Ecophysiologie Evolutive (EpE)
Evolutionary Ecophysiology Team
Energy metabolism as an evolutionary constraint
Animals are living in a changing word and face over their life cycle natural and short-term modifications of their environment. In order to respond and eventually adapt to these fast environmental challenges, non-genetic or epigenetic / phenotypic responses –more or less encompass in the phenotypic plasticity- are of prime importance. The Evolutionary Ecophysiology team particularly focuses on the plasticity of the energy metabolism to changes. Energy metabolism is at the crossroad of all the vital functions of an organism, and energy-based trade-offs have been recognised as one of the principal forces shaping life history strategies. Moreover, environmental-derived changes of metabolic pathways are not totally free and may not always conduct to perfect adaptation. This constraining effect is due to the fact that the past evolutionary history of each species has a decisive influence on their metabolic plasticity. The aim of the team is then to gather key data on how different species develop specific metabolic responses in order to respond to environmental challenges and to understand, towards an evolutionary thinking, why these responses are sometimes mal-adaptive.
Our general approach is developed through several principal questions :
• Energy constraints in early life and long-term effect on adult phenotype and pathology. This approach is mainly conducted on laboratory mouse and rat strains, in order to study the relationship between metabolic disorders, digestive and nervous pathologies, and some interactions with the central nervous system. The role of geophagia in digestive physiology is also questioned. [Fabielle Angel, Nicole Liewig, Hugues Oudart]
• Energy constraints and the mismatch between the adult phenotype and the energy environment. Mainly developed on humans, this study aims to determine the metabolic and historical explanations for the modern prevalence of modern diseases like obesity and diabetes. It particularly looks at the role of spontaneous or structured activities on lipid metabolism. A project on wild bear has started in 2010 to study the mechanisms allowing protein preservation during hibernation in this species. [Stéphane Blanc]
• Facing energy constraints due to predictable or unpredictable changes in food resources (hibernation, fasting-hyperphagia). Hibernation is an effective strategy used by endothermic animals to cope with seasonal (predictable) decline in food resources. However, several human (unpredictable) activities have been evoked to disturb the hibernation pattern of some mammals’ species that could be detrimental for their survival. This project aims at (1) answering questions of fundamental research on the physiological, morphological and behavioral changes in hibernating mammals in highly anthropic environment and (2) generating knowledge and applications to the preservation of the European Hamster, (3) deciphering how some wild animals are able to alternate periods of fasting and hyperphagia without any long-term consequences on their body condition. [Caroline Habold, Stéphane Blanc]
• Energy constraint and life-history trade-offs in wild birds. This project is devoted to the determination of the mechanisms involved in energy-based trade-offs, which take place either between growth, reproduction or parasite-immune response, behavioural plasticity (migration) and ageing, or on the modification of the energy balance under stress events, ultimately affecting adult survival. A large part of the project is conducted on the king penguin [IPEV ECONEREGY], but other several animal models are used among which captive zebra finches, wild stork, ducks and great tit. Another part of this work is devoted to an evolutionary approach of ageing, using the study of cellular ageing mechanisms to test which predictions of the different evolutionary theories of ageing are supported by oxidative stress or telomere dynamics among taxa and clades. [Jean-Patrice Robin, Sylvie Massemin, François Criscuolo]
Maine collaborations
| Research subject |
Scientific associate |
Location |
| Digestion and nervous pathology |
Dr JE Ghia |
University of Manitoba, Canada |
| Energy metabolism of brown bear |
Dr O Frobert |
Orebro University, Sweden |
| Dr J Swenson |
NINA, Norway |
| Energy metabolism and human maladaptation to modern environment |
Dr D O’Gorman |
Dublin City University, Ireland University of Wisconsin, USA |
| Dr DA Schoeller |
| Reproduction and hormones |
Dr G Bedecarrats |
University of Guelph, Canada |
| Stress and immunity |
Dr. G Malacarne |
University of Alessandria, Italy |
| Stress and hormones |
Dr R Palme |
University of Vienna, Austria |
| Ageing and maternal effects |
Pr TD Williams |
Simon Fraser University, Canada |
| Evolution of ageing |
Dr P Bize |
University of Lausanne, Switzerland |
| Telomere and inbreeding |
Pr L Keller |
University of Zürich, Switzerland |
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