I study how birds look and evolve in cities. I'm a Ph.D. candidate in Urban Evolutionary Ecology at Sorbonne Université, where I investigate how urban environments shape the coloured signals of birds and their performances in reproduction.
By combining fieldwork with advanced imaging, high-resolution GIS, and statistical modeling, my research explores how urbanization processes—from pollution to habitat fragmentation—alter wild birds evolutionnary trajectories. I focus on two close relatives, the great tit and blue tit, to uncover how their plumage signals evolves in response to the city's new rules.
I believe science must be rigorous without being bland. Cities are messy, so is evolution. And that's where the beauty lies.
Technical Skills
- Geospatial Analysis: QGIS (advanced), fine-scale habitat modeling with high-resolution satellite data
- Statistical Programming: R (GLMMs, LMMs, data viz, multivariate stats), Python (intermediate), Git/GitHub
- Avian Ecology: Bird ringing, morphometric measurements, spectrophotometry, nest monitoring
- AI & Open Science: Machine learning applications in ecological datasets, reproducible workflows, data sharing ethics and FAIR principles
- Field Expertise: Long-term population surveys in urban & rural ecosystems
Research Skills
- Experimental Design: Longitudinal & comparative studies, urban vs rural gradients
- Selection Analysis: Phenotypic gradients, fitness proxies, multivariate statistics
- Scientific Communication: Peer-reviewed writing, conference presentations, public outreach
- Data Communication: Complex data visualization in R and QGIS
- Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Integration of urban ecology, evolution, and remote sensing
- Animal Welfare & Research Ethics: Certified for wildlife research, ethical protocols, and responsible field experimentation
Urban Phenotypic Variation
Urban environments impose novel pressures on wildlife—fragmented habitats, light and noise pollution, altered food webs. I study how these pressures shape observable traits (phenotypes) in wild bird populations of great tits and blue tits.
Using high-resolution satellite imagery, fine-scale GIS habitat characterization, and detailed field data, I examine how traits linked to plumage coloration vary with urbanization intensity. This variation reflects how individuals navigate the challenges of urban life—and how cities reshape the very expression of biodiversity.
Urban Evolution
I investigate whether urban environments generate consistent selection patterns, and whether these pressures might drive adaptive responses in bird populations.
My work combines longitudinal monitoring, spectrophotometry, and reproductive data to detect fitness advantages tied to colouration traits. I analyze how coloured signals like carotenoid chroma or melanin-based ornaments evolve differently in urban vs rural habitats.
Ethics & Safety Note
All photos were taken during approved scientific procedures under ethical oversight. No additional stress was caused because of photography.
Never handle wild birds unless you are trained and authorized—improper handling is dangerous for both animals and people.
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NOV 2024
"Urbanisation and the Evolution of Sexually Dimorphic Traits"
RT ParusNet Meeting, Paris, France • 40+ researchers
Black-tie ornamentation selection patterns in urban vs. rural environments
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APR 2024
"The colouration of urbanisation"
British Ornithologists' Union (BOU), Nottingham, UK • 125-250 researchers
Great tits' colouration correlates with fine-scale landscape properties
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APR 2023
"Colours of evolution: Plumage colouration as marker of divergent selection"
British Ornithologists' Union (BOU), Nottingham, UK • 125-250 researchers
Divergent selection patterns on yellow breast feathers in cities
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FEB 2023
"Colours of selection: plumage as marker of convergent pathways"
"ParidMeeting", Montpellier, France • 40+ researchers
Patterns of selection on yellow carotenoid-based colouration
Colours of urban selection: Carotenoid-based signals reveal divergent urban/rural evolutionary trajectories in two closely related passerines.
Oikos – SubmittedUrbanisation and the evolution of sexually dimorphic traits: Evidence from black-tie ornamentation in great tits
Ecology & Evolution - SubmittedBirds in the Grey Zone: High-Resolution Satellite Imagery Reveals Continental Patterns in Urban Great Tits (Parus major)
Ongoing ProjectOngoing European collaborative project investigating spatial variation in carotenoid-based breast coloration in Parus major across major urban territories (Montpellier, Warsaw, Lund, Turku, Antwerp).