The Fruit-Fly Evolution and Community Ecology (FFECE) lab.

We study the ecology and evolution of fruit-flies, mostly Drosophila suzukii and D. melanogaster.

Our research fit at the intersection between basic and applied research. In the context of the current environmental crisis, it appears unethical to conduct research that does not tackle the big challenges our world faces. But without ingenuity and discovery, research is both boring and inefficient. 

On the fundamental level, our main lines of investigation focus on symbiosis and life-cycle complexity (i.e. metamorphosis). On the applied level, we aim at providing society with crop protection solutions that care for both humans and non-humans. This is why we invest a large part of our energy into pushing forward the Sterile Insect Technique applied to the fly Drosophila suzukii. This technique not fills a gap in the repertoire of solution to help farmers, it is also a gateway to the general reconception of crop protection following agro-ecological principles.

Why study the evolutionary ecology of flies? 

Fruit-flies (Drosophilids as well as Tephritids) are both potent pests that attack numerous crops and excellent model organisms for lab studies. Due to some features of their life cycle, fruit-flies are often difficult to fight with traditional (i.e. outdated) control methods such as pesticide spraying. We believe, however, that a fine understanding of their ecology will allow mitigating fly attacks in evolutionary and sociological sustainable ways. To that aim, we must be able to predict evolutionary trajectories in response to human actions on their biotic environment. It will only be possible if we understand what makes a fly (i.e. symbiotic interactions with microbes, plants and other fly species), and how this is affected by internal constrains (e.g. genetics, in particular linked to metamorphosis) and external factors (e.g. community composition and dynamics). 

The sterile insect technique

coming soon

Current lab-members (2023)

- Tasnime Adamjy. PhD student in sociology. Co-supervised by Frederic Goulet and Servane Penvern.

- Bérénice Cariou. Engineer.

- Alexandra Labbetoul. Engineer.

- Cloé Giraudeau. Master 2 student.

- Sebastien Commere. Master 2 student

Group members (October 2018):

Alumni

- Allan Debelle, Agreenskills postdoctoral fellow, and region Occitanie (2017-19). "SUPERSTERILE project: Improvement of the Sterile Insect technique performance on Drosophila suzukii, evolution and the details of sexual interactions" 

- Anne Xuéreb, Assistante Ingénieur. "Without whom nothing would have ever happened in our lab"

- Antoine Rombaut, PhD student (2015-18), co-supervised by Patricia Gibert and Flavie Vanlerberghe. "Drosophila suzukii in the grapevine agro-system"

- Joris Froissard, technician (2018-19). work on Supersterile project

- Robin Guilhot, PhD student (2017-2020). ANR SWING, "The ecology of drosophila-bacteria-yeast symbiosis and its consequences to the management of polyphagous fly pests"

- Romain Gallet, postdoctoral fellow (2018-19). ERANET Pest Fruit Fruit project, "Improving enthomovectoring by taking into account sub-lethal effects of fungal pathogens"

- Julie Collet, Agreenskills postdoctoral fellow (2016-18). "Evolutionary constrains between life-stages in Drosophila and the sustainability of biological control agents"

Visitors (past and present):

- Julie Collet, Marie Sklodowska Curie fellow (2018-2020). "Evolution of female mating preferences in Drosophila suzukii". Julie is based in CEFE-CNRS but we are lucky enough to continue collaborating with her intensively.

- Kate Howell, lecturer University of Melbourne, visit in 2015-2016. Collaboration on "Of yeast and flies: natural variation of yeast symbionts in wild drosophila populations"

- Allan Debelle, postdoctoral fellow University of Sussex, UK (2015-16). Supervision by Ted Morrow. "An ecologically realistic study of intersexual conflicts in Drosophila melanogaster"

Some collaborators, over the years:

- Patricia Gibert, LLBE, CNRS Lyon, France.

- Clelia Oliva, Collectif TIS.

- Vincent Debat and Antoine Fraimout, MNHN, Paris, France.

- Arnaud Estoup, CBGP, INRA, Montpellier, France.

- Marie-Pierre Chapuis, CBGP, CIRAD, Montpellier, France.

- European Ecotron of Montpellier, France.

- Giacomo Cavalli and Filippo Ciabrelli, IGH, CNRS, Montpellier, France.

- Elodie Vercken, ISA, INRA, Sophia-Antipolis, France.

- Anais Chailleux, CIRAD, Dakar, Senegal.

- Emilie Delete, CIRAD, Nairobi, Kenya.

- Delphine Sicard, SPO, INRA, Montpellier, France.

Recent publications:

see researchgate : https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Simon_Fellous

Team motto: