Cécile Le Lann

Research interests

My main research interest is to examine how abiotic and biotic factors affect interactions between species from the same or from different trophic levels within communities. Currently, I am focusing on the effect of temperature on tighly co-evolved species that are hosts and their parasitoids and the mechanisms underlying these interactions in the context of global change. To investigate my research questions, I use lab experimental approaches combined with theoretical ones from several research fields such as evolutionary ecology, behavioural ecology, eco-physiology and molecular ecology.

Selected Publications

1. Le Lann C, Visser, B., van Baaren, J., van Alphen, J.J.M., Ellers, J. (published online 2011). Comparing resource exploitation and allocation of two closely related aphid parasitoids sharing the same host. Evolutionary Ecology. DOI 10.1007/s10682-011-9498-2

2. Le Lann C, Wardziak, T., van Baaren, J., van Alphen, J.J.M. (2011). Plasticity in metabolic rates and life history traits affects foraging behaviour in a parasitic wasp. Functional Ecology, 25: 641–651

3. Le Lann C, Outreman, Y., van Alphen, J.J.M., van Baaren, J. (2011). First in, last out: asymmetric competition influences patch exploitation of a parasitoid. Behavioral Ecology, 22: 101-107

4. Le Lann C, Roux, O., Serain, N., van Alphen, J.J.M., Vernon, P., van Baaren, J. (2011). Thermal tolerance of sympatric hymenopteran parasitoid species: does it match their seasonal activities? Physiological Entomology, 36: 21-28.

5. Le Lann, C., Outreman, Y., van Alphen, J.J.M., Krespi, L., Pierre, J.S., van Baaren, J. (2008). Do past experience and competitive ability influence foraging strategies of parasitoids under interspecific competition? Ecological Entomology, 33: 691-700.
    

Research project

How temperature affects co-evolutionary interactions between partners: a study on physiological underlying mechanisms.
Global warming often triggers the question whether species response to a changing environment will enable them to persist. However species persistence is also dependent on species interactions. Relationships between tightly co-evolved species within communities are expected to be disrupted by thermal changes. An example of a co-evolutionary arms race is found in parasitoid insects, which develop in other arthropods to complete their larval development. The outcome of host-parasitoid interactions is known to depend on thermal regime but a full understanding of the effect of temperature requires insight into the underlying mechanisms. The proposed research will elucidate the effect of temperature on the interactions between the grain aphid host Sitobion avenae and its main specialist parasitoid, Aphidius rhopalosiphi. I will examine the thermal responses of the outcome of aphid parasitoid interactions in the pre-oviposition phase, when behavioural strategies largely determine parasitoid oviposition success, and in the post-oviposition phase, when the parasitoid is developing inside the aphid, as immunological interactions determine aphid or parasitoid survival. Most importantly, I will identify the underlying physiological mechanisms of behavioural and immunological responses that determine the outcome of the interaction. The combination of mechanistic and ecological approaches will provide understanding of the impact of temperature on interacting species that can be extrapolated to other systems.



The parasitoid Aphidius rhopalosiphi ovipositing in the grain aphid Sitobion avenae. © S. DOURLOT/ UMR BiO3P Univ. Rennes 1

Participants:Jacintha Ellers, Gerard Driessen