Research interest:
My general interest concern evolution and particularly the micro-evolutionary process, studying interactions between ecology and environment. For this, I use molecular ecology and geometric morphometrics tools.
During my phD works, i work on human impact (regulated river and fine sediment deposition) on stream ecosystem by studying diet of benthic feeders teleosts. Through the case of French chondrostoma complex, I raised three particular issues:
1-Impact of an invasive species on the ecology of an endemic species
2-Impact of human activities on food web structure
3-Production of phenotypic variability through hybridization
I work also on the development of molecular technique to study foodwebs structure of streamwater environment, called the “Diet Barcoding”. This approach is a PCR based method on scat analysis of predator. One of the main advantages concerns the financial and technical costs because it uses clade specific PCR allowing limiting visualization step to simple electrophoretic migration on agarose gel. The diet barcoding help to me to define the diet of the two species of chondrostoma across different river.
You can see more by cliking here on my Universitary cursus, my skills, my teaching experiences and my extra-professional activities.
Education & Trainings
Phd Thesis
PhD in Evolution Genome Environment team of the Mediterranean Institutes of Ecology and Paleoecology (IMEP).
The aim of my PhD was to study the outcomes of hybrid zones between an endemic and an invasive cyprinid species of teleostean fishes (Chondrostoma genus, Cyprinidae) living under strong environmental pressure (regulated river). To reach this goal, I study the diet behavior of several genomic groups (pure specimen, F1 hybrids, F2, Backcross specimen,…) with original molecular tools based on identification of feces DNA (Corse et al., 2010) and Stable Isotope Analysis (Corse et al., 2009).
Thesis director: Dr. André Gilles (Associate Professor) and Prof. Rémi Chappaz (Professor).
Distinctions
Third class honors awarded by the thesis committee.
2nd prize of IMBE thesis 2011 awarded by a multidisciplinary jury.
M.S. degree of Management and Aquatic Environment (Cum Laude).
Environmental, Technology and Social Department, Université Aix-Marseille I, Marseille, France.
Research experience
M2 Research Project (6 months): Molecular tool for freshwater food web: Development of a DNA bank database.
In order to have genetic material for molecular handlings the aim of the stage was to create an DNA bank for freshwater environment. For that, I performed three samplings in four different stations of large prey spectrum including Green algae, Diatoms, plankton (Copepods and Rotifera), Molluscs, Arachnida and Pan-Arthropoda. All samples were then morphologically identified using taxonomic keys, forming a freshwater prey bank. In addition, to complete this bank, I performed PCR by 18SrDNA sequences allowing feasibility testing of group specific primers design.
Project supervisors: Dr. André Gilles (Associate Professor) and Dr. Caroline Costedoat (Associate Professor).
M1 Research Project: Morphometric characterization of hybrids in Cyprinids.
Using morphometrical and procrust analysis, I had to characterize the body shape deformation by morphometrical traits between three different species and their hybrids. This project was included on broader objectives of the Evolution Genome Environment team aimed at estimating the role of Hybridization in the Cyprinids evolution.
Project supervisors: Dr. Nicolas Pech (Associate Professor) and Dr. André Gilles (Associate Professor).
Education
I assisted to courses related to conservation of aquatic environment encompassing Biological conservation tools (Biological index, Biomarker, 60h), Law courses (European Water Legislation, 60h), Hydrology ( 60h), sociology (60h) and English courses (with a final TOEIC evaluation; 655 points).
Evolutionary sciences (Concept and terminology, 60h). From Darwin to Modern synthesis, through the cladogenesesis versus punctured equilibrium theory debate, by understanding the notions as plesiomorphy, homology or heterochrony, we studied the history of Evolutionary sciences.
Phylogeny: Cladistical and Phenetic analysis (60h). Lessons, tutorials and practical works. Bioinformatic. Alignements/Statistical softwares (Bioedit, MEGA, SeaView) Introduction to Genbank.
Population Genetics (60h). Formal Genetics: genealogy, Mono/dihybridism, Sex linked genes, quantitative genetics; and Population Genetics: Hardy-Weinberg principle, Mutation, Selection and Genetic drift concepts.
Molecular Ecology including practical works (Enzyme electrophoresis, PCR, cloning), and courses describing the Genetic markers (Allozyme, Introns, Microsatelites,…) and an Introduction to Phylogeography (60h).
Statistics, Probabilities, and Descriptive statistics in biology (2 x 60h). These courses included Multivariate Analysis and tutorials with R software.
Animal and Vegetal Physiology (2x60h). At molecular level, we studied the process of hormonal, nervous, digestive and immune systems.
Ecology and Evolution (60h). This topic aims to understand how species adapt to the environment through multiple aspects: physiology, anatomy, behavior,…. We approach conceptual frameworks of evolution as Sociobiology, physiological and anatomical host-parasit or prey/predator co-evolution. I also defended orally a study showing an adaptation to extreme environment: “Riftia: The Giant abyss worm”.
Bio-indicator (60h). The aim of this module was to present how organism can serve as indicator. It was a multidisciplinary module, including paleontology, ecological tools (based on diversity index as Shannon index), eco-toxicology and bio-marker (e.g.: Heat Shot Protein, free radicals,…).
Licence
Licence degree of “Biology of Organisms and Populations”.
Earth and Life Sciences Department, Université Aix-Marseille I, Marseille, France.
Research experience
Drosophila melanogaster and formal genetic. The aims of this stage was to obtain F2 hybrids of two mutants strains of Drosophila (Scarlet and Ebony strains) and explaining the proportion of each phenotypic class.
Adaptation to extreme environment: The Calanques flora. This project aims to make an herbarium of species community adapted to dryness.
Education
Animal and Vegetal Biology, 900h. Including courses, tutorials and practical works, these modules contained Ecology, Taxonomy and Comparative Anatomy.
Cellular Biology (6x60h).
Developmental biology (2x60h) Comparative ontogeny of chicken, mouse and Drosophila and Genetics of developments including study of Mouse and Drosophila model.
Biochemistry (Photo/chimio-synthesis, Respiratory metabolism, Lipids/Glucid/Protein metabolism 60h).
Organic chemistry (60h).
Thermodynamics (60h).
Paleontology (2x60h), Geology (2x60h), TOAE (Earth, Oceans, Atmosphere and Space, 60h).
Competencies
Competencies in molecular handling
DNA extraction (muscle, feces), visualization of agarose gel electrophoresis; Development of primer (Oligosoftware) / set up PCR protocol, Clade specific Primer design.
Optimization of PCR protocols (BSA, MgCl 2, NH3SO4, Nanodrop). Optimization of multiplex PCR.
Cloning PCR products.
Molecular data analysis: Using Bioedit/Seqscape/Seeview programs and Genbank or BOLD database.
Statistical and ecological competences
Protocol development: Development of a diet barcoding food for freshwater: Financial Management / Inventory Control / Protocol Design / Publishing.
Morphological and molecular determination of invertebrates and green algae.
Determinations of micro-organisms (diatoms, rotifers, copepods and thécosomes) and isolation under a microscope (Pasteur pipette).
Establishment and implementation of sampling protocols (IBGN, Electric fishing). Mounting and reading scales of teleosts, Growth analysis.
Statistical analysis
Statistical software R (ANOVA, ACP, AFC, chi-square…).
Morphological analysis (Procrsutes Analysis).
Graphic software, Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator et GIMP.
Microsoft Office software (Power point, Word, Excel).
Languages skills
English : Understending :+++ Writing :++ Oral :++
Spanish : Understending :++ Writing :+ Oral :+
Extra-professional activities
I have always practiced the sport intensively.
I practiced for 15 years rugby in two clubs: Rugby Club Pertuisien and the Rugby Club Aubagnais.
With wonderful memories of Derby across the Provence villages...
Now, advancing age has lad me to be more serious!
That's why I switched to more peaceful sports such as Triathlon (swimming, Cycle, run), with Massilia Triathlon members.
I am also a passionate of freshwater fish. Since I was youg, I raised a whole range of fishes with a particular interest for cichlids and killies!
Teaching
I was aTeaching and Research Assistant during two years (2010-2012) in the Evolution Genome Environment team, Aix-Marseille I University. Here is a non-exhaustive list of my teaching experience.
Meiosis/Mitosis Licence 2 (Tutorial, 10hours)
Cellular Biology (Licence 1, Tutorial, 60h). I structured this module by short lessons, micrographic studies and exercises to adress Procaryota/Eukaryota:Cell differences, Role of cell organelles, Nucleolus, Cytoskeleton, Endomembrane system, Plasma membrane and exchanges, Ultrastructure of mitochondria and chloroplast.
Genetics (Licence 2, Tutorials, 15h). Tutorials included lessons and exercises parts. We addressed Formal Genetics: genealogy, Mono/dihybridism, Sex linked genes, quantitative genetics; and Population Genetics: Hardy-Weinberg principle ( and Chi-square tests), Mutation, Selection and Genetic drift concepts.
Ecology (Licence 3, Practical work, 6h). I managed students during sampling and morphological determination of invertebrates to characterize the faunal composition of different environment: Oak and pine grove soil, epilithon of polluted river and non-polluted river.
Optional stage management (Licence 1, practical work, 20h). The aims of this stage was to introduce students to formal and population genetics by rearing, breeding six mutant strains of Drosophila melanogaster, observation of their F1/ F2 hybrids phenotypes.
Cellular biology (Licence 2, Tutorials, 20 h). I structured this module by short lessons, micrographic studies and exercises to address the reproductive cycle by studying spermatogenesis, oogenesis and fertilization at the cellular level in rat model.
Phylogeny and Evolution (Licence 2, Tutorial, practical works, 15h). Evolution of the organization plan of the eyes and kidney structure by exploring Phylogenetics, Morphological, Anatomical, Functional and Developmental Genetic aspects.
Molecular Ecology (Master 1, Lessons and practical works, 10h). The aim of this module was to introduce molecular ecology tools for students intended to the professional fields of Biodiversity Conservation. By reminding several concepts (Genetic markers, species and population concept, Phylogeography,…), I described how molecular tools can guide conservation policies. In order to introduce students to available bio-informatical and molecular tools, I developed a practical work. The aim of this work was to identify species with DNA sequences, including organisms sampling in the field, DNA extraction, PCR, DNA sequences treatment, BLAST on GENBANK.
Environmental challenges (Master 1, courses, 10h). The aim of this module was to raise students about the major environmental problematics. I have intervened through two lessons. First I discussed more specifically about the freshwater environment, including Invasive species, Habitat loss and fisheries problematics. Jointly with a sociologist, I raised the technical aspect and biological consequences of genetically modified organism.
Scientific activities
Publications
Corse E, Nève G, Sinama M, Pech N, Costedoat C, Chappaz R, Gilles A Plasticity of ontogenetic Trajectories in Cyprinids: a source of Evolutionary Novelties. In press.
Corse E, Costedoat C, Chappaz R, Pech N, Martin JF et Gilles A PCR-based method for diet analysis in freshwater organisms using 18S rDNA barcoding on faeces. Molecular Ecology Ressources (2010). Pdf
Corse E, Costedoat C, Pech N, Chappaz R, Grey J, Gilles A Trade-off between morphological convergence and opportunistic diet behaviour in fish hybrid zone. Frontiers in zoology. (2009). pdf
Corse E (2010). “Alimentary barcoding”: development of a new molecular ecology tool for freshwater environments. Example through studying Durance hybrid zone between the two French Chondrostoms/Le "barcoding alimentaire": développemement d'un nouvel outil d'écologie moléculaire pour les milieux d'eau douce. Exemple au travers de l'étude de la zone hybride Durance entre les deux chondrostomes français. pdf Thèse de doctorat, Université de Provence, Aix-Marseille I, 356 pp. Résumé en français/ Abstract in English.
Oral communications and Posters
FSBI 2011 Bournemouth conference. Oral presentation. «Diet Barcoding for streamwater web analysis. »
Rencontres de l’ichtyologie en France 2009. Oral presentation: « Feces go to checkout »
Congress of environmentdoctoral school (ED 251 EDSE) 2009. Oral presentation: « Diet bar-coding development for stream teleosts.»
Doctoriales 2009. Poster : « Non invasive method in stream ecology»
Invited seminars
- In the Behavioural ecology and Biology of Fish population laboratory based in St Pee sur Nivelle (France). Invited by Agnes Bardonnet (Research Associate, INRA).
- In the Evolution and Biological Diversity laboratory, Paul-Sabatier University, Toulouse (France). Invited by Simon Blanchet (CNRS Researcher).