Chargé(e) de recherche CNRS

How do mating choices diverge to the point that they become a barrier to reproduction between populations, ultimately contributing to the formation of new species?
  • I investigate this question by exploring the genetic basis of behavioral sexual isolation in a group of small marine isopods, where males court females using specialized setae that differ subtly between species.
    I am also interested in the evolution of sexual systems and sex determination. To address this broad question, I explore the curious genetic sex determination system observed in a particular genus of deep-sea gastropods.
    Finally, I contribute to the study of the reproductive strategy and overall biology of the ivory gull, a high-Arctic seabird emblematic of the ecological impacts of climate change.
    All three projects are conducted in collaboration with a diverse team of researchers, engineers, students, and post-docs.

 

1- Evolution of behavioural sexual isolation in marine isopods (Jaera albifrons complex)

 

  • A lack of sexual attraction between individuals from distinct groups can be very effective in limiting reproduction between these groups. This barrier effect is thought to have been a key driver of speciation, but how do such sexual isolation processes evolve? What mechanisms lead to a disparity between populations in the way individuals choose their sexual partners?
  • To address these questions, we study the Jaera albifrons complex, a group of small marine isopods living on the shores of the North Atlantic Ocean. In these species, females select males based on a tactile courtship involving specialised setae and spines carried by the males' peraeopods. Male sexual traits and female preferences differ between species, resulting in strong sexual isolation. We combine field sampling, lab experiments and population genomics to investigate the processes involved in reproductive isolation. Early findings point to a role for sex chromosomes (ZW system) and chromosomal rearrangements (fusions, fissions, and a reciprocal translocation). We aim to understand how such genetic factors drive the evolution of behavioral sexual isolation.

 

Jaera albifrons - (c) Guillaume Evanno

 

Sampling in Normandy (c) Olivier Timsit

 

 

2- Evolution of sexual systems and sex determination in deep-sea gastropods (Alviniconcha sp.)

 

  • This project originates from the serendipitous discovery of a XY sex determination system in three closely related species of hydrothermal vent species, one of them unexpectedly featuring females with gonads more of less invaded by male tissue.
  • We are trying to understand if we are looking at andro-dioecy or ongoing transition between hermaphrodism and gonochory. 

 

Alviniconcha sp. - (c) Chubacarc cruise - IFREMER

 

3- Life-history of the ivory gull, an emblematic species of the High Arctic

 

  • The ivory gull, Pagophila eburnea, is a a species that completes its entire life cycle in the Arctic and is directly facing the consequences of climate change.
  • Through a long-term research program in Northern Greenland, we explore the gull's population dynamics, breeding system, population connectivity, migratory behavior, foraging ecology, and accumulation of contaminants, in an effort to better understand this sentinel species of climate change in high-latitude ecosystems.

 

 

Publications

  • Ribardière A, Daguin-Thiébaut C, Coudret J, Le Corguillé G, Avia K, Houbin C, Loisel S, Gagnaire P-A, and Broquet T (preprint). Sex chromosomes and chromosomal rearrangements are key to behavioural sexual isolation in Jaera albifrons marine isopods. BioRxiv. doi: 10.1101/2025.01.08.631900

  • Tran Lu Y A, Ruault S, Daguin-Thiebaut C, Le Port A-S, Ballenghien M, Castel J, Gagnaire P-A, Bierne N, Arnaud-Haond S, Poitrimol C, Thiebaut E, Lallier F, Broquet T, Jollivet D, Bonhomme F, Hourdez S. (2025). Comparative population genomics unveils congruent secondary suture zone in Southwest Pacific Hydrothermal Vents. Molecular Biology and Evolution 42: 1-16.

  • Castel J, Pradillon F, Cueff V, Leger G, Daguin-Thiébaut C, Ruault S, Mary J, Hourdez S, Jollivet D and Broquet T (preprint). Genetic sex determination in three closely related hydrothermal vent gastropods, one of which has intersex individuals. Journal of Evolutionary Biology 37: 779-794 (recommended by PCI Evol Biol) doi: 10.1101/2023.04.11.536409

  • Mouchi V, Pecheyran C, Claverie F, Cathalot C, Matabos M, Rouxel O, Jollivet D, Broquet T, and Comtet T (2024). A step towards measuring connectivity in the deep-sea: elemental fingerprints of mollusk larval shells discriminate hydrothermal sites. Biogeosciences 21: 145-160 doi: 10.1101/2023.01.03.522618v1

  • Hoste A, Capblancq T, Broquet T, Denoyelle L, Perrier C, Buzan E V, Šprem N, Corlatti L, Crestanello B, Hauffe HC, Pellissier L and Yannic G (2024). Projection of current and future distribution of adaptive genetics unite in an alpine ungulate. Heredity 132: 54-66.

  • Broquet T, Destombe C, Valéro M, and Jollivet D (2023). A brief history of speciation research at the Station Biologique de Roscoff (1872-2022). Cahiers de Biologie Marine 64:9-19 (special issue 150 years anniversary of the station). doi: 10.21411/CBM.A.3DAF598C

  • Stankowski S, Zagrodzka ZB, Galindo J, Montaño-Rendón M, Faria R, Mikhailova N, Blakeslee AMH, Arnason E, Broquet T, Morales HE, Grahame JW, Westram AM, Johannesson K and Butlin RK (2023). Whole-genome phylogeography of the intertidal snail Littorina saxatilis. Evolutionary Journal of the Linnean Society. 2: kzad002. doi: 10.1093/evolinnean/kzad002

  • Gousy-Leblanc M, Therrien J-F, Broquet T, Rioux D, Curt-Grand-Gaudin N, Tissot N, Tissot S, Szabo I, Wilson L, Evans J. T., Bowes V, Gauthier G, Wiebe K. L., Yannic G and Lecomte N (2023). Long-term population decline of a genetically homogenous continental-wide top Arctic predator. Ibis 165:1251-1266. doi: 10.1111/ibi.13199

  • Mouchi V, Broquet T, and Comtet T (2022). Preparation of mollusc larval shells for individual geochemical analysis. Protocols.io. dx.doi.org/10.17504/protocols.io.bp2l61jwkvqe/v1

  • Castel J, Hourdez S, Pradillon F, Daguin-Thiébaut C, Ballenghien M, Ruault S, Corre E, Tran Lu Y A, Mary J, Gagnaire P-A, Bonhomme F, Breusing C, Broquet T and Jollivet D (2022). Inter-specific genetic exchange despite strong divergence in deep-sea hydrothermal vent gastropods of the genus Alviniconcha. Genes 13(6): 985. [pdf]

  • Breusing C, Castel J, Yang Y, Broquet T, Sun J, Jollivet D, Qian P-Y, Beinart RA (2022). Global 16S rRNA diversity of provannid snail endosymbionts from Indo-Pacific deep-sea hydrothermal vents. Environmental Microbiology Reports 14(2): 299-307. [pdf]

  • Tran Lu Y A, Ruault S, Daguin-Thiébaut C, Castel J, Bierne N, Broquet T, Wincker P, Perdereau A, Arnaud-Haond S, Gagnaire P-A, Jollivet D, Hourdez S, Bonhomme F (2022). Subtle limits to connectivity revealed by outlier loci within two divergent metapopulations of deep-sea hydrothermal gastropod Ifremeria nautilei. Molecular Ecology 31(10): 2796-2813. [pdf]

  • Boulart C, Rouxel O, Scalabrin C, Le Meur P, Pelleter E, Poitrimol C, Thiébaut E, Matabos M, Castel J, Tran Lu Y A, Michel LN, Cathalot C, Chéron S, Boissier A, Germain Y, Guyader V, Arnaud-Haond S, Bonhomme F, Broquet T, Cueff-Gauchard V, Le Layec V, L'Haridon S, Mary J,  Le Port A-S, Tasiemski A, Kuama DC, Hourdez S, Jollivet 
D (2022). Active hydrothermal vents in the Woodlark Basin may act as dispersing centres for hydrothermal fauna. Communications Earth & Environment 3: 64.

  • Leugger F, Broquet T, Karger DK, Rioux D, Buzan E, Corlatti L, Crestanello B, Curt-Grand-Gaudin N, Hauffe HC, Rolečková B, Šprem N, Tissot N, Tissot S, Yannic G, Pellissier L. (2022). Dispersal and habitat dynamics shape the genetic structure of the Northern chamois in the Alps. Journal of Biogeography 49: 1848-1861.

  • Charbonnel E, Daguin-Thiébaut C, Caradec  L, Moittié E, Gilg O, Gavrilo MV, Strøm H, Mallory ML, Morrison RIG, Gilchrist HG, Leblois R, Roux C, Yearsley JM, Yannic G, Broquet 
T (2022). Searching for genetic evidence of demographic decline in a 
long-lived seabird: beware of overlapping generations. Heredity 128: 364-376.

  • Barry P, Broquet T, Gagnaire P-A (2022). Age-specific survivorship and fecundity shape genetic diversity in marine fishes. Evolution Letters 6: 46-62.

  • Ribardière A,  Pabion E, Coudret J, Daguin-Thiébaut C, Houbin C, Loisel S, Henry S, and Broquet T (2021). Sexual isolation with and without ecological isolation in marine isopods Jaera albifrons and J. praehirsuta. Journal of Evolutionary Biology 34: 33-48. [pdf]

  • Daguin-Thiébaut C, Ruault S, Roby C, Broquet T, Viard F, Brelsford A (2021). Construction of individual ddRAD libraries. Protocols.io. dx.doi.org/10.17504/protocols.io.bv4tn8wn

  • Stankowski S, Westram A, Zagrodzka Z B, Eyres I, Broquet T, Johannesson K and Butlin R. K. (2020). The evolution of strong reproductive isolation between sympatric intertidal snails. Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London 375: 20190545

  • Ribardière A, Centanni J, Dano A, Coudret J, Daguin-Thiébaut C, Houbin C, Kerdoncuff E, Jambut S, Cordaux R, and Broquet T (2018). Female-biased sex ratios unrelated to Wolbachia infection in European species of the Jaera albifrons complex (marine isopods). Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 509: 91-98. [pdf]

  • Daguin-Thiébaut C and Broquet T (2018). Etude du polymorphisme par séquençage d'ADN associé à des sites de restriction (RAD-seq). In Principe des techniques de biologie moléculaire et génomique, Eds Tagu D, Jaubert-Paussamai S, and Méreau A.

  • Ribardière A, Daguin-Thiébaut C, Houbin C, Coudret J, Broudin C, Timsit O, and Broquet T (2017). Geographically distinct patterns of reproductive isolation and hybridisation in two sympatric species of the Jaera albifrons complex (marine isopods). Ecology & Evolution 7: 5352-5365 [pdf]

  • Riquet F, Comtet T, Broquet T, and Viard F (2017). Unexpected collective larval dispersal but little support for sweepstakes reproductive success in the highly dispersive brooding mollusc Crepidula fornicata. Molecular Ecology [pdf]

  • Eldon B, Riquet F, Yearsley J, Jollivet D, and Broquet T (2016). Current hypotheses to explain genetic chaos under the sea. Current Zoology 62: 551-566 [pdf].
  • Dussex N, Broquet T, and Yearsley J (2016). Contrasting dispersal inference methods using empirical data from the greater white-toothed shrew: implications for conservation. Journal of Wildlife Management and Wildlife Monographs 80:812-823 [pdf].
  • Yannic G, Broquet T, Strøm H, Aebischer A, Dufresnes C, Gavrilo M V, Mallory M L, Morrison R I G, Sabard B, Sermier R, Gilchrist H G, and Gilg O (2016). Genetic and morphological sex identification methods reveal a male-biased sex-ratio in the ivory gull Pagophila eburnea. Journal of Ornithology 157:861-873 [pdf].
  • Yannic G, Yearsley J, Sermier R, Dufresnes C, Gilg O, Aebischer A, Gavrilo M, Strøm H, Mallory M, Morrison G, Gilchrist G & Broquet T (2016). High connectivity in a long-lived High-Arctic seabird, the ivory gull Pagophila eburnea. Polar Biology 39: 221-236 [pdf]
  • Ribardière A, Broquet T, and Daguin-Thiébaut C (2015). Microsatellite markers for the Jaera albifrons species complex (marine isopods). BMC Research Notes 8:632 [pdf] [open pdf]
  • Broquet T, Barranger A, Billard E, Bestin A, Berger R, Honnaert G, and Viard F (2015). The size advantage model of sex allocation in the protandrous sex-changer Crepidula fornicata: role of the mating system, sperm storage, and male mobility. The American Naturalist 186:404-420 [pdf]
  • Gagnaire P-A, Broquet T, Aurelle D, Viard F, Souissi A, Bonhomme F, Arnaud-Haond S, and Bierne N (2015). Using neutral, selected, and hitchhiker loci to assess connectivity of marine populations in the genomic era. Evolutionary Applications 8:769-786 [pdf] [open pdf].
  • Luximon N, Petit E J, and Broquet T (2014). Performance of individual vs group sampling for inferring dispersal under isolation by distance. Molecular Ecology Resources 14: 745-752 [pdf] [open pdf]
  • Yearsley J, Viard F, and Broquet T (2013). The effect of collective dispersal on the genetic structure of a subdivided population. Evolution 67-6: 1649-1659 [pdf]
  • Broquet T, Viard F, and Yearsley J (2013). Genetic drift and collective dispersal can result in chaotic genetic patchiness. Evolution 67-6: 1660-1675 [pdf]
  • Yannic G, Basset P, Büchi L, Hausser J, and Broquet T (2012). Scale-specific sex-biased dispersal in the Valais shrew unveiled by genetic variation on the Y chromosome, autosomes, and mitochondrial DNA. Evolution 66-6: 1737-1750 [pdf]
  • Helfer V, Broquet T, and Fumagalli L (2012). Sex-specific estimates of dispersal show female philopatry and male dispersal in a promiscuous amphibian, the alpine salamander (Salamandra atra). Molecular Ecology 21: 4706-4720. [pdf]
  • Yannic G, Sermier R, Aebischer A, Gavrilo M V, Gilg O, Miljeteig C, Sabard B, Strøm H, Pouivé E, & Broquet T (2011). Description of microsatellite markers and genotyping performances using feathers and buccal swabs for the Ivory gull (Pagophila eburnea). Molecular Ecology Resources 11:877-889. [pdf]
  • Jaquiéry J, Broquet T, Hirzel A, Yearsley J and Perrin N. 2011. Inferring landscape effects on dispersal from genetic distances: how far can we go? Molecular Ecology 20: 692-705 [pdf]
  • Broquet T, Angelone S, Jaquiéry J, Joly P, Léna JP, Lengagne T, Plénet S, Luquet E and Perrin N. 2010. Genetic bottlenecks driven by population disconnection. Conservation Biology 24: 1596-1605. [pdf]
  • Jaquiéry J, Broquet T, Aguilar C and Perrin N (2010). Good genes drive female choice for mating partners in the lek-breeding European tree frog. Evolution 64: 108-115 [pdf]
  • Broquet T and Petit E (2009). Molecular estimation of dispersal for ecology and population genetics. Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics 40: 193-216 [pdf]
  • Broquet T, Jaquiéry J and Perrin N (2009). Opportunity for sexual selection and effective population size in the lek-breeding European tree frog (Hyla arborea). Evolution 63: 674-683 [pdf]
  • Broquet T, Yearsley J, Hirzel AH, Goudet J and Perrin N (2009). Inferring recent migration rates from individual genotypes. Molecular Ecology 18: 1048-1060 [pdf]
  • Jaquiéry J, Guélat J, Broquet T, Berset-Brändli L, Pellegrini E, Moresi R, Hirzel AH and Perrin N (2008). Habitat quality and metapopulation dynamics in the greater white-toothed shrew (Crocidura russula). Ecology 89: 2777-2785 [pdf]
  • Guélat J, Jaquiéry J, Berset-Brändli L, Pellegrini E, Moresi R, Broquet T, Hirzel AH and Perrin N (2008). Mass effects mediate coexistence in competing shrews. Ecology 89: 2033-2042 [pdf]
  • Berset-Brändli L, Jaquiéry, J, Broquet T and Perrin N (2008). Extreme heterochiasmy and nascent sex chromosomes in European tree frogs. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B 275: 1577-1585 [pdf]
  • Berset-Braendli L, Jaquiéry J, Broquet T and Perrin N (2008). Isolation and characterization of microsatellite loci for the European tree frog (Hyla arborea). Molecular Ecology Resources 8: 1095-1097 [pdf]
  • Broquet T, Berset-Braendli L, Emaresi G and Fumagalli L (2007). Buccal swabs allow efficient and reliable microsatellite genotyping in amphibians. Conservation Genetics 8: 509-511 [pdf]
  • Broquet T, Ménard N and Petit E (2007). Noninvasive population genetics: a review of sample source, diet, fragment length and microsatellite motif effects on amplification success and genotyping error rates. Conservation Genetics 8: 249-260 [pdf]
  • Broquet T, Johnson CA, Petit E, Thompson ID, Burel F and Fryxell JM (2006) Dispersal and genetic structure in the American marten, Martes americana. Molecular Ecology 15: 1689-1697 [pdf]
  • Broquet T, Ray N, Petit E, Fryxell JM and Burel F (2006). Genetic isolation by distance and landscape connectivity in the American marten (Martes americana). Landscape Ecology 21: 877-889 [pdf]
  • Broquet T and Petit E (2004). Quantifying genotyping errors in non-invasive population genetics. Molecular Ecology 13: 3601-3608 [pdf]
  • Broquet T, Thibault M and Neveu A (2002). Distribution and habitat requirements of the white-clawed crayfish, Austropotamobius pallipes, in a stream from the Pays de Loire region, France. An experimental and descriptive study. Bull. Fr. Pêche. Piscic. 367: 717-728