Team DeNardo

Olivier Lourdais

Education:

PhD Evolutionary Biology 2002, University of Poitiers/CEBC-CNRS.

Post-Doctoral Work ASU 2005, Arizona State University

Contact:

Olivier Lourdais,
Researcher Class 2, Equipe écophysiologie évolutive
CEBC-CNRS UPR 1934
79 360 Villiers en Bois
FRANCE

FRANCE Ph: + 33 (0) 5 49 09 96 16
Fax: + 33 (0) 5 49 09 65 26
Email: Lourdais@cebc.cnrs.fr

Research Interest:

My principal interest is focused on evolutionary biology and the evolution of life history traits and strategies. Because physiological regulations are at the interface between environmental constraint and evolutionary changes I use an integrative approach combining ecological and physiological investigations. The models I study are ectotherm vertebrates, more precisely squamates reptiles (lizards and snakes). I maintain active international collaborations with Dr. X Bonnet and Pr. Richard Shine.

Current Work:

While patterns of energy allocation are key factors of reproductive strategies, these elements predominantly reflect offspring quantity. However, reproductive success is dependent on both offspring quantity and offspring quality. Since embryonic development is highly sensitive to perturbations the most effective means by which a mother can influence the quality of her offspring would be by controlling the environment in which her offspring develop.
My post-doctoral research is mainly focused on the costs and benefits of contrasting strategies of controlling the thermal environment during embryonic development. Notably, I'd like to clarify embryo requirements and the impact of environmental constraints to understand evolution of thermoregulatory strategies and reproductive mode.
-Oviparous forms:
Among boids, pythons are particular with the female coiling tightly around the clutch during the whole development period. Interestingly some species are able to produce heat by shivering thermogenesis. In a pilot study, I'm currently examining the children python (Antaresia childrenii) a species that brood its eggs without producing heat.
-Viviparous forms:
Egg retention (viviparity) may constitute an alternative to egg brooding because the gravid female can regulate her temperature behaviorally. I am currently comparing the thermoregulatory strategies of two related species the aspic viper (Vipera aspis) and the adder (Vipera berus) that differ in their geographic range and associated climatic constraints.

Past Research:

To date, my research has focused on patterns of energy allocation and associated reproductive costs. In particular I studied the reproductive strategy of a viviparous snakes (Vipera aspis) that displays high but infrequent reproductive output. The clarification of the selective advantages of this strategy was the theme of my doctorate research (1999-2002) supervised by Xavier Bonnet (CEBC, CNRS, France). I started my post-doctoral research (2002-2003) at the CEBC by working on the reproductive strategy of the colombian rainbow boa (Epicrates cenchria maurus) with a particular focus on the energetic constraints of gestation.

Publications:

1. Lourdais O, Shine R, Bonnet X, Brischoux F. Sex differences in body composition, performance and behaviour in the Colombian rainbow boa (Epicrates cenchria maurus, Boidae). Journal of Zoology, in press
2. Lourdais O, Brischoux F, Shine R & Bonnet X. 2005. Adaptive maternal cannibalism in snakes (Epicrates cenchria maurus). Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 84:767-774
3. Lourdais O, Brischoux F & Barantin L. 2005. How to assess musculature and performance in a constricting snake? A case study in the Colombian rainbow boa (Epicrates cenchria maurus). Journal of Zoology, 265 (1): 43-51
4. Bonnet X, Aubret F, Lourdais O, Ladyman M & Bradshaw D. 2005. Do quiet places make animals placid ? Island versus mainland Tiger snakes. Ethology, 111, 573-592
5. Lourdais O, Brischoux F, DeNardo D & Shine R. 2004. Protein catabolism in pregnant snakes (Epicrates cenchria maurus, Boidae) compromises musculature and performance after reproduction. Journal of Comparative Physiology, 174 (5): 383-391
6. Lourdais O, Shine R, Bonnet X, Guillon G & Naulleau G. (2004) Climate influences embryonic development in a viviparous snake (Vipera aspis). Oikos, 104: 551-560
7. Lourdais O, Brischoux F, DeNardo D & Shine R. Protein catabolism in pregnant snakes (Epicrates cenchria maurus, Boidae) compromises musculature and performance after reproduction. Journal of Comparative Physiology B, in press
8. Lourdais O, Shine R, Bonnet X, Guillon G & Naulleau G. (2004) Climate influences embryonic development in a viviparous snake (Vipera aspis). Oikos,
9. Lourdais O, Bonnet X, DeNardo D & Naulleau G. (2003) Does sex differences in reproductive eco-physiology translate in different demographic patterns? Population Ecology 44: 241-249.
10. Lourdais O, Bonnet X, Shine R & Taylor E. (2003) When does a reproducing female viper (Vipera aspis) "decide" on her litter size? Journal of Zoology 259: 123-129.
11. Bonnet X., Naulleau G. & Lourdais O (2003) The benefits of complementary techniques: using capture-recapture and physiological approaches to understand costs of reproduction in the asp viper. Biology of the Vipers, (GW Schuett, M Höggren, M.E. Douglas, and H.W. Green eds), Eagle Mountain Publishing, Utah, USA. Pp 483-495.
12. Ladyman M, Bonnet X, Lourdais O, Bradshaw D, & Naulleau G. (2003) Gestation, thermoregulation and metabolism in a viviparous snake, Vipera aspis: evidence for fecundity-independent costs. Physiological and Biochemical Zoology 76: 497-510.
13. X Bonnet, R Shine, & O Lourdais (2003) Does gender affect a scientist's research output? Journal of Women and Minorities in Science and Engineering. in press.
14. Bonnet X, Shine R & Lourdais O and Naulleau G (2003) Measures of reproductive allometry are sensitive to sampling Bias. Functional Ecology, in press
15. Lourdais O, Bonnet X, Shine R , DeNardo D, Naulleau G & Guillon M (2002) Capital-breeding and reproductive effort in a variable environment: a longitudinal study of a viviparous snake. Journal of Animal Ecology 71: 470-479 and cover.
16. Lourdais O, Bonnet X & Doughty P (2002). Costs of anorexia during pregnancy in a viviparous snake (Vipera aspis). Journal of Experimental Zoology 292: 487-493.
17. Bonnet X, Lourdais O, Shine R & Naulleau G (2002) Reproduction in snakes (Vipera aspis): costs, currencies and complications. Ecology 83: 2124-2135.
18. Aubret F, Bonnet X, Shine R & Lourdais O (2002) Fat is sexy for females but not males: the influence of body reserves on reproduction in snakes (Vipera aspis). Hormones and Behavior 42: 135-147.
19. Bonnet X, Shine R & Lourdais O (2002). Taxonomic chauvinism. Trends in Ecology and Evolution 17: 1-3.
20. Bonnet X, Pearson D, Ladyman M, Lourdais O & Bradshaw D (2002) Heaven for serpents? A mark-recapture study of Tiger Snakes (Notechis scutatus) on Carnac Island, Western Australia. Austral Ecology 27: 442-450.
21. Bonnet X, Naulleau G, Shine R & Lourdais O. (2001) Short-term versus long-term effects of food intake on reproductive output in a viviparous snake (Vipera aspis). Oikos 92: 297-308.
22. Bonnet X, Naulleau G, Shine R & Lourdais O (2000) What is the appropriate time scale for measuring costs of reproduction in a capital breeder? Evolutionary Ecology 13: 485-497.
23. Bonnet X, Naulleau G, Shine R & Lourdais O (2000) Reproductive versus ecological advantages to larger body size in female Vipera aspis. Oikos 89: 509-518.
24. Pearson D, Shine R, Bonnet X, Williams A, Jennings B & Lourdais O (2000) Ecological notes on crowned snakes, Elapognathus coronatus, from the Archipelago of the Recherche in southwestern Australia. Australian Zoologist 31: 610-617.
25. Bonnet X, Naulleau G, Lourdais O & Vacher-Vallas M (1999) Growth in the asp viper (Vipera aspis L.): insights from long term field study. Current Studies in Herpetology. C. Miaud et R. Guyetant eds. Pp. 63-69.
26. Naulleau G, Bonnet X, Vacher-Vallas M, Shine R & Lourdais O (1999) Does less-than-annual production of offspring by female vipers (Vipera aspis) mean less-than-annual mating? Journal of Herpetology 33: 688-691.

Side Activities:

I invented the life jacket dance.

Email: olivier.lourdais@asu.edu