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2009-present: Research Entomologist – USDA – ARS – Miami FL, USA

2007-2009: Postdoctoral Associate – University of Georgia – Athens GA, USA

2005-2007: Attaché Temporaire d’Enseignement et de Recherche – University Montpellier III, France

2007:Ph. D., Population Biology and Ecology, University of Montpellier, France

2001-2002:  M.S. Ecophysiology, Energetic and Behaviour, University of Strasbourg I, France

2000-2001 : B.S.  Ecosystems and Populations Biology, University of Burgundy, Dijon, France

General Interest

I am motivated by the need to understand how species interactions affect the evolutionary trajectory and in turn determine species coexistence in communities and ecosystems. This requires insight into ecological, chemical, genetic and behavioural mechanisms that determine community dynamics and long-term coexistence (Description of research projects below).

Publications

1-  Niogret J., Kendra P.E., Epsky N.D., Heath R.R. 2011. Comparative analysis of terpenoid emissions from Florida host trees of the redbay ambrosia beetle, Xyleborus glabratus (Coleoptera : Curculionidae : Scolytinae). Florida Entomologist 94 (4): 1010-1017.

2- Kendra P.E., Montgomery W.S., Niogret J., Pena J.E., Capinera J.L., Brar G., Epsky N.D., Heath R.R. 2011. Attraction of Xyleborus glabratus (Coleoptera : Curculionidae: Scolytinae) to avocado, lychee, and essential oil lures. Journal of Chemical Ecology : 37: 932-942.

3- Kendra, P. E., A. L. Roda, W. S. Montgomery, E. Q. Schnell, J. Niogret, N. D. Epsky, and R. R. Heath.  2011.  Signature chemicals for detection of citrus infestation by fruit fly larvae (Diptera: Tephritidae).  In J. E. Peña (ed.) Potential Invasive Pests of Agricultural Crops.  CABI Invasives Series, vol. 1.  CAB International.  Wallingford, UK.  (In press)

4-Niogret J., Montgomery W.S., Kendra P.E., Heath R.R., Epsky N.D. 2011. Attraction and Electroantennogram Responses of Male Mediterranean Fruit Fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) to Wood Volatiles from Persea, Litchi and Ficus. Journal of Chemical Ecology: 37: 483-491.

5- Kendra P. E., Sanchez J. S., Montgomery W. S., Okins K. E., Niogret J., Pena J. E., Epsky N. D., and Heath R. R.  2011.  Diversity of Scolytinae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) attracted to avocado, lychee, and essential oil lures.  Florida Entomol. 94: 123-130.

6- Kendra P.E., Roda A.L., Montgomery W.S., Schnell E.Q., Niogret J., Epsky N.D., Heath R.R. 2010. Gas chromatography for detection of citrus infestation by fruit fly larvae (Diptera: Tephritidae). Postharvest Biology and Technology 59:143-149.

7-Niogret J., Sait S.M., Rohani P. 2009. Parasitism and constitutive defense costs to host life history traits in a parasitoid-host interaction. Ecological Entomology 34 : 763-771.

8-Niogret J., Lumaret J.P. 2009. Identification of the cues used in the host finding behaviour during the phoretic association Ceroptera rufitarsis (Diptera: Sphaeroceridae) and dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae). Journal of Insect Behavior 22: 464-472.

9-Niogret J., Lumaret J.P., Bertrand M. 2009. Generalist and specialist strategies in macrochelid mites (acari: Mesostigmata) phoretically associated with dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae). In: Trends in Acarology (Sabelis M.W. and Bruin J. (eds)): 343-347.

10- Jay-Robert P., Niogret J., Labarussias M., Paoletti E., Vazquez Luis M., Lumaret J.P. 2008. Relative efficiency of extensive grazing vs. wild ungulates management for dung beetle conservation in Southern Europe (Scarabaeinae, Aphodiinae, Geotrupinae). Biological Conservation 141: 2879-2887.

11-Niogret J., Nicot A. 2008. Combined approach using morphology and ITS-sequences for description of three new species of Macrocheles (Acari: Macrochelidae). Zootaxa 1873: 39-49.

12- Ghaioule D., Lumaret J.-P., Rochat D., Maatouf N., Niogret J. 2007. Estimation of white grub damage (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) in cork oak (Quercus suber L.) regeneration plots of the Mamora forest (Morocco) and search for biological control using sex-pheromone. Annales de la Société Entomologique de France 43(1): 1-8.

13-Niogret J. 2007. Interactions multipolaires entre coléoptères, acariens et diptères : stratégies de dispersion pour l’utilisation de ressources trophiques éphémères. Résumé de thèse. In: Les nouvelles de l’entomologie (UEF ed), Bulletin des Entomologistes de France, 21-22, p14.

14-Niogret J., Nicot A., De Stordeur E., Bertrand M. 2007. Combination of morphological characters and ITS-sequence to characterize a new Macrocheles species (Acari: Mesostigmata). Zootaxa1386: 19-29.

15-Niogret J, Nicot A., Bertrand M. 2007. Two new Macrocheles species from France (Mesostigmata: Macrochelidae). Acarologia XLVII (3-4): 115-120.

16- Lumaret J.P., Jay-Robert P., Dormont L., De Stordeur E., Errouissi F., Niogret J., Dimanche M., Paris A., Launay S., Brosse Genevet E., Le bourg N., Bousquel V., Kermabon J., Hugonnet S., Verdier G., Digier M., Lemmet S., Descaves B. & Breton F., 2006. Programme Espaces Protégés: Effets du degré d’ouverture de l’habitat sur la diversité de l’entomofaune des milieux pâturés et utilisation de cette connaissance pour la gestion des espaces protégés. Final report, septembre 2006, Ministère de l’Ecologie et du Développement Durable. 158pp.

17-Niogret J., Lumaret J.P., Bertrand M. 2006. Semiochemicals mediating host-finding behaviour in the phoretic association between Macrocheles saceri (Acari: Mesostigmata) and Scarabaeus species (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae). Chemoecology 16 (3): 129-134.

18-Niogret J., Lumaret J.P., Bertrand M. 2006. Review of the phoretic association between coprophilous insects and macrochelid mites (Acari: Mesostigmata) in France. Elytron, 20: 99-121.

19- Haloti S., Glida H., Niogret J., Janati-Idrissi A., Bertrand M., Lumaret J.P. 2005, Acariens Macrochelidae (Acari: Mesostigmata) phoretiques d’Afrique. I] Macrochelides coprophiles du Maroc, Acarologia XLV (2-3): 155-159.

20- Trabalon M., Niogret J., Frossi-Legrand C. 2005. Effect of 20-Hydroxyecdysone on cannibalism, sexual behaviour and contact sex pheromone in the solitary female spider, Tegenaria atrica. General and Comparative Endocrinology 144: 60-66.

21-Niogret J., Bertrand M., 2005. Supplement to the description of Macrocheles vernalis Berlese, 1887: Male description from Moroccan population. AcarologiaXLV: 267-272.

22-Niogret J., Bertrand M., Glida H., Lumaret J.P. 2004. Dung or Beetles, that is the question… Olfactory sensitivity, a significant trait of life of the phoretic mite Macrocheles perglaber (Acari: Mesostigmata: Macrochelidae). Phytophaga XIV: 215-222.

Submitted:

1- Heath R.R., Epsky N.D., Schnell E.Q., Niogret J., Schnell R.J., Kendra P.E., and Meerow A.W. Distribution of sesquiterpenes in leaves, branches and trunks of several avocado (Persea americana Mill.) genotypes. Submitted to Journal of Chemical Ecology.

2-Niogret J., Epsky N.D., Kendra P.E. Schnell R.J. and Heath R.R. Semiochemical phenotypic variations within and among half-sibling avocado trees, Persea Americana (Laureacea). Submitted to Phytochemistry

3-Kendra P.E., Niogret J., Montgomery W.S., Sanchez J.S., Deyrup M.A., Pruett G.E., Ploetz R.C., Epsky N.D., and Heath R.R. Temporal emissions of sesquiternes from manuka and phoebe oil lures for attraction of redbay ambrosia beetle, Xyleborus glabratus (Coleoptera : Curculinidae). Submitted to Journal of Chemical Ecology.

Oral communications:

1- Kendra P. E., Montgomery W. S., Sanchez J. S., Niogret J., Pena J. E., Epsky N. D., Heath. R. R. 2011. Host-based attractants for the redbay ambrosia beetle, Xyleborus glabratus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae). 85th Annual Meeting of the Southeastern Branch of the Entomological Society of America, March 2011. San Juan PR, USA.

2- Kendra P.E., Niogret J., Montgomery W.S., Sanchez J.S., Epsky N.D., Schnell E.Q., Heath R.R. 2010. Laboratory and Field studies to identify host attractants for the Redbay Ambrosia Beetle. Invited Seminar. University of Florida, Tropical Research and Education Center. Homestead FL, USA.

3- Niogret J., Kendra P.E, Montgomery W.S., Sanchez J.S., Joseph R., Epsky N.D., and Heath R.R. 2010. Efficacy and Longevity of essential oil lures for capture of the redbay ambrosia beetle Xyleborus glabratus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae). 58^th Annual Meeting of the Entomological Society of America. San-Diego CA, USA.

4- Kendra P.E., Niogret J., Montgomery W.S., Schnell E.Q., Epsky N.D.,  Heath R.R., Schnell R.J.,  Ayala-Silva T. and Winterstein M. 2009. Redbay Ambrosia Beetle / Laurel Wilt: Overview of projects at the USDA-ARS-SHRS. Redbay Ambrosia Beetle-Laurel Wilt Symposium. Homestead FL, USA.

5- Niogret J., Bertrand M., Lumaret J.P. 2006. The Constraints Due to Host Selection and the Behavioural Responses of Coprophilous Macrochelidae (Acari: Mesostigmata). 12^th International Congress of Acarology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

6- Niogret J. 2004. Description of the host recognition behaviour in the phoretic association Scarabaeus-Macrochelid mites. French Entomological Society, Paris, France.

Poster Presentations:

1- Kendra P.E., Montgomery W.S., Niogret J., Sanchez J.S., Pruett G., Ploetz R., Epsky N.D., Heath R.R. 2011. Host preferences of the redbay ambrosia beetle (Xyleborus glabratus) in Florida. 59^th Annual Meeting of the Entomological Society of America. Nov 2011 Reno, NV, USA.

2- Kendra P.E., Niogret J., Montgomery W.S., Sanchez J.S., Pena J.E., Epsky N.D., Heath R.R. 2011. Efficiency of essential oil lures for detection of Redbay ambrosia beetle, Xyleborus glabratus (Col.: curculionidae: Scolytinae). 94^th Annual Meeting of the Florida Entomology Society, July 2011 Fort Myers FL, USA.

3- Niogret J., Kendra P. E., Montgomery W. S., Sanchez J. S., Joseph R., Epsky N. D., Heath R. R.. 2011. Trap-lure combinations for redbay ambrosia beetle detection. 85th Annual Meeting of the Southeastern Branch of the Entomological Society of America, March 2011. San Juan PR, USA.

4- Kendra P.E., Montgomery W.S., Niogret J., Pena J.E., Epsky N.D., Heath R.R. 2010. Attraction of Redbay Ambrosia Beetle (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) to Avocado, Lychee, and Essential oil lures. 93rd Annual Meeting of the Florida Entomological Society. July 2010 Jupiter FL, USA

5- Kendra P.E., Sanchez J.S., Montgomery W.S., Niogret J., Okins. 2010. Diversity of Ambrosia beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) attracted to avocado, Lychee and Essential oil lures. 93rd Annual Meeting of the Florida Entomological Society. July 2010 Jupiter FL, USA.

6- Niogret J. and Rohani P. 2010. Induced and Constitutive costs of host defense to parasitism in Plodia interpunctella-Venturia canescens interactions. 93rd Annual Meeting of the Florida Entomological Society. Jupiter FL July 2010

7- Niogret J., Kendra P.E., Epsky N.D., Heath R.R. 2010. Volatile Chemicals from host and non-host trees of the Redbay Ambrosia Beetle, Xyleborus glabratus, threatening the Florida avocado Production. 93rd Annual Meeting of the Florida Entomological Society. July 2010, Jupiter FL, USA.

8- Kendra P.E., Montgomery W.S., Sanchez J.S., Niogret J., Pena J.E., Epsky N.D., Heath R.R. 2010. Field and Laboratory Studies to identify host attractants for the Redbay Ambrosia Beetle, Xyleborus glabratus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae, Scolytinae). 58^th Annual Meeting of the Entomological Society of America. San-Diego CA, USA.

9- Niogret J., Rohani P. 2010. Fitness cost of resistance of the Indian Meal Moth parasitized by the parasitoid wasp venturia canescens. 58^th Annual Meeting of the Entomological Society of America. San-Diego CA, USA.

10- Niogret J., Epsky N.D., Montgomery W.S., Kendra P. E., Heath R.R. 2010. Electroantennography and Bioassay responses of the Mediterranean fruit fly Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae) to plant cambial emissions. 8^th International Symposium on Fruit Flies of Economic Importance. Sept 26-Oct1 2010, Valencia, Spain.

11- Niogret J., Kendra P.E., Epsky N.D., Heath R.R. 2010. Identification of volatile chemicals from host trees of Redbay Ambrosia Beetle, the vector of the Laurel Wilt. 84th Annual Meeting of the Southeastern Branch of the Entomological Society of America, March 2010. Atlanta GA, USA.

12- Niogret J., Montgomery W.S., Epsky N.D., Kendra P.E., Heath R.R. 2010. Olfactory Responses of Male Medflies to Plant Material Containing the Parapheromone α-Copaene. Potential Invasive Pest Workshop, Coconut Grove FL, USA.

13- Kendra P.E., Montgomery W.S., Schnell E.Q., Niogret J., Epsky N.D., Heath R.R., Schnell R.J., Ayala-Silva T., Meerow A.W., Winterstein M.2009.  Strategies to address the imminent threat of Redbay Ambrosia beetles and Laurel Wilt disease to avocado in Florida. 92^nd Annual Meeting of the Florida Entomological Society. Fort Myers FL, USA.

14- Niogret J., Bertrand M., Lumaret J.P. 2006. Host Selection under Predation Pressure: Case of Mites and Flies Phoretic on the same Dung Beetle. 12^th International Congress of Acarology, Amsterdam – The Netherlands.

15- Niogret J., Bertrand M., Lumaret J.P. 2004. Dung or Beetle, that is the question … or the Chemical Determinism of the Phoretic Behaviour of the Mite, Macrocheles perglaber. 5^th European Symposium of Acarologists, Berlin – Germany.

16- Niogret J., Pourie G., Frossy-Legrand C., Trabalon M. 2003. Study of the effect of ecdysteroids on the agonistic behaviour and the cuticular lipid rate in the reproductive cycle of Tegenaria Atrica (Agelenidae). French Society of Animal behaviour Study (SFECA) Congress, First award for poster session, Tours, France.

Research projects

2009 – Present. Research Entomologist. US Department of Agriculture – Agriculture Research Service – Subtropical Horticulture Research Station – MIAMI FL

My current postdoctoral position is focusing on the understanding of plant-herbivore chemical interactions using insect pests as models. Plants generally produce complex mixtures of terpenoids that may greatly differ within the same plant family, the same species and even within individuals. The levels and spatial structure of these chemical variations may influence the capacity of herbivores and pathogens to adapt and exert selection based on the presence/absence or on the quantity or ratio of chemicals emitted. I am leading a study to underline the role of chemical compounds emitted from natural sources (wood samples and essential oils) as potential candidates for the attraction of the Mediterranean fruit fly Ceratatis capitata, using field and laboratory bioassays, electroantennography (GC-EAD) and mass spectrometry identification. I am also involved in a chemotaxonomy project to link chemical phenotypes and genetic backgrounds in plants at different scales (from sibling trees to cultivars) in avocado trees (Persea americana) and Lychee trees (Litchi chinensis). During this research project, I am also focusing on the understanding of the chemical variability among host plants of the family Laureacea, attacked by the newly introduced pest redbay ambrosia beetle Xyleborus glabratus. This beetle shows strong preferences among its diverse hosts in field and laboratory experiments. Chemical analysis suggests the presence of potential chemical candidates to monitor the beetle. Bioassays (olfactometry and EAG) are conducted to understand the chemical preference toward specific host trees and the beetle’s capability to bore into the wood. I also analysed the efficiency and the longevity of essential oil lures for beetle detection on the field.

2007-2009. Postdoctoral Associate – Odum School of Ecology – University of Georgia, Athens GA.

The level of an organism’s investment in defenses against its natural enemies depends not only on the fitness costs of parasitism, but also on the costs of maintaining defenses in the absence of infection. The presence of heritable variation in resistance suggests that costs exist, but very little is known about the nature or magnitude of these costs in natural populations of animals. A powerful technique for identifying trade-offs between fitness components is the study of correlated responses to artificial selection. We propose to select the Indian meal moth, Plodia interpunctella for increased resistance against a koinobiont parasitoid, Venturia canescens.  Parasitoid larvae develop internally within the host, resulting in eventual death in the absence of any immune response. Hosts may, however, survive parasitoid attack by investing in a cellular immune response.  We will measure the cost of countering parasitism and the cost of maintaining resistance in absence of immune challenge by measuring the trade-offs between increased resistance and other components of host fitness. We predict that costs of host defenses will correlated with fecundity, growth, developmental time, size and/or competitive ability of the resistant lines compared with control lines. This study is especially timely because the proposed host species is a major pest of stored products worldwide while the parasitoid is a potential biocontrol agent. The understanding of factors that determine control of pest species and their evolutionary response clearly requires the marriage of ecological, physiological, behavioral and evolutionary perspectives. Thus, we believe our proposed multi-disciplinary approach to this novel question affecting an economically significant pest is of particular importance."

2005-2007 Attache Temporaire d’Enseignement et de Recherche, University Montpellier III, France.

Research programs

· Agronomic Research Program for Development, 2006(PRAD 04-10): Strategy to fight against Sphodroxia maroccana Ley population (Coleoptera, Melolonthidae): sampling and isolation of sexual pheromone (Maamora Forest, Morocco).

· Protected Areas Program, 2006 (French Environmental Ministry): Effects of the structure of the habitat on the insect diversity and use this knowledge for management of protected areas.

· Agronomic Research Program for Development, 2007 (PRAD  07-01):Chemical fight against a pest of young cork oak plantations and analyse of the environmental risk in Morocco.

Teaching experiences

· Physiology & Genetic applied to Human Sciences (Licence): TD

· Human Ecology (Master): CM

2007. PhDPopulation Biology and Ecology. UMR Centre d’Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive – Laboratoire d’Ecologie des Arthopodes - University of Montpellier III.

“Multipolar interactions between beetle (Scarabaeidae)/mite (Macrochelidae)/fly (Sphaeroceridae): dispersal strategies for using ephemeral trophic resources. Pass with distinction.”

I defended my PhD thesis in Population Biology and Ecology on March 19^th, 2007 which was obtained with highest distinction. The subject had been planned with interdisciplinary approaches to investigate the ecological, behavioral and chemical mechanisms that shape multiple species interactions where commensalism, kleptoparasitism, predation and mutualism interacted, and how these interspecific interactions influence the dispersal strategies used by the phoretic organisms (Generalist vs specialist).

Different methods have been used: behavioral tests (olfactometry, bioassays), analysis with gas chromatography (GC-MS & SPME) and molecular techniques (phylogeny) in order to underline genetic basis of specialization in host choices.

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