phone: +32 (0)2 650 22 67

e-mail: Edouard.Duquesne@ulb.be

Personal website - LinkedIn

social insects (especially termites) – ecology – biodiversity – biological invasions

PhD research project

Urbanization, termite assemblages and population genetic structure - the case of a pest species in Indonesia

Supervisors: Denis Fournier

Urban areas create novel conditions that can drive rapid evolution of species. It goes hand to hand with alterations of natural habitats leading to the extinction of native species and the establishment of non-native species. In a context of rapidly increasing rate of biodiversity loss, assessing how species react to the expansion of cities seems of primary importance. Termites are interesting models for studying the impact of urbanization: they are particularly abundant in sub- and tropical ecosystems and are ecosystem engineers, by decomposing organic matter and recycling nutrients. Three pest species were recently discovered in Makassar city, Indonesia, including the arboreal species Microcerotermes serrula. In this context, we aim to:

1. 1. Investigate the consequences of urbanization on termites’ assemblages and on genetic and phenotypic variabilities of a pest species in Indonesia.
   

2. 2. Determine whether urban areas may play a role in long distance dispersal. By integrating ecological, genetic, chemical and behavioral approaches, and by focusing on the pest species Microcerotermes serrula, this project will help understand how current and future urban areas might play a role in pest species’ dispersal.
   

Master thesis

Analysis of the edge effect on termite communities in French Guiana

Supervisor: Yves Roisin (Université libre de Bruxelles, Belgium)

Educational background

1. •2022 - ongoing: PhD thesis, Université libre de Bruxelles (Belgium)
   

2. •2020 - 2022: Master in Biology of Organisms and Ecology, Université libre de Bruxelles (Belgium)
   

3. •2017 - 2020: Bachelor in Biology, Université libre de Bruxelles (Belgium)