Current research
Aquatic beetles
Figuring at the top of the list of the biodiversity hotspots, Madagascar shows outstanding levels of endemism as well as a strong imbalance across the different taxonomic levels of its fauna and flora. The island’s history of isolation and contacts with other landmasses together with dispersal events have been put forth to explain present biodiversity patterns. But for many groups, the causes of endemicity remain poorly understood. This study aims at understanding species diversification and endemism patterns within the highly endemic fauna of aquatic beetles. Mitochondrial DNA sequencing is used to quantify the species diversity, and a geographic and ecological approach is employed to investigate species turnover on the island.
Research interests
My focus is on tropical biodiversity, its ecology, and the diversification of its species, notably in the biodiversity hotspots. I am particularly interested in understanding the mechanisms and events responsible for the extreme present diversity patterns: how species become endemic and how endemism is geographically structured. To do so, I am keen on using different approaches, involving traditional ecology, molecular ecology, biogeography, spatial analysis, and more recently, species distribution modelling.
My other equally strong interest is in conservation, and in the near future, I do want to increase my experience in the biodiversity hotspots and develop projects in these areas of the globe, with strong conservation applications, using the disciplines I have been trained for.
Conferences
Symposium on Biodiversity Hotspots, Luxembourg. March 2009 (oral presentation).
Evolution 2008, Minneapolis, USA. June 2008 (oral presentation).
Student Conference for Conservation Science, Cambridge, UK. March 2008 (poster).
Speciation Symposium, London, UK. March 2008 (oral presentation).
Curriculum Vitae
2006-2009. Marie Curie Fellow-PhD Student, Understanding and conserving biodiversity in the Hotspots. “The causes of insect endemicity with the example of Madagascar”. Research Team and Supervisor: Dr Alfried Vogler (on going). Imperial College & Natural History Museum, London, UK.
2004-2005. 2nd year of Master, speciality Ecology Biodiversity Evolution (CONSERVATION BIOLOGY program) (Mention AB). University Paris XI, France.
2003-2004. First year of master, speciality Biology of Populations and Ecosystems (Mention AB). Laval University, Quebec, Canada.
2002_2003. License of Biology, speciality Biology of Organisms (third year of Biology University-level). University Toulouse III, France.
2000-2002. DEUG (two years University-level) speciality Life Sciences. University Toulouse III, France.
Languages: French, English, working knowledge of Spanish.
Contact details
Benjamin Isambert
Marie Curie Fellow/PhD student
Department of Entomology
NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM
Cromwell Road
London SW7 5BD
UK
Phone: (+44) 02079426988, (+33) 670142010
email1: b.isambert@nhm.ac.uk
email2: benjamin.isambert06@imperial.ac.uk