Schooled as a biologist, and under the wings of the excellent tutor and scientist Raoul Van Damme, I attained my PhD degree at the Functional Morphology Lab (University of Antwerp, Belgium) studying the evolution of chemical communication in lizards. I quantified the diversity in the design of the lizard chemical communication system, and examined the phylogenetic constraints and ecological drivers that influence the evolution of this diversity. I approached this question by integrating the three key components of communication: emitting system → signal design → receiving system. While I mainly focused on lacertid lizards and the use of phylogenetic comparative methods, other squamate species and research approaches were considered too.
Nowadays, in academic circles, I sometimes call myself an evolutionary and comparative biologist.
Nowadays, in academic circles, I sometimes call myself an evolutionary and comparative biologist.
SCIENTIFIC INTERESTS
Understanding patterns of trait variation in animals
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Generally, my research interest concerns the origin of organismal trait diversity. In my studies, I try to unravel the functional and adaptive role of the observed variation in animal design. By comparing traits across species in different environments, I gauge how universal —or how idiosyncratic— particular design solutions are. Such comparative analyses may reveal the existence of trade-offs with other relevant functions or may indicate other constraints to biological ‘optimization’. |
Research Area
