Our research bridges the fields of genomics, physiology, ecotoxicology, behavioral ecology, and evolutionary biology to understand how organisms respond to, adapt to, and evolve in the face of environmental changes.

Our work focuses on three interrelated areas:

Adaptive and evolutionary epigenetics 

Studying how epigenetic mechanisms promote adaptation and evolution in populations with low genetic diversity, to better understand resilience and conservation in the face of genetic bottlenecks.

Long-term and transgenerational effects of environmental stress

Exploring how pollutants and other stressors trigger delayed and heritable effects on physiology, behavior, neurodegeneration, and aging, to better understand the environmental origins of health and disease.

Epigenetics in conservation biology and aquaculture

Application of epigenomic tools to monitor population health, guide management strategies, and improve the sustainability of wild and farmed species.

Using fish models such as the mangrove rivulus (Kryptolebias marmoratus)—the only vertebrate capable of self-fertilization—and the turquoise killifish (Nothobranchius furzeri)—a short-lived vertebrate ideal for studying aging—we integrate molecular, physiological, and behavioral analyses with field ecology and bioinformatics.

We recently identified an epigenetic clock in the mangrove rivulus, a biomarker linking environmental history, stress, and biological aging. This approach is currently being extended to conservation contexts, particularly for threatened species such as the beluga whale and fish endemic to Ecuador, to better understand how the environment and time shape the resilience of life.

• Understanding to Better Protect—An Innovative Joint FNRS-FRQ Research Project on the St. Lawrence Beluga—Read the article
• Understanding Epigenetics to Preserve Biodiversity - Read the article
• The Long-Term Effects of Pollution in Our Rivers, Oceans, and Lakes - Read the article