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Research Unit in Environmental and Evolutionary

Biology

URBE

University of Namur FUNDP

Address : Rue de Bruxelles, 61, B-5000 Namur, Belgium

http://www.urbe-fundp.be/

Faculty of Sciences – Department of Biology

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Research at a glance in URBE URBM URBC URBV Research Unit in

Environmental and Evolutionary Biology

v Molecular and physiological responses to pollutants

v Acclimation/adaptation to environmental stress

v Interactions between reproductive and immune systems

v  Biomarkers of pollutant exposure

v  Chemical and biological indicators of ecological quality

v  Structure and functions of aquatic ecosystems in temperate and tropical areas

v  Ecological management of water bodies

v  Evolution of reproductive modes

v  Population genetics

v  Evolutionary genomics

v  Ecology & evolution of parasitism

v  Invasive species

Environmental physiology & toxicology

Freshwater ecology

Evolutionary Genetics & Ecology

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PhD students (17) Ø  Agbohessi Prudencio, CUD Ø  Depiereux Sophie, FNRS Ø  Dorts Jennifer, FNRS Ø  Douxfils Jessica, FNRS Ø  Etoundi Emilie, FNRS Ø  Hang Bui Thi, CUD Ø  Hespeels Boris, assistant FUNDP Ø  Falisse Elodie, assistante FUNDP Ø  Latli Adrien, assistant FUNDP Ø  Li Xiang, FRIA Ø  Marescaux Jonathan, FNRS Ø  Massart Sophie, FRIA Ø  Mathieu Cédric, FRIA Ø  Osombause Joel, CTB Ø  Piérrard Marie-Aline, FRIA Ø  Pigneur Lise-Marie, FUNDP Ø  Roland Kathleen, FRIA

Technical support (5) Ø  Evrard André, RW Ø  Forget Marie-Claire, FUNDP Ø  Léonard Amélie, FUNDP Ø  Leporq Bruno, RW Ø  Mine Yves, FUNDP

Senior researchers (7) Ø  Lliros Marc, FUNDP/CERUNA Ø  Mandiki Robert, BSPO & CUD Ø  Viroux Laurent, RW Ø  Gillardin Virginie, RW Ø  Flot Jean-Francois, FNRS Ø  Blanchard Gersande, GIREA Ø  Verniers Gisèle, GIREA

Academic staff (4) Prof. Jean-Pierre Descy, Prof. Patrick Kestemont, Prof. Karine Van Doninck,

Ass. Prof. Frédéric Silvestre

Research staff in URBE (33)

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Studies at molecular and cellular levels

Studies at population/community levels

Complexity - Representativity

Prec

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Research at different organization levels From the gene to the field

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Structure, functioning and quality of freshwater ecosystems

Prof. J.P. Descy

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Design of a decision tool for hydromorphological

restoration of water bodies in Walloon Region In this pilot project we develop a structured approach aiming at improving hydromorphological quality of the upstream Meuse basin (the River Meuse upstream of Andenne) in order to reach the “good ecological status” required by the DCE.

Specific objectives :

•  Development of a methodology for assessing the river hydromorphological quality restoration projects

•  Realisation of restoration works on a significant scale on some risk water bodies in the studied basin based on two axes: longitudinal continuity and transverse continuity

•  Monitoring of the restored river system and its ecological status evolution

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•  Study of bacterial and plankton communities and trophic relationships • Carbon and nutrients cycles (collaboration EAWAG, Switzerland) : relationships

with biomethane production in deep waters • Understanding the functioning of Kivu ecosystem for its sustainable

development

Does the introduction of Limnothrissa induce profound changes in Kivu biogeochemical cycles ?

African Great Lakes : Kivu

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Laboratory of Evolutionary Genetics and Ecology

Prof. K. Van Doninck

http://perso.fundp.ac.be/~kvandoni/

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Evolution of reproductive modes: the asexual paradox of bdelloids (“all-female asexuality”)

Evolutionary genetics of the bdelloid rotifers

By which mechanisms can the asexual bdelloid rotifers create genetic diversity among populations?

We have projects studying the population genetics and the phenomenon of desiccation of the ancient asexual bdelloid rotifers.

Comparative evolutionary genomics Sequencing the genome de novo of the bdelloid rotifer species Adineta vaga: investigating the genomic organisation of this degenerate tetraploid species (in collaboration with Genoscope)

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Evolution of reproductive modes: the asexual paradox of invasive Corbicula clams (“all-male asexuality”)

Evolutionary genetics of androgenesis

By which mechanisms can androgenetic Corbicula clams create genetic diversity and be so invasive and widespread?

We have projects studying the population genetics and phylogeography of these Asian clams and the phenomenon of androgenesis.

Komaru et al. 1998

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Aquatic invasive mollusks in Western European rivers (collaboration between Prof. Descy and Prof. Van Doninck)

Asian clam Corbicula spp.

Quagga mussel Dresseina bugensis

•  Species identification in European rivers •  Population genetics and phylogeography to determine their colonisation route •  Assessing their impact on ecosystems and on biodiversity

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Environmental Physiology & Toxicology

Ecophysiology – Ecotoxicology (PK) Systems Ecotoxicology (FS)

Prof. P. Kestemont

Ass. Prof. F. Silvestre

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Main research topics in environmental physiology & toxicology v  Molecular and physiological responses of aquatic

organisms (fish, shellfish, amphibians) to pollutants

v  Acclimation/adaptation to single and multiple stressors , including epigenetic mechanisms ; transgenerational inheritance of acquired phenotypes

v  Mechanisms of endocrine disruption and intersexuality in fishes

v  Search for biomarkers using in vitro/in vivo/in situ approaches in fish toxicology

v  Stress physiology and immune response in fish in aquaculture

Ovotestis

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EE2 Effluent

Transcriptomic signature

in vivo contamination Effluent fragmentation -EE2 -Estrone -Nonylphenol -Estradiol

Testis culture

in vitro contamination Validation in rivers with sentinel species

Testis Ovary Ovotestis Effluents STP

EDCs and intersexuality in fishes Environmental occurrence and in vitro approach of cellular and molecular mechanisms

EDCs

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Isolation of PBMC Biomarkers

Mechanisms of action

PBMC proteome response of Asian catfish and European eel exposed to xenobiotics : in vitro approaches

MW

Proteomic analysis after cell exposure

pH          4   7 pH          4   7 7

Molecular responses of PBMC to chemicals

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Does heat acclimation modulate sensitivity of bullhead to pollutants?

Oxidative stress enzymes

20S-proteasome activity

Metabolic enzymes (CS & LDH)

Proteome response

Interactions between temperature and pollutants sensitivity

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Domestication and stress physiology in aquaculture

F0 F1 F2 F3

Wild fish Captive fish F5 F4

Microsatellite analysis

•  Similar genetic diversity in river, lake and F1 populations

•  Reduction in number of alleles and heterozygosis in F5 population

Types of stress applied : Confinement Water emersion Hypoxia

Endocrinological, immunological and proteomic endpoints

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More info

http://www.urbe-fundp.be/

Facebook group : www.facebook.com/pages/URBE/144441178954491