Yann Surget-Groba
Professor in ecological and environmental genomics
819-595-3900 poste 2933
Research themes
Speciation, adaptation, phylogeography, environmental DNA, ecological and environmental genomics
Education
- 1999-2002 : PhD in Biology, Université de Rennes 1 (France)
- 1998-1999 : DEA in Biodiversity – Genetics, History and Mechanisms of Evolution – Université Pierre et Marie Curie-Paris 6 (France)
- 1996-1997 : Master of Science – Biology of organisms and ecosystems – Université Pierre et Marie Curie-Paris 6 (France)
- 1995-1996 : Bachelor of Science – Biology of organisms – Université Pierre et Marie Curie-Paris 6 (France)
- 1993-1995 : DEUG in Life Sciences – Université de Bordeaux 1 (France)
Description of research
My current research can be divided into two main axes, the adaptive capacity of trees to climate change and the impact of human activities on biodiversity. In the first axis, we are studying the genomics of sugar maple populations in order to better understand the genetic diversity of the species, and the part of this diversity that is linked to the adaptation of the species to climatic conditions that will enable us to predict the adaptive response of the species to future climate changes. I am studying similar issues on subtropical trees (Moraceae and Fagaceae families) in collaboration with colleagues from Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden in China. In the second axis, we are developing biodiversity inventory methods based on environmental DNA in order to have a better estimate of the biodiversity and to be able to estimate the impacts of human activities (logging for example) on this biodiversity.
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add removeKey publications
- Fan, H., Ives, A. R., & Surget‐Groba, Y. 2018. Reconstructing phylogeny from reduced‐representation genome sequencing data without assembly or alignment. Molecular ecology resources 18(6) : 1482-1491.
- Thorpe, R. S., Barlow, A., Surget-Groba, Y., & Malhotra, A. 2018. Multilocus phylogeny, species age and biogeography of the Lesser Antillean anoles. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 127 : 682-695.
- Sun, Y., Surget‐Groba, Y., & Gao, S. 2016. Divergence maintained by climatic selection despite recurrent gene flow: a case study of Castanopsis carlesii (Fagaceae). Molecular ecology 25(18) : 4580-4592.
- Beng, K. C., Tomlinson, K. W., Shen, X. H., Surget-Groba, Y., Hughes, A. C., Corlett, R. T., & Slik, J. F. 2016. The utility of DNA metabarcoding for studying the response of arthropod diversity and composition to land-use change in the tropics. Scientific Reports 6 : 24965.
- Surget‐Groba, Y., & Kay, K. M. 2013. Restricted gene flow within and between rapidly diverging Neotropical plant species. Molecular ecology 22(19) : 4931-4942.
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add removeProjects
Phylogeography and adaptation to environmental gradients in sugar maple
The eastern Canadian hardwoods, mainly sugar maple, are of major ecological and socio-economic importance. This forest biome is characterized by the highest human density in Canada and generates significant economic benefits. However, rapid changes in climatic conditions and insect outbreaks (including the arrival of exotic pest species) pose a serious threat to maple stands and associated ecosystem services. This project consists of two components, i) to document the level and distribution of the genetic variability of sugar maple and its ability to adapt to climate change and defoliation, and ii) to understand the process of connectivity of insect populations to support both native and exotic pest management approaches.
Environmental DNA as a tool for rapid biodiversity inventory
In order to estimate and predict the impact of human activities on the functionality of temperate forests, it is essential to accurately measure their biodiversity. However, a major constraint to traditional large-scale biodiversity inventories is the need to identify species using morphological characters and laborious and time-consuming techniques. Such identification also requires taxonomic expertise, which limits such an analysis to groups for which such expertise is available. On the other hand, even for experts, it can be difficult to identify the different stages (eggs, juveniles …) of certain species as well as to detect rare and / or discrete species. In this project, we are evaluating a new high throughput sequencing technology to perform biodiversity inventories in terrestrial and aquatic environments using DNA present in the environment.
Evaluating the ecological and forestry impacts of even-aged vs. uneven-aged management in a temperate deciduous forest
Since the 1980s, the Kenauk territory has been developed according to two main approaches: strip cuts (even-aged management) and inter-band selective cuts (uneven-aged development). Although both approaches have been used for a long time, their relative impact on biodiversity and forest resilience is not known. As part of a large-scale project studying these questions, I am studying the impact of these different management methods on the biodiversity of vernal pond amphibians, temporary ponds very sensitive to human disturbances.
eDNA monitoring for obligate wetland species-at-risk
Environmental DNA analysis is an emerging method for detecting species without the need to capture or visually identify them. In this project, we will evaluate the use of this method to detect three species at risk in the Ottawa Green Belt: Snapping Turtle, Blanding’s Turtle and Boreal Chorus Frog.
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