Laboratoire Biogéosciences
CNRS, UMR 6282
Université de Bourgogne
6 bd Gabriel
21000 Dijon, France
Academic background
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Graduate studies in Université de Poitiers – 1987
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DEA (MSc) in Population Biology & Eco-Ethology, Université de Tours – 1988
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PhD in Population Biology, Université de Tours – 1991
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Habilitation à Diriger les Recherches, Université de Poitiers – 1999
Positions
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1992 – 2001 Chargé de Recherche au CNRS, Université de Poitiers
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2001 – 2003 Chargé de Recherche au CNRS, Université de Bourgogne, Dijon
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2003 – present Directeur de Recherche au CNRS, Université de Bourgogne, Dijon
Research interests
My main research interests are in the evolutionary ecology of host-parasite interactions, focusing on the diversity of parasite’s strategies of host exploitation and the consequences on host population biology. The main topics of my studies are about:
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Manipulation of host sex ratio. I’m interested in vertically-transmitted parasites (Wolbachia (my former favorite parasite!) , microsporidia) as reproductive parasites of their crustacean hosts, their consequences on host reproductive strategies.
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Manipulation of host behaviour. The model organisms are acanthocephalan parasites, infecting freshwater crustacean intermediate hosts. I’m interested in investigating the causes for the variability observed in the manipulation (genetics, environment). -
Conflicts between manipulative parasites. How do parasites with different transmission strategies coexist in a single host? Are there conflicts and how are they expressed? What are the consequences for the host? I try to address these questions by studying the above-cited parasites.
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The role of biological invasions in evolutionary ecology of host-parasite relationships. The model organisms are the invasive amphipods and their parasites.
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More recently, I also began projects on sea urchins and their symbionts: (1) to understand the role of ectosymbiosis on benthic biodiversity in Antarctica; (2) to understand how the life cycle of ectosymbiotic crab is shared between two hosts.
Publications: please visit the following sites
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Thierry_Rigaud
http://www.researcherid.com.inee.bib.cnrs.fr/rid/T-4053-2017