selected publications
Fournier D, Tindo M, Kenne M, et al. (2012) Genetic structure, nestmate recognition and behaviour of two cryptic species of the invasive big-headed ant Pheidole megacephala. PLoS ONE 7, e31480.
Abstract & PDF
Foucaud J, Orivel J, Fournier D, et al. (2009) Reproductive system, social organization, human disturbance and ecological dominance in native populations of the little fire ant, Wasmannia auropunctata. Molecular Ecology 18, 5059-5073.
Abstract & PDF
Fournier D, Aron S (2009) No-male’s land for an Amazonian ant. Current Biology 19, R738-R740.
Abstract & PDF
Fournier D, de Biseau J-C, Aron S (2009) Genetics, behaviour and chemical recognition of the invading ant Pheidole megacephala. Molecular Ecology 18, 186-199.
Abstract & PDF
Aron S, Steinhauer N, Fournier D (2009) Influence of queen phenotype, investment and maternity apportionment on the outcome of fights in cooperative foundations of the ant Lasius niger. Animal Behaviour 77, 1067-1074.
Abstract & PDF
Foucaud J, Fournier D, Orivel J, et al. (2007) Sex and clonality in the little fire ant. Molecular Biology and Evolution 24, 2465-2473.
Abstract & PDF
Fournier D, Estoup A, Orivel J, et al. (2005) Clonal reproduction by males and females in the little fire ant. Nature 435, 1230-1234.
Abstract & PDF
Fournier D, Keller L, Passera L, et al. (2003) Colony sex ratios vary with breeding system but not relatedness asymmetry in the facultatively polygynous ant Pheidole pallidula. Evolution 57, 1336-1342.
Abstract & PDF
Team
PhD students
Romain MOERMAN
phone: +32 (0)2 650 49 58 e-mail: romainmoerman@hotmail.com
-
Multifactorial analyses of bumblebees decline
Nina WAUTERS
phone: +32 (0)2 650 44 97 e-mail: nina.wauters@gmail.com
-
Impact of the invasive ant Solenopsis geminata on the endemic fauna of the Galápagos islands - Genetic and ecological context
MSc students
Quentin STRUELENS
-
Risk prediction of invasive ant species using geospatial models
Previous MSc students
Sophie DE LAET
-
Genetic diversity, intraspecific chemical variations and nestmate recognition in the ant Pheidole pallidula
Nancy DEVAUX
-
Reversion to monogyny in cooperative foundations of the ant Lasius niger - Effects of queen phenotype and social environment
María Luisa Martín Cerezo
-
Predicting the invasion risk by the tropical fire ant Solenopsis geminata across the Galápagos Archipelago
Vanessa VAN BOSSCHE
-
Population genetics, chemical recognition and aggressive behaviours of the invasive ant Pheidole megacephala in its native range
Teaching
BIOL-F-314 Recherche et communication scientifique
ERASMUS Academic coordinator «INcoming students» (Department «Biology of Organisms»)
-
For information concerning intermational exchange programs look at this ULB site
-
-
-
. Erasmus program and details for INcoming (foreign) students (Department «Biology of Organisms»)
-
-
-
The exchange students association in the Europe capital erasmusbrussels.net
Webmaster - Copyright ebe 2012
