Myriam VALERO

I am a population geneticist interested in the study the processes involved in the patterns and the dynamics of genetic diversity within a species. My work focuses on the analysis of the relative role played by the reproductive system (i.e. clonal propagation vs sexual reproduction; selfing vs hermaphroditism; maintenance of sexual polymorphism as gynodioecy and androdioecy) and dispersal capability in shaping the genetic architecture of species. I have also been involved in several theoretical studies related to life history evolution: (i.e. evolution of mating system and evolution of diploidy). I am also interested in the role of hybridization and its effect on speciation that I have studied using a combination of experimental approaches and population genetics structure analyses. Finally, part of my research activities also focuses on the processes that cause changes in marine coastal biodiversity in relation to climate-oceanographic change and human activities at both community and population levels. 

Research interest:

-  Evolutionary Biology: Evolution of sex and mating system and evolution of complex life cycle in plant, brown and red seaweed and microalgae.
-  Population genetics and phylogeography , landscape genetics and speciation process (intertidal landscape and ecological gradient of the shore)
-  Conservation genetics and biodiversity of kelp forest and evolution of seaweed domestication

Methodology and study species

-  Experimental approach linking reproductive ecology, demography with population genetics.
-  Development of genetic markers (allozymes, microsatellites and cytoplasmic or nuclear DNA spacers sequences) for population genetics or phylogeography studies.
-  Spatial genetic structure and parentage analyses
-  Controlled crosses design to test for male competition and female choice and to test for inbreeding and outbreeding depression
-  Demography survey in the field and experimental ecology
-  Red algae (Gracilaria gracilis, Gracilaria chilensis, Chondrus crispus, ), Green algae (Caulerpa taxifolia), Phaeophytae (kelps: Laminaria sp, Lessonia sp; Fucoids: Fucus spiralis, F. vesiculosus and F. ceranoides, A. Nodosum; Ectocarpus sp), Plants (Dactilis glomerata, Lathyrus latifolius and sylvestris, Arrhenatherum eliatius, Sparganium erectum, Beta maritima)

Research skill

-  Supervisor of 23 master students and 15 PhD students.
-  Involved (as coordinator or participant) in 29 national or international research projects. 
-  Elected or nominated representative in several French scientific committees for national scientific programs, administration or research councils 

Short CV

I got my PhD from University of Montpellier 2 in 1983 on ecological speciation in the grass Dactylis glomerata. I worked for several years on plant mating system evolution in higher plants in post-doctoral position and as a CNRS researcher at the University of Lille 1 (France) and I got a “thèse d’état” in 1987. From 1987 to 1992 I have developed  a new research program on the evolution of alternation of haploid and diploid phases in life cycles in collaboration with Christophe Destombe (University of Lille 1), and I  led a group on this project from 1992 to 2002. From 1997 to 2001, I was director of the CNRS lab. “Genetics and Evolution of Plant Populations” at the University of Lille 1. In 2002, I moved to the UMR 7144 at the Station Biologique de Roscoff (France) where I led a group on the population genetics of marine organisms and initiated a long term international collaboration with Chile (international lab: LIA DIAMS). In 2008, I was responsible of the BEDIM team focused on Evolutionary Biology questions including both theoretical and experimental aspects on evolution of life history traits in seaweed. From 2014 to 2024, I was leading an international research unit (UMI 3614) between France (CNRS, Sorbonne University) and Chile (Universidad Pontificia Católica de Chile and Universidad Austral de Chile). Since April 2024, I am retired and was nominated Emeritus in the DISEM of the UMR 7144 at the Station Biologique de Roscoff

Awards (1) Fondation Bettencourt Schueller (2002): “BIODYGEN: Biodiversité, dynamique et génétique des populations d’espèces natives et invasives du littoral Manche-Atlantique”. (2) Prix Trégouboff 2003 de l’Académie des sciences (France).

Publications. More than 130 papers in international peer-reviewed journals for more information :

1. http://scholar.google.com/citations?user=qjDZajsAAAAJ&hl=fr 
2. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Myriam_Valero
3. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9000-1423