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Researcher

Lab. Plantes et Systèmes de culture Horticoles

Equipe Contrôle Biologique par Conservation

CONTACT 

INRA, UR1115 Plantes et Systèmes de culture Horticoles

Domaine Saint Paul, Site Agroparc, CS 40509

84914 Avignon Cedex 9

Tel: +33 (0)432 722 467

Email: bertrand.gauffre@inra.fr 

RESEARCH INTERESTS 

I am a population biologist interested in the response of biodiversity to anthropogenic disturbances. My main research area is the study of dispersal and gene flow in heterogeneous environments. One of my leading achievements today has been to produce important insights on how landscape structure, habitats characteristics and demographic fluctuations influence dispersal and the resulting gene flow in agro-ecosystems. I use different approaches including empirical analyses and computer simulation in population genetics and landscape genetics and statistical modelling of ecological data. I have been developing a research program on the dynamics of biodiversity and the role of dispersal in response to the temporal and spatial heterogeneities of agricultural landscapes. My main goals are to (i) develop and apply individual-based methods to investigate landscape influences on dispersal, gene flow and adaptation in the context of continuous populations and (ii) to establish the temporal and spatial scales at which landscape structure influence biodiversity in order to propose management strategies for biodiversity and ecosystems services in agro-ecosystems.

 Current projects 

My main project at PSH focuses on the codling moth, Cydia pomonella, one of the major insect pests in apple, walnut and pear orchards. Since chemical and organic insecticides are massively used to maintain its populations at a low level, C. pomonella evolved resistance to numerous (bio)insecticides. Pesticide resistance is a key example of rapid evolution under strong selective pressures and provides an interesting case to address fundamental questions about the evolutionary mechanisms leading to rapid adaptation and the repeatability of evolution. The aim of our project is to: (i) characterize the genetic bases of resistance in C. pomonella, in particular to a biopesticide, the C. pomonella granulovirus (CpGV-M), (ii) develop high throughput and cost effective method to screen resistances in natural populations using genetic markers associated with resistances (iii) develop and apply landscape genomics approaches to study the spatio-temporal dynamics of C. pomonella and (bio)pesticides resistances.

Collaborators: Myriam Siegwart, Pierre Franck, Thomas Delattre (PSH, INRA, Avignon), Mathieu Gautier, Raphael Leblois, Julien Foucaud, Sylvain Piry (CBGP, INRA Montpellier), Karine Berthier (Pathologie Végétale, INRA Avignon), Benoit Barrès (Anses), GRCETA, CETA Cavaillon.

 I am also involved in a project aiming at describing the Mediterranean pine vole, Microtus duodecimcostatus, population dynamics in relation with landscape characteristics and agricultural practices. This species is a pest in southern France orchards. We develop a demo-genetic approach aiming to help the management of these populations by alternative methods to rodenticides. Specifically, our objectives are (i) to participate, with FREDON PACA, in the establishment of a long-term demographic monitoring along landscape gradients in order to characterize the effect of different habitats and cropping systems on M. duodecimcostatus abundance and (ii) to conduct a landscape genetics study to understand the levels of genetic structuring at regional and local scales (interface between habitats).

Collaborators: Karine Berthier (Pathologie Végétale, INRA Avignon), Sylvain Piry (CBGP, INRA Montpellier), Claire Lavigne (PSH, INRA, Avignon), FREDON PACA. 

 EDUCATION AND RESEARCH EXPERIENCES 

Since 2018: Researcher, PSH lab., INRA, Avignon, France

Spatial dynamic of pests, natural enemies and adaptations in agricultural landscapes

2016 – 2018: Agreenskills + mobility at Paul Sunnucks lab. (Persistence and Adaptation Research Team) at Monash University, Melbourne, Australia

Landscape genetics for biodiversity management in human-impacted environments

2010 -2018: Researcher, Centre d’Etudes Biologiques de Chizé (CEBC), INRA – CNRS, Chizé, France

Population dynamics and landscape influence on functional biodiversity in agro-ecosystems

2009: Post-Doc, Interactions Biotiques et Santé Végétale lab., Sophia Antipolis, Antibes, France

Research on learning and behavior on an invasive ladybird species

2006 – 2009: PhD in population biology, population genetics and ecology, Centre de Biologie et de Gestion des Populations (CBGP), Montpellier University, Montpellier, France

Landscape and demographic influences on dispersal, gene flow and spatial genetic structure of a small rodent in agroecosystems

PUBLICATIONS

Full list also available on Google Scholar or ResearchGate