Cyllene Chatellier

As a PhD student in evolutionary biology at Aix-Marseille University, I am working on a thesis on the definition and delimitation of species for the conservation of Mediterranean flora. My multidisciplinary background in botany, ecology, genetics and bioinformatics has led me to the challenges of integrative taxonomy, which are essential for the preservation of biodiversity. After a Master's degree in ecological engineering, I studied the ecological niche of two endemic species at the CEFE-CNRS, then analysed a Limonium complex at the Conservatoire botanique national méditerranéen using field inventories, DNA sequencing and microsatellite analyses. My bioinformatics work includes plastome assembly and phylogenomic reconstruction. These experiments demonstrate the importance of evolutionary units in guiding conservation. My thesis develops an integrative framework combining genetics, morphology and ecology in order to better delimit species and understand speciation in the Mediterranean.