Claire Doutrelant

 Claire Doutrelant cd

Tenure CNRS research scientist (DR)

CEFE CNRS 1919 Rte de Mende, 34293 Montpellier

Tél : +33/0 4 67 61 32 60 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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What news? : post doc position cefe open

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My research is centered in the theoretical framework of evolutionary ecology, population biology and behavioural ecology. My projects aim at understanding life history variation in order to determine the adaptive and evolutionary processes that explain and maintain animal diversity. I´m particularly interested by three kinds of life history traits linked to behavior: cooperation, animal communication and maternal invesment. I'm mainly using birds as biological models. I'm mainly using empirical methods, including large-scale experiments and analyses of long-term data sets on different populations of passerine birds in the field.

I'm currently working on four main projects. 1) Evolution of colour ormentation in birds (with a special focus on female coloration and blue tits) 2) the cause and life history traits consequences of cooperation in sociable weavers ; 3) Sexual and social evolution on islands, and 4) the evolution of weaver nests.

1 - Evolution of ornementation in birds

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 Photos: Claire Doutrelant

Team: Arnaud GREGOIRE (Lecturer, Univ Montpellier), Amélie FARGEVIEILLE (post Doc), David LóPEZ-IDIáQUEZ (Post doc), Lisa SANDMEYER (PhD Student)

Collaborations: Anne CHARMANTIER (CEFE),  Denis REALE (UQUAM, Canada), Céline TEPLITSKY (CEFE), Doris GOMEZ (CEFE),   Julien RENOULT (CEFE),  RIta COVAS (CIBIO Portugal, FizPatrick Institute SA); Maria DEL REY (spectrophotometric measurements), Christophe de FRANCESCHI (field work and data base management), Samuel PERRET (Field work and Patch measurements), Annick LUCAS (Field work and Patch measurements), Pablo GIOVANNINI (Field work)

* Evolution of female colour ornementation

In this project we use a combination of empirical and comparative approaches to address three fundamental questions on sexual and social selection in both monomorphic species and dimorphic species in which females present conspicuous traits. Our questions are the following (i) Are female conspicuous traits under sexual /social selection ? (ii) Do female conspicuous traits reflect female quality and which mechanisms maintain signal honesty? (iii) What are the population consequences of female signalling and mutual sexual selection.

Examples of publications (full list below)

Fargevieille, A., Grégoire, A., Gomez, D. & Doutrelant, C. 2023 Evolution of female color in birds: the role of paternal care and female reproductive costs. Journal of evolutionary ecology. 36(3), 579-588

Doutrelant, C., Fargevieille, A., Grégoire, A.  2020. Evolution of female coloration: what have we learned from birds in general and blue tits in particular. Adv. Study in Behaviour  PDF

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 Photo Claire Doutrelant

 * Evolution of plumage ornement in space and time

Selection often varies in space and time and long-term research that spans broad spatial scales is needed to understand the factors driving phenotypic variation and to assess the links between traits and fitness.  To assess the importance of spatiotemporal variation  and its consequences on selection estimates, we collected data on two study systems: (i) the blue tit (yellow and UV-blue colorations measured by spectrophotometry since 2005, 600 birds measured each year); (ii) the  size of the sociable weaver melanin patch  since 2010 (the bib patch is photographied each year on 400 individuals)

Examples of publications (full list below)

 Lopez-Idiaquez, D.; Teplitsky, C.; Grégoire, A.; Fargevieille, F.; del Rey, M.; de Franceschi, C.; Charmantier, A.; Doutrelant, C. 2022. Long-term decrease in colouration: a consequence of climate change? American Naturalist https://doi.org/10.1086/719655

Fargevieille, A., Grégoire, A., Charmantier, A., Rey Granado, M., Doutrelant, C. 2017Assortative mating by colored ornaments in blue tits: space and time matter Ecology Evolution. 7 2069-2078 PDF

Acker, P., Grégoire, A.., Rat, M., Spottiswoode C. N., van Dijk, R. E., Paquet, M., Kaden, J.C., Pradel R. , Hatchwell, B. J. , Covas, R.*, Doutrelant, C.* 2015. Disruptive viability selection on a black plumage trait associated with dominance Jounal of Evolutionary Biology 28: 2027-2041  PDF

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Dominance interaction -  Photo Franck Théron

 

2 - Evolution and consequences of cooperation

 *TEAM: Co Pi: Rita COVAS (http://www.fitzpatrick.uct.ac.za/fitz/staff/research/covas; CIBIO, Portugal)  Pietro d'AMELIO (Post doc), André FERREIRA (Postdoc), Babett FOURIE (PhD Student), Nicolas  SILVA (PhD Student), Marta MARMELO (PhD Student); Franck THERON (data base managmer and field), Liliana SILVA (vide managera and intelligence artificial), Fanny RYBAK (Univ Orsay, FR)

*Collaboration:  Matthieu PAQUET (Swenden), Bruno FAIVRE (Univ. Dijon, FR), François CRISCUOLO & Sandrine ZAHN (Univ Strasbourg, FR),  Claire SPOTTISWOODE  (Univ. Cape Town SA), Rita FORTUNA (Post doc)

           Website: https://sociableweaverproject.com/

The project aims at understanding the fitness bases of cooperation and the consequences of cooperation for population dynamics through its effects on reproductive output, survival and dispersal. Our study model is an endemic passerine bird from southern African passerine. This bird is a cooperative breeder. In cooperatively breeding species, mature individuals called ‘helpers’ assist the breeding pairs by bringing additional food to the nest.  We work on the evolution of different cooperative behaviours – cooperative breeding, nest building and predator mobbing and on the relationship between cooperation, fitness, dispersal and long-term population dynamics.

Currently our project has two main aims: (i) determining whether sexual or social selection play a role in the evolution of cooperation and thus the role of partner choice ; (ii) determining  how presence / absence of co-operators affects maternal effects and parental investments

This project is suppported by the PercyFizpatric Institute of the University of Cape Town

http://www.fitzpatrick.uct.ac.za/fitz/research/programmes/longterm/sociableweaver

Examples of publications (full list below)

D'Amelio, P.; Ferreira, A.; Fortuna, R.; Paquet, M.; Silva, L. ; Theron, F.; Doutrelant, C.; Covas, R. 2022. Disentangling climatic and nest predator impact on reproductive output reveals adverse high temperature effects regardless of helper number in an arid-region cooperative bird Ecology Letter 25(1), 151-162

Covas, R., Lardy, S.; Silva, L.; Rey, B.; Ferreira, A. C.; Théron, F.; Tognetti, A.; Faivre, B. Doutrelant, C. 2022. The oxidative cost of helping and its minimisation in a cooperative breeder Behavioural Ecology 33(3), 504-517

Fortuna, R. Paquet, M., Ferreira, A.C; Silva, L Theron, F & Doutrelant, C & Covas, R 2021 Maternal allocation in relation to weather, predation and social factors in a colonial cooperative bird Journal of Animal ecology 90, 1122-1133.

Ferreira, A., Silva, L., Renna, F., Brandl, H. B., Renoult, J., Farine, D., Covas, R. & Doutelant, C.  2020 Deep learning based methods for individual recognition in small birds.  Method in Ecol Evol PDF

Covas, R. & Doutrelant, C.* 2019. Testing the sexual and social benefits of cooperation in animals. Trends Ecol Evol In press. * Both authors contributed equally to the manuscript PDF

tisserins Photos: Claire Doutrelant


  3- Evolution on islands

TEAM:  Rita Covas (CIBIO, Portugal), FitzPatrick Institute, Univ Cape Town), Martim Melo (CIBIO),  Claire Loiseau ( Univ Montpellier), Ana Leitao (Post doc ); Raquel Ponti (Post doc)

             Website: https://islandbirdproject.com/

Islands are unique ecosystems sharing a distinctive set of characteristics that make them particularly interesting to study adaptation by organisms. The isolation and reduced area of islands result in simplified ecological ecosystems and an impoverished fauna that are expected to lead to convergent patterns of adaptation (the ‘insularity syndrome’). Our aim is to establish, using comparative work , whether island birds worldwide display such convergent shift for ornamentation, songs, behaviour and morphology. Then we aim at determining which factors lead to those changes and are particularly interested by the role of parasitism and interspecific competition. We worked on data collected in natural history museum and in the field (Sao Tome, Madeira, Gabon, Cameroun).

Examples of publications (full list below)

Ponti, R., Doutrelant, C., & Covas, R. (2023). Strength of the ‘island rule’in birds is positively associated with absence of avian predators. Biology Letters, 19(3), 20220536

Barthe, M., Doutrelant, C., Covas, R., Melo, M., Illera, J. C., Tilak, M. K., ... & Nabholz, B. (2022). Evolution of immune genes in island birds: reduction in population sizes can explain island syndrome. Peer Community Journal, 2.

Robert, A., Melo, M., Lengagne, T.,. Julien, S..& Doutrelant, C. 2021 Patterns of bird song evolution on islands support the character release hypothesis in tropical but not in temperate latitudes. Journal of Evolutionary Biology34(10), 1580-1591

Bliard, L., Robert, A. Paquet, M, Renoult, J., Grégoire, A., Crochet, P.A. Covas, R & Doutrelant, C. 2020 Examining the link between relaxed predation and bird colouration on islands.  Biol Lett PDF

Robert, A., Lengagne, T., Melo, M., Julien, S.., Gardette, V. Covas, R. & Doutrelant, C. 2019. The Theory of Island Biogeography and Soundscapes: species diversity and the organization of acoustic communities. J. Biogeography PDF

Doutrelant, C., Paquet, Renoult, J. M. Grégoire, A., Crochet, P.A. Covas, R. 2016 Worldwide patterns of bird colouration on islands. Ecology Letter  19: 537–545 PDF

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 Photos: Claire Doutrelant & Martim Melo
 

 4 - Weaver nest as an extended phenotype

Team : Rita Covas (CIBIO, Portugal), FitzPatrick Institute, Univ Cape Town), Julien Renoult (CEFE), Erwan Harscouet (phD CEFE),  Dieter Oschadleus (Univ. Cape Town) , Staffan Andersson (Univ.  Gothenburg), Fanny Rybak (Univ. Paris Sud), Doris Gomez (CEFE), Paul Dufour (Univ. Grenoble), Pietro d'Amelio (Post doc)

Our aim is to work on one of the most spectacular and diverse radiations of extended phenotypes, the intricate and complex nest architectures of weaverbirds (family Ploceidae, 117 species in 16 genera), varying from the exquisite lace-like Malimbus nests to the rough thatch of the communally built sociable weaver nests . Our central aim is to investigate the role of sexual selection on the evolution and diversification of i) nest architecture (the extended phenotype) and ii) nest building behaviour (a potential associated display) and, for both traits, to determine how they relate to the classic ornaments in this group – striking colours, songs, and flight displays.

   

5-Long term monitoring of blue tit (worked initiated by Jacques Blondel in 1976)

Researchers: Jacques Blondel, Samuel Caro, Anne Charmantier, Claire Doutrelant,, Christophe de Francheschi,  Pablo Giovannini, Arnaud Grégoire, Marcel Lambrechts, Annick Lucas, Samuel Perret,  Philippe Perret, Denis Réale (Canada), Céline Téplltsky

https://data.oreme.org/tit/home   & https://oreme.org/observation/ecopop/mesanges/

 

mesange Photos Claire Doutrelant

 6 - Short CV

  • 2019 DR CNRS reasearcher & Team leader  with D. Gomez: E3co: Empirical Evolutionary Ecology, Communication and Cooperation
  • 2016: ESP Team leader  with D. Gomez
  • 2014-15: Invited researcher Cape Town University. Fitzpatrick Institute  (South Africa)
  • 2014:  creation of a team in the LIA http://www.lia-bioevol.org/behavioural-ecology/
  • 2011 Autorisation à Expérimenter niv. 1
  • 2009 HDR
  • 2005 CNRS researcher at Montpellier (CEFE, UMR 5175). Team Ecologie Spatiale des populations
  • 2003 Invited researcher at Yale University (USA)
  • 2001-2004 CR CNRS researcher at Brunoy (CNRS, MNHN, UMR 5176)
  • 2000-2001 Post-doc : Univ. Cap Town (SA), Dir. Morné du Plessis
  • 1999-2000 Post-doc : Univ. Copenhagen (Danemark), Dir. Peter McGregor
  • 1995-1998 Ph D Univ Paris 6. Dir. Marcel Lambrechts

 

7 - Publications

Fargevieille, A., Grégoire, A., Gomez, D. & Doutrelant, C. 2023. Evolution of female color in birds: the role of paternal care and female reproductive costs. Journal of evolutionary ecology. 36(3), 579-588.

Fortuna, R., Paquet, M., Biard, C., Élard, L., Ferreira, A. C., Leroux-Coyaux, M., ... & Doutrelant, C. (2023). Egg components and offspring survival vary with group size and laying order in a cooperative breeder. Oecologia, 1-14.

Ponti, R., Doutrelant, C., & Covas, R. (2023). Strength of the ‘island rule’in birds is positively associated with absence of avian predators. Biology Letters, 19(3), 20220536

Lopez-Idiaquez, D., Teplitsky, C., Grégoire, A., Fargevieille, F., del Rey, M., de Franceschi, C., Charmantier, A., Doutrelant, C. 2022. Long-term decrease in colouration: a consequence of climate change? American Naturalist. 200, no 1, p. 000-000

Barthe, M., Doutrelant, C., Covas, R., Melo, M., Illera, J. C., Tilak, M. K., ... & Nabholz, B. (2022). Evolution of immune genes in island birds: reduction in population sizes can explain island syndrome. Peer Community Journal, 2.

Covas, R., Lardy, S.; Silva, L.; Rey, B.; Ferreira, A. C.; Théron, F.; Tognetti, A.; Faivre, B. Doutrelant, C. 2022. The oxidative cost of helping and its minimisation in a cooperative breeder Behavioural Ecology 33(3), 504-517

D'Amelio, P.; Ferreira, A.; Fortuna, R.; Paquet, M.; Silva, L. ; Theron, F.; Doutrelant, C.; Covas, R. 2022. Disentangling climatic and nest predator impact on reproductive output reveals adverse high temperature effects regardless of helper number in an arid-region cooperative bird Ecology Letter 25(1), 151-162

Fortuna, R., D'Amelio, P., Doutrelant, C., Ferreira, A. C., Lecq, C.,. Silva, L. R., Covas, R., Rybak, F., Paquet, M. 2022 Begging and feeding responses vary with relatedness and sex of provisioners in a cooperative breeder, Animal Behaviour 185, 49-71

Patrick, S., Réale, D., Potts, J. R., Wilson, A. J., Doutrelant, C., Teplitsky,, C. T., Charmantier, A. 2022 Differences along the slow-fast continuum are associated with the temporal scale of life-history trade-offs. Ecology Letter 25(5), 1139-1151

Robert, A., Lengagne, T.,. Melo, M., Gomez & Doutrelant, C. 2022. Evolution of vocal performance and song complexity in island birds. Journal of Avian Biology. In press

Robert, A., Melo, M., Lengagne, T.,. Julien, S..& Doutrelant, C. 2021. Patterns of bird song evolution on islands support the character release hypothesis in tropical but not in temperate latitudes. Journal of Evolutionary Biology34(10), 1580-1591

Quque, M, Doutrelant, C. Paquet, M., Zahn, S., Sueur, C., Criscuolo, F., Covas, R 2021.  Post-hatching helper effects increase early telomere length in a cooperatively breeding bird Oeacologia 196(1), 37-51

Bastianelli, O., Robert, A., Doutrelant, C., de Franceschi, C., Giovannini, P., & Charmantier, A. 2021. Identifying drivers of spatio-temporal variation in survival in four blue tit populations. Peer Community Journal, 1.

Fortuna, R., Paquet, M., Ferreira, A.C.; Silva, L., Theron, F. & Doutrelant, C & Covas, R 2021 Maternal allocation in relation to weather, predation and social factors in a colonial cooperative bird Journal of Animal ecology. 90(5), 1122-1133+ blog https://animalecologyinfocus.com/2021/03/03/eggs-and-cooperation-a-long-term-study/

Caro, S.P.,. Pierre, L., Bergès, M., Bakker R. , Doutrelant, C* & Bonadonna,F* . 2021 Mutual mate preferences and assortative mating in relation to a carotenoid-based color trait in blue tit* Behavioural Ecology 32(6):1171-1182. * These authors contributed equally to the study https://doi.org/10.1093/beheco/arab080

Doutrelant, C. Fargevieille, A., Grégoire, A.  2020. Evolution of female coloration: what have we learned from birds in general and blue tits in particular Adv. Study in Behaviour 123 PDF

Ferreira, A., Silva, L., Renna, F., Brandl, H. B., Renoult, J., Farine, D., Covas, R. & Doutelant, C.  2020 Deep learning based methods for individual recognition in small birds.  Method in Ecol Evol  PDF

Ferreira ,A., Covas, R., Silva, L,  Esteves, S. Duarte, I., Fortuna, R., Theron, F., Doutrelant, C., Farine, D.  2020 How to infer robust social networks for hypothesis testing: a case study of sociable weavers Ecol Evol PDF

Bliard, L., Robert, A. Paquet, M, Renoult, J., Grégoire, A., Crochet, P.A. Covas, R & Doutrelant, C. 2020 Examining the link between relaxed predation and bird colouration on islands.  Biol Lett PDF

Culina, A., Senar, J.C., Visser, M. E., et al. Connecting the data landscape of long‐term ecological studies: the SPI‐Birds data hub. 2020. Journal of Animal Ecology. 90(9), 2147-2160

Reis, S., Melo, M., Covas, R., Doutrelant, C., Pereira, H., de Lima, R., Loiseau, C. 2020  Influence of land use and host species on parasite richness, prevalence and co-infection patterns. International Journal for Parasitology  PDF

Robert, A., Lengagne, T., Melo, M., Julien, S.., Gardette, V. Covas, R. & Doutrelant, C. 2019. The Theory of Island Biogeography and Soundscapes: species diversity and the organization of acoustic communities. J. Biogeography PDF

Gruson, H, Elias, M., Parra, J-L, Andraud, C., Berthier, S., Doutrelant, C. & Gomez, D.2019 Interaction between reproductive character displacement and selection for camouflage on the evolution of iridescence in hummingbird communities. Peer Community In Evolutionary Biology, bioRxiv, 699744. PDF

Dutour, M., Lévy, L., Lengagne, T., Holveck M-J, Crochet, P-A, Perret, P., Doutrelant, C,†. Grégoire, A.,†  2020   Hissing like a snake: bird hisses are similar to snake hisses and prompt similar anxiety behavior in a mammalian model. Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol. 17, 1 joint last authors PDF  Video

 Holveck, M-J, Guerreiro R., Perret, P., Grégoire, A., Doutrelant, C. 2019 Egg coloration indicates female short-term condition: A field experiment in blue tits Biological Journal of the Linnean Society PDF

Jansen, D., Pradel, R.; Mares, R. Doutrelant, C.; Spottiswoode, C.; Covas, R.; Altwegg, R 2019 An integrated population model sheds light on the complex population dynamics of a unique colonial breeder. for Population Ecology. PDF

Covas, R. & Doutrelant, C.* 2019. Testing the sexual and social benefits of cooperation in animals. Trends Ecol Evol In press. * Both authors contributed equally to the manuscript PDF

Holveck, MJ., Grégoire, A., Doutrelant, C. Lambrechts, M.M. 2019 Nest height is affected by lamppost lighting proximity in addition to nestbox size in urban great tits J. Avian Biol

Silva LR, Lardy S, Ferreira A, Rey B, Doutrelant C, Covas R 2018 Females pay the oxidative cost of dominance in a highly social bird Animal Behaviour 144, 135-146 PDF

Loiseau, C., Melo, M. Lobato, E., Beadell, J.S., Fleischer, R. C, Reis, S., Doutrelant, C. & Covas, R 2017 Insularity effects on the assemblage of the blood parasite community of the birds from the Gulf of Guinea Journal of Biogeography. 44(11), 2607-2617. PDF

Mares, R. Doutrelant, C., Paquet, M., Spottiswoode, S.and Covas, R. 2017. Breeding decisions and output are correlated with both temperature and rainfall in an arid-region passerine, the sociable weaver . Royal Society Open Science 4.9: 170835 PDF

Holveck, M-J.*, Grégoire, A*., Guerreiro, R., Staszewski, V., Boulinier, T., Gomez, D**. & Doutrelant, C.** 2017  Kittiwake eggs viewed by conspecifics and predators: implications for colour signal evolution. Biol J. Linean Soc. 122:301-3012 * Joint first authors, ** Joint last authors PDF

Fargeveille, A., Grégoire, A., Charmantier, A., del Rey, M., Doutrelant, C. 2017  Assortative mating by colored ornaments in blue tits: space and time matter Ecology Evolution 7: 2069-2078  PDF

Lobato, E., Doutrelant, C., Melo, M., Reis, S.Covas, R. 2017  Insularity effects on birds immune parameters: a comparison between island and mainland populations in West Africa Ecology Evolution  , 3645-3656 PDF

Lloyd, K Altwegg, R. Doutrelant, C.; Covas, R; 2017 Factors affecting the foraging distance and duration of a colonial bird, the sociable weaver, in a semi-arid environment" Journal of African of Ecology DOI: 10.1111/aje.12484

2017 hdy 118 2 coverCharmantier, A., Wolak, M. E., Grégoire, A., Fargeveille, A. Doutrelant, C. 2017 Colour ornamentation in the blue tit: quantitative genetic (co)variances across sexes Heredity 118, 125134 PDF

Doutrelant, C., Paquet, Renoult, J. M. Grégoire, A., Crochet, P.A. Covas, R. 2016 Worldwide patterns of bird colouration on islands. Ecology Letter  19: 537–545 PDF

Lambrechts, M. M., Blondel, J., Bernard, C., Caro, S. P., Charmantier, A., Demeyrier, V., Giovannini, P. & Doutrelant, C. 2016. Exploring biotic and abiotic determinants of nest size in Mediterranean great tits (Parus major) and blue tits (Cyanistes caeruleus). Ethology, 122, 492-501.

Vaugoyeau, M., Adriaensen, F., Artemyev, A., Bańbura, J., Barba, E., Biard, C.Doutrelant, C. … & Moller, A. P..Interspecific variation in the relationship between clutch size, laying date and intensity of urbanization in four species of holenesting birds. Ecology and evolution. 6 : 5907-5920

Lobato, E., Geraldes, M., Melo, M., Doutrelant, C.*, & Covas, R.* 2016. Diversity and composition of cultivable gut bacteria in an endemic island bird and its mainland sister species. Symbiosis, 1-10. (* joint last authors) PDF

Paquet, M., Doutrelant, C., Loubon, M., Theron, F., Rat, M., & Covas, R. 2016. Communal roosting, thermoregulatory benefits and breeding group size predictability in cooperatively breeding sociable weavers. Journal of Avian Biology.  47: 749-755 PDF

Charmantier, A. Doutrelant, C., Fargeveille, A., Dubuc-Messier, G, Szulkin M 2016. Mediterranean blue tits as a case study of local adaptation Evolutionary Applications 9: 135-152. PDF

Lambrechts, M. M., Marrot, P., Fargevieille, A., Giovannini, P., Lucas, A., Demeyrier, V., ... & Doutrelant, C. 2016. Nest size is not closely related to breeding success in Blue Tits: A long-term nest-box study in a Mediterranean oak habitat. The Auk, 133, 198-204.

Acker, P., Grégoire, A.., Rat, M., Spottiswoode C. N., van Dijk, R. E., Paquet, M., Kaden, J.C., Pradel R. , Hatchwell, B. J. , Covas, R.*, Doutrelant, C.* 2015. Disruptive viability selection on a black plumage trait associated with dominance Jounal of Evolutionary Biology 28: 2027-2041. (* joint last authorsPDF

van Dijk, R. E., Covas, R., Doutrelant, C., Spottiswoode, C. N. & Hatchwell, B. J. 2015 Restricted and female-biased dispersal causes fine-scale genetic structure within a population of sociable weavers (Philetairus socius) Molecular Ecology 24: 4296-4311. PDF

  Paquet, M. Doutrelant, C., Spottiswoode C. N., van Dijk, R. E. , Hatchwell, B. J, Grégoire, A. Covas, R.  2015 Antagonistic effect of helpers on breeding male and female survival in a cooperatively breeding bird Jounal of Animal Ecology. 84(5), 1354-1362. PDF

 Lambrechts M. M., Blondel, J., Dubuc-Messier, G. Marrot, P. de Franceschi, C. Perret, P., Doutrelant, C., Grégoire A. & Charmantier, A.2015 Great Tits build shallower nests than Blue Tits in an insular oak-dominated habitat mosaic Avian Biology Research .  8: 1–6PDF

Paquet, M., Covas, R., Doutrelant, C. 2015 A cross fostering experiment reveals that prenatal environment affects begging behaviour in a cooperatively breeding bird. Animal Behaviour .  102 : 251-258 PDF

Rat, M. van Dijk, R. E., Covas, R., Doutrelant, C 2015 Dominance hierarchies and associated signalling in a cooperative passerine. Behavioural Ecology and Sociobiology 69:437448 PDF

Lambrechts, M. M., Demeyrier, V., Fargevielle, A., Giovannini, P., Lucas, A., Marrot, P., Midamegbe, A., Perret, P., Charmantier, A., Doutrelant, C., Grégoire, A. 2014 Great Tits build shallower nests than Blue Tits Avian Biology Research.7, 251-254

Møller  A. P.,  et al.  2014. Variation in nest size in relation to clutch size in birds. Ecology and Evolution 4 (18): 3583-3595

 Gomez, D., Grégoire, A., Del Rey Granado, M., Bassoul, M., Degueldre, D., Perret, P., Doutrelant, C. 2014. The intensity threshold of colour vision in a passerine bird, the blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus). The Journal of experimental biology, 217 3775-3778. PDF

Reparaz, L. B., van Oers, K., Naguib, M., Doutrelant ,C.  , Visser, M. E,Caro, S.P. 2014. Mate preference of female blue tits varies with experimental photoperiod. PloS one, 9(3), e92527. PDF

Téplitsky, C.; Marta, M. ; Nakagawa, S.; Balbontin, J. ; Burke, T. A.; Doutrelant, C.; Grégoire, A. ; Hansson, B.; Hasselquist D.; Gustafsson D. ; De Lope, F.; Marsal A.; Mills J. A. Moller, A. P.; Wheelwright, N.; Yarral, J. W. & Charmantier, A. 2014 Assessing multivariate constraints to evolution across ten long term avian studies. PloS one, e90444.

Altwegg, R., Doutrelant, C., Anderson, M., Spottiswoode, C., Covas, R. 2014 Climate, social factors and research disturbance influence population dynamics in a declining sociable weaver metapopulation. Oecologia, 174:413–425.  PDF

Morinay, J. Cardoso, G., Doutrelant, C.* Covas, R.*, 2013. The evolution of bidsongs on islands. Ecology and Evolution 3: 5127-5140.  (* joint last authorsPDF

Møller, A.P. et al. Size variation in Western Palaearctic secondaryhole-nesting passerine birds in relation to nest box design Methods in Ecology and Evolution 5: 353-362.

 Doutrelant, C., Grégoire, A., Gomez, D. Staszewski, V.,Arnoux, E., Tveraa, T., Faivre, B. & Boulinier, T. 2013. Colouration in Atlantic puffins and blacklegged kittiwakes: monochromatism and links to body condition in both sexes. Journal of Avian Biology. 44: 451–460. PDF

Midamegbe, A., Grégoire, A., Staszewski, V., Perret, P., Lambrechts, M. M., Boulinier, T. & Doutrelant, C. 2013 Female blue tits with brighter yellow chests transfer more carotenoids to their eggs after an immune challenge Oecologia 173:387–397. PDF

Paquet, M., Covas, R., Chastel O., Parenteau, C., Doutrelant C. 2013.Maternal effects in relation to helper presence in the cooperatively breeding Sociable Weaver PloS ONE. 8(3): e59336 PDF

Lambrechts, M.M., Abouladzé, M., Bonnet, M., Demeyrier, V., Doutrelant, C., Faucon, V., le Prado, G., Lidon, F., Noell, T., Pagano, P., Perret, P., Pouplard, S., Spitaliéry, R., Grégoire, A. 2013. Nest-box size influences where secondary-cavity exploiters roost and nest: a choice experiment.Journal of Ornithology. 154: 563-566.

van Dijk, R., Kaden, J. C.; Beltran, L.M; Paquet, M.; Covas R. Doutrelant, C & Hatchwell, B. J. 2013 The thermoregulatory benefits of the communal nest of sociable weavers (Philetairus socius) are spatially structured within nests. Journal of Avian Biology 44:102-110 PDF

Holveck, M-J, Grégoire, A., Staszewski, V., Perret, P., Boulinier, T & Doutrelant, C. 2012 Eggshell spottiness reflects maternally transferred antibodies but not carotenoids in blue tits. Plos One 7(11): e50389 PDF

Cubaynes, S., Doutrelant, C, Grégoire, A., Perret, P., Faivre, B., Gimenez, O. 2012. Testing hypotheses in evolutionary ecology with imperfect detection: structural equation modelling of capture recapture data. Ecology 93:248–255. PDF

Doutrelant, C., Grégoire, A., Midamegbe, A,, Lambrechts, M. , Perret, P 2012. Female plumage coloration is sensitive to the cost of reproduction An experiment in blue tits. Journal of animal ecology 81: 87-96 PDF

. Lambrechts, M. M., Aimé, C., Midamegbe, A., Galan, M.-J., Perret, P., Grégoire, A., Doutrelant, C. 2012. Nest size and breeding success in first and replacement clutches: an experimental study in blue tits. Journal of Ornithology 153:173–179

Doutrelant, C., Dalecky, A. Covas, R. 2011. Age and relatedness have an interactive effect on the feeding behaviour of helpers in cooperatively breeding sociable weavers. Behaviour. 11-13: 1393-1411 PDF

Midamegbe, A, , Grégoire, A., Perret, P & Doutrelant, C. 2011. Female-female aggressiveness is influenced by female colouration in blue titsAnimal Behaviour 82: 245-253. PDF

Covas, R., Deville, A.-S., Doutrelant, C., Spottiswoode, C.N. & Grégoire , A. 2011. The effect of helpers on the post-fledging period in a cooperatively breeding bird, the social weaver. Animal Behaviour. 81: 121-126 PDF

Rémy, A., Grégoire , A., Perret, P. & Doutrelant, C. 2010. Mediating male-male interactions: the role of the UV-blue crest colouration in blue tits. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology. 64:1839-1847 . PDF

Holveck, M.-J., Doutrelant, C., Guerreiro, R., Perret, P., Gomez, D. & Grégoire, A. 2010. Can eggs in a cavity be a female sexual signal? Male nest visits and modelling of egg visual discrimination in blue tits. Biology Letters. 6: 453-457 PDF

Covas, R., du Plessis, M & Doutrelant, C. 2008. Helpers in a colonial cooperatively breeding bird contribute to buffer the effects of adverse breeding conditionsBehavioural Ecology and Sociobiology 63:103-112.  PDF

Doutrelant, C., Grégoire, A, Grnac, N. Gomez, D., Lambrechts, M. M. & Perret, P. 2008 Female coloration indicates female reproductive capacity in blue tits. Journal of Evolutionary Biology 21:226-223. PDF

Lambrechts, M. M., Bourgeault, P., Mennerat, A., Galan, M-J ; Cartan-Son, M., Perret, P., Doutrelant, C. & Charmantier, A. 2007 Cavity-nesting black rats in distinct Corsican oak habitats and their potential impact on breeding Paridae. Folia Zool. 56:445-448

Covas, R., McGregor, P. K. M & Doutrelant, C., 2007 Cooperation and communication networks Behavioural Processes 76 (2007) 149–151 PDF

Doutrelant, C., Covas, R. 2007 Helping has signalling characteristics in a cooperatively breeding bird Animal Behaviour 74: 739-747 (selected for Faculty of 1000 Biology: http://www.f1000biology.com/article/id/1096985) PDF

Moyen, F.; Doris, G. Doutrelant, C., & Théry R. 2006 Light environments affect color signaling in a temperate bird: the blue tit Revue d’écologie (terre et vie) 61 : 367-382

Covas, R., Dalecky, A., Caizergues, A & Doutrelant, C. 2006. Kin associations and direct vs. indirect fitness benefits in colonial cooperatively breeding sociable weavers Philetairus socius Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 6: 323-331

Doutrelant, C., Covas, R., Caizergues, A. & du Plessis, M. 2004. Unexpected sex ratio adjustment in a colonial cooperative bird: pairs with helpers produce more of the helping sex whereas pairs without helpers do not. Behavioural Ecology and Sociobiology 56 149-154

Covas, R., Doutrelant, C. & du Plessis, M. 2004. Food supplementation in a colonial, cooperatively breeding bird modifies individual decisions as to whether to help or breed. Proceedings of the Royal Society, London 271: 827-832

Alfonso-Alvarez, C., Doutrelant, C. & Sorci, G. 2004. Ultraviolet reflectance affects male-male interaction in the blue tit (Parus caeruleus ultramarinus). Behavioural Ecology 15: 805-809

Covas, R.; Huser, O. & Doutrelant, C. 2004. Pigmy falcons predate on nestlings of their obligate host, the sociable weaver. Ostrich 75: 325-326

Doutrelant, C., McGregor, P. K. & Oliveira, R. F. 2001 The effect of an audience on intra-male communication in fighting fish, Betta splendens. Behavioural Ecology, 12, 283-286 (paper selected by EDITORS choice Science audience betta Science, 2001 Vol 292, 2399 , - DOI: 10.1126 and quoted in the book Behavioural ecology by Danchin et al 2005).

Doutrelant, C., Lemaître, O. & Lambrechts M. M. 2001 Blue tit song geographical variation in the mediterranean region. Ardea 89, 375-385

Doutrelant, C. & Lambrechts M. M. 2001 Macrogeographic variation in song - a test of four hypotheses in blue tits. Ethology 107, 533-544

Doutrelant, C. & McGregor, P. K. 2000 Eavesdropping and mate choice in female fighting fish. Behaviour 137, 1655-1669 (paper quoted in the book Behavioural ecology by Danchin et al 2005).

Doutrelant, C., Leitao, A., Otter, K. & Lambrechts M. M. 2000 Effect of blue tit song syntax on great tit territorial responsiveness – an experimental test of the character shift hypothesis. Behavioural Ecology and Sociobiology 48,119-124 (paper quoted in the book Behavioural ecology by Danchin et al 2005).

Doutrelant, C., Blondel, J., Perret, P. & Lambrechts M. M. 2000 Blue tit song repertoire size, male quality and interspecific competition. Journal of Avian Biology 31, 360-366.

Doutrelant, C., Leitao, A., Giorgi, M. & Lambrechts, M. M. 1999 Geographical variation in blue tit song, the result of an adjustment to vegetation type? Behaviour 136, 481-493.

Doutrelant, C., Aubin T., Hitier S. & Lambrechts M. M. 1998 Two distinct song populations of blue tits, Parus caeruleus, in the French Mediterranean.Bioacoustics 9, 1-16.

Boulinier, T., Danchin, E., Monnat, J.Y., Doutrelant, C. & Cadiou, B. 1996. Timing of prospecting and the value of information in a colonial breeding bird. Journal of Avian Biology 27, 252-256

BOOK CHAPTER

Boulinier, T., Charmantier, A., Doligez, B., Doutrelant, C., Ganem, G., Grégoire, A., Leitão, A. & Monnin, T.  2010. CHAPITRE 14. Écologie comportementale : une
approche évolutive du comportement
. In : Biologie évolutive (Eds. F. Thomas, T. Lefèvre, M. Raymond), De Boeck. 491-532.

Boucherie, P., Mariette, M. Rat, M., Heeb, P., Doutrelant, C., Bousquet, C.Analyse des réseaux sociaux appliquée à l’éthologie et l’écologie. Ed. C. Sueur, Matériologique

8 - Funding

Investigatrice principale (PI)

* 2020-2024        ANR Extended phenotype(400k)

The evolution of extended phenotypes and associated signals in animals: weaverbirds’ nests and sexual selection as a case study? PI: C. Doutrelant ; Membres : Co PI R Covas (CIBIO, Univ Porto, F Rybak (Univ Paris Sud)

* 2018-2019        CEMEB Montpellier Explanatory Research Project (25k)

Relaxed selection at immunity genes in insular populations ? A test using a population genomics approach PI: B Naboltz, & C. Doutrelant ; Membres : R Covas, M Melo, C. Loiseau

* 2018- ..             OSU OREME (1000 euros par an)

Suivi de la phénologie de reproduction du Républicain Social. PI: C. Doutrelant ; CoPi: R Covas

* 2015-2019       ANR défis de tous les savoir (400k)

Can cooperation be under social or sexual selection? PI: C. Doutrelant ; Membres : R Covas (CIBIO, Univ Porto, B Faivre (Univ Dijon), F Rybak (Univ Paris Sud)

* 2016-2018                 PEPS CNRS INEE Paysage (7 k€)

Rôle de la compétition interspécifique dans la structuration des paysages acoustiques . : PI : C. Doutrelant ; Membres : A Robert (Phd), M Melo (Univ Porto), T Lengagne (CNRS, Lyon).

* 2012-2015         Bourse chercheur d'avenir Région Languedoc Roussillon (100k)

Sélection sexuelle femelle chez les oiseaux : réalité, origine et conséquences populationnelles - PI: C. Doutrelant ; Membres : Arnaud Grégoire, Doris Gomez, Anne Charmantier

* 2009-2013         ANR JCJC- (300k)

Sélection sexuelle, sociale et évolution des ornements femelles

PI: C. Doutrelant ; Membres : Arnaud Grégoire, Doris Gomez, Anne Charmantier, B. Doligez

Co Pi

* 2020-2025         ERC Consolidator COOPERATIVE PARTNER. Pi R Covas, CoPi C Doutrelant.

* 2016-2018         Portuguese Science and Technology Foundation (FCT) - 200 k

Direct benefits of cooperation. PI Rita Covas and Claire Doutrelant (co Pi).

* 2013-2016         Programme Européen Marie Curie-IRSES – (46 K pour le CNRS)

Cooperation. Pi Rita Covas. coPI C. Doutrelant, B. Hatchwell,

* 2013-2015         FCT + National geographic:

Parasite pressure, immunity and sexual ornaments in island and mainland birds. Pi E. Lobato Rita Covas & C. Doutrelant

* 2010-2013         FCT (60 k)

Maternal effects and cooperation Pi Rita Covas, co-PI C. Doutrelant

* 2010- ..             OSU OREME; (3000 euros par an)

Suivi de la phénologie de reproduction de la mésange bleue. co Pi A. Charmantier C. Doutrelant, A. Grégoire, M. Lambrechts, C. Téplitsky

* 2008 – …         Centre of Excellence FitzPatrick Institute (Af du Sud) (5000 euros par an)

Cooperative breeding in sociable weavers Co Pi Rita Covas C. Doutrelant

Partenaire

  • 2013-2018 :ERC SHE : An Integrative Study of Selection in a Heterogeneous Environment PI Charmantier, Partenaires: D. Garant, D Réale, C Téplisky, C. Doutrelant, A. Grégoire, M. Slutkin
  • 2013-2016: NERC (UK) Function and mechanism of recognition systems in social birds PI Hatchwell Partenaires: R. Covas et C. Doutrelant
  • 2012-2016: ANR blanche Potentiel évolutif en populations sauvages Pi Teplitsky ; Partenaires Charmantier, C. Doutrelant, A. Grégoire, F. Jiguet, A. Robert, L.M. Chevin, S. Lavergne
  • 2006-2009 : ANR JCJC Maternal effects. Pi Boulinier Partenaires C. Doutrelant, A. Grégoire
9- SUPERVISIONS of POST DOC & STUDENTS
 
• Post Doc

2020-2022: David López-Idiáquez   Multiple signalling in birds .  Basque Fellowship

2018-2022: Pietro d'amelio.  Mate choice of a socially monogamous, dull colored, cooperatively breeding species, the Sociable Weaver: Assessing the role of social behavior, morphology, past reproductive success and black color patches  Co direction avec R. Covas et Fanny Rybak. ANR fellowship (2018), Claude Leon Fellowship (2019-21), Marie Curie Fellowship (2021-2022)

2017- 2018: Nora Carlson.  Effet de l'audience sur la coopération. Co direction avec R. Covas et F. Rybak

2016- 2017: Marie Holveck.  Vision dans le noir et évolution de la coloration des oeufs. Co direction avec A Grégoire et D. Gomez

2014-2017: Sophie Lardy. The physiological cost of cooperation. Co direction avec R. Covas

2013-2015: Elisa Lotabo. The evolution of host-parasite interactions on islands and implications for sexual selection .Co direction avec R. Covas

2011-2012. Doris Gomez. Conséquences de la sélection sexuelle femelle sur la dynamique des métapopulations. Financement ANR FEM SEX POP

2009-2010. Marie Holveck. Sélection sexuelle et coloration des œufs. La mésange bleue comme cas d'étude. Financement Univ. Montpellier II, ASAB, ANR FEM SEX POP. Co encadrement avec A. Grégoire

 • PHD

2022-2025. Lisa Sandmeyer (Univ Montpellier) Bird ornementation and social and environemental variation. Co-supervision with A. Grégoire é David Lopez-Idiaquez

2022-2026. Babette Fourie (Univ Porto & Montpellier) Social network and benefits of coperation. Co-supervision with R. Covas & A Ferreira

2020-2024. Nicolas Silva (Univ Montpellier) Sexual selection in a monogamous dull species. Co-supervision with R. Covas

2020-2024. Erwan Harscouet (Univ Montpellier) Weaver nests as an extended phenotype. Co-supervision with R. Covas, J Renoult

2017-2020. Rita Foruna. (Univ. Porto) Prenatal maternal effects and its consequences for offspring, parents and helpers fitness in a cooperatively breeding species. Co-supervision with R. Covas and Matthieu Paquet

2017-2020. André Ferreria. (Univ. de Montpellier) Social, sexual selection and coopration . Co-supervision with R. Covas

2015-2018. Alois Robert. (Univ Montpellier). Evolution des signaux colorés et acoustiques au sein des ommunautés d'oiseaux Co-supervision with D. Gomez

2013-2016. Amélie Fargeveille. (Univ Montpellier). Choix de partenaire et évolution des signaux femelles Co-supervision with A. Grégoire

2011-2014. Margaux Rat. (Univ. du Cap Af du Sud). Dominance, coopération et sélection sexuelle chez le Tisserin social. Co-supervision with R. Covas & Rene Van Dijk

2010-2013. Matthieu Paquet. (Univ. Montpellier). Effets maternels et reproduction coopérative chez le Tisserin social. Co-supervision with R. Covas

2007-2010 : Afiwa Midamegbe. (Univ. Montpellier). Les signaux femelles chez la Mésange bleue: des signaux sexuels secondaire ? Co-supervision with A. Grégoire

 • Master (6 months in France and South Africa 12 months Portugal, two years in Canada)

* 2021. Fanny Gonguet.  (Univ Montpellier). Blue tit colorations and condition dependance: insight form long term data set. Codirection David Idiaquez, Arnaud Grégoire. M1

*2021.  Benjamin Dupuis. ( ENS lyon) Predation and  life history and social traits in weavers bird . M2 Codirection Pietro d'Amelio, Rita Covas

*2020-2021. Lucas Pacheco (Univ Porto). Roosting behaviour in sociable weaver Codirection Andre Ferreira, Liliana Silva Rita Covas

* 2020 Erwan Harscouet(Univ. Montpellier) The factors at the origin of Weaver nests diversifcation Master DARWIN, . M2  Codirection  Juien Renoult, Rita Covas

* 2019. Erwan Harscouet. (Univ. Montpellier.) Study of the relationship between a melanic trait and cooperativeness in a social bird Master DARWIN,  M1 Codirection Pietro d'Amelio, Rita Covas

* 2018-19 Louis Bliard. (Univ. Montpellier.) Survival and helper feeding rate and group size Master MEME,, M2. Codirection Mathieu Paquet, Rita Covas
*2018  Louis Bliard. (Univ. Montpellier.) Relaxed predation in insular ecosystems and its links with bird colour responses to insularity Master MEME
·2017-2018 Sandra Esteves ( Univ Porto) Individual personality and social network position in a cooperatively breeding bird

2017 Alexis Corbara   Survie et coloration en environnement hétérogène . Univ Lyon . Co supervision with A Grégoire, A Fargevieille, P Acker

2017-2018 -Ines Duarte  Dominance rank, cooperative investment and reproductive status in a cooperative breeder Univ Porto

2017 Sacha Julien. Différenciation acoustique des chants de Madeire et Europe: un effet insularité . Univ Montpelier Co supervision with A. Robert

2016-2018 Raphaelle Mercier Gauthier Liens entre personnalité et sélection sexuelle ou sociale par le biais des ornements colorés chez la Mésange bleue dans un environnement hétérogène . Univ Montréal (Canada). Co supervision with Denis Réale

2016 Aurore Arrietaz Univ. Toulouse. Reproductive ssuccess and assortative mating for coloration . 10 years of data.  Co supervision with Arnaud Grégoire and Amélie Fargeveille

2015:  Kyle lloyd : An experimental approach to assessing nest predation as a driver of population growth of the sociable weaver (Philetairus socius) Co-supervision with R. Covas, Res Altwegg

2015-16 Liliana Silva. Cost of dominance in sociable weavers Univ. Porto Co-supervision with R. Covas, S. Lardy

2015-16: Rita Fortuna Begging behavior and negociation of parental care sociable weavers Univ. Porto Co-supervision with R. Covas, M Paquet

2014-15 Sofia Santos Maternal effect in relation to presence of helpers in sociable weavers Univ. Lisboa Co-supervision with R. Covas, M Paquet

2014-15:André Ferreira Benefits and costs of helpers: investigating the underlying mechanisms in sociable weavers Univ. Porto Co-supervision with R. Covas

2013.-14 Lara Brooms Juvenile survival in sociable weavers Univ. Porto Co-supervision with R. Covas, M Paquet

2013. Paul Acker Univ. Paris 6. Variability and viability selection of a melanin-based plumage trait, the black bib of sociable weavers Co-supervision with Arnaud Grégoire

2012. Thibaut Aronson. Univ. Montpellier II. Modeling mutual mate choice and mutation load in animal populations using a good-genes approach. Co-supervision with Patrice David and Arnaud Grégoire

2012. Jennifer Morinay Univ. Paris 6. Bird song on islands. Co-supervision with Goncalo Cardso (CIBIO) and Rita Covas (CIBIO)

2012. Mandy Thion Univ. Montpellier II, Heretability of plumage coloration in blue tits. Co-supervision with Anne Charmantier and Arnaud Grégoire.

2012. Cristel Vidaller. Univ. Montpellier II, Coloration and local extinction in birds metapopulation. Co-supervision with Thierry Boulinier and Doris Gomez

2011. Anabelle Sueur. Univ Lyon. Mutual sexual selection in flycatchers Co-supervision with Blandine Doligez (Lyon)

2010. Justine Bisson. Univ. Lyon. Coloration and survival in blue tits. Co-supervision with Arnaud Grégoire.

2010. Matthieu Paquet. . Montpellier II, Sexual selection and insularity . Co-supervision with Rita Covas and Arnaud Grégoire.

2009 : Anne Sophie Deville, Univ. Montpellier II, Survival and egg size in presence absence of helpers, Co-supervision with Rita Covas and Arnaud Grégoire .

2008 : Romain Guerreiro, Univ. Montpellier II, Egg coloration as a condition dependent traits. Co-supervision with Arnaud Grégoire.

2007 : Alice Rémy, Univ. Montpellier II, UV coloration and dominance in male blue tits. Codirection with A .Grégoire and P. Perret.

 

8) PRESS

 Sociable weavers :

  • Jeanne Bourdier - Sciences et Avenir- 2020-Une intelligence artificielle capable de différencier les oiseaux au sein d’une même espèce PDF sciences et avenir

https://www.sciencenews.org/article/extreme-bird-nests-bring-comforts-and-catastrophe

http://www.birdlife.org.za/events/bird-of-the-year

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUnadxTA8iE

Passerault M. (2016) Le plus gros nid du monde abrite un oiseau colonial à reproduction coopérative, le Républicain social Philetairus socius. Le LIROU Revue du Groupe Ornithologique des Deux-Sèvres, n°34 : p48-52. PDF

Pagnon, T. 2018 La cité des républicains Espèce Numero 30: 38-47 PDF

Evolution on islands:

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/inkfish/2016/03/15/birds-give-up-colorful-feathers-for-carefree-island-lifestyle/#.WIDxezIzXKI

 

 

 IMG 2145

 

 I'm always looking for motivated students and post doc to build / work on project! Do not hesitate to contact me with a CV to share your interest!