e-mail: Hugo.Ducret@ulb.be
Research interests
I see myself as a generalist marine biologist with various research interests, from molecular ecology to conservation biology. My research currently focuses on coral reefs ecology and photobiology.
PhD research project (FNRS ‘ASP’ grant)
On the impact of decreased light intensity on Montipora capitata corals
Supervisor: Jean-François Flot (ebe)
How does reduced light intensity influence the biology of Montipora capitata corals? Acclimation to decreased levels of light intensity, such as along a depth gradient, change how corals grow and respond to environmental stressors. To explore these changes, we designed an in-situ experiment wherein we grew depth-generalist M. capitata coral colonies at ambient light and 73% reduced light for two years. We then looked at how coral-symbiont symbiosis, heat and light stress response, and three-dimensional growth patterns are impacted.
Through this exciting scientific journey between the Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB) and the Hawai’i institute of Marine Biology (HIMB), I found myself learning skills and expertise in various research disciplines and methods, from extensive field missions at the HIMB coral nursery, to the use of Nanopore Technologies (ONT) sequencing tools, and the analysis of heavy biological datasets.
Ethnobiology
Besides my Ph.D. project, I have a deep interest in ethnobiology. Spending time in Hawai’i as an ecologist made me familiar with the basics of traditional Hawaiian land knowledge systems, such as the concepts of ‘āina, and ahupua‘a. This sharpened my sensitivity to traditional ecological knowledges of other people and parts of the world. I ultimately wish to combine ethnobiology with research in biology and ecology to tackle conservation issues.
Publications
Ducret H, Suchocki C, Bardin C, Lewis C, Permentier T, Hardt M, Kochzius M, Toonen R, Flot J-F (2024) Shading does not lower thermal tolerance in the coral Montipora capitata: implications for conservation intervention. bioRxiv 2024-11.
Ducret H, Timm J, Rodríguez-Moreno M, Huyghe F, Kochzius M (2022) Strong genetic structure and limited connectivity among populations of Clark’s Anemonefish (Amphiprion clarkii) in the centre of marine biodiversity. Coral Reefs 41, 599-609.
Educational background
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•2018-2020: Erasmus Joint master degree in Tropical biodiversity and ecosystems «Tropimundo», Université de Guyane (Guyane), Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (Malaysia), Université libre de Bruxelles (Belgium), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (Belgium)
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•2015-2017: Dual BSc. in Biology and Mathematics, Sorbonne Université & Station Biologique de Roscoff (France)
Awards
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•2020 : Lorenzo Borella Memorial Award for the best Tropimundo Msc thesis. Thesis title: «Genetic population structure of Clark’s Anemonefish (Amphiprion clarkii) and phylogeographic comparison with three congeners in the Indo-Malay Archipelago»
