Claire Doutrelant
Personal Journey
All started with the pleasure of observing animal life, fascinating courses on animal behaviour at the University of Paris 6 and a research project on public information and dispersion in kittiwakes. This allowed me to obtain a MSc in population biology at the University of Paris 6. I then performed a Phd in ecology and evolution, between Paris, Montpellier and the so beautiful Corsica, working on bird song variation using blue tit as a model species. After my Phd, I did a first post doc at the Univ. of Copenhagen working on communication network and audience in fighting fishes. I then moved to Cape Town University and started working with Rita on sociable weaver in 1999. I obtained a permanent CNRS researcher position, first in Paris and then at CEFE in Montpellier(https://www.cefe.cnrs.fr/fr/recherche/ee/esp/777-c/152-claire-doutrelant). Currently my main projects are on 1) Evolution of colour ornamentation in birds (with a special focus on female coloration and blue tits) 2) the cause and life history traits consequences of cooperation in sociable weavers ; 3) Sexual and social evolution on islands and insularity syndrome and 4) the evolution of weaver nests.
Research Interests
Cooperation is observed at all levels of life, within organisms, microorganisms, plants and animals. It co-exists with more selfish behaviours that leads to conflicts among individuals. Determining the complex interactions between the multiple factors that explain the evolution of cooperation, its maintenance or decline is a real challenge, a puzzle that requires years of research. It is this complexity that interests me, this fine balance that allows cooperation to continue and societies to endure.
Sociable weavers are an interesting species for tackling the interacting factors that lead individuals to cooperate or enter in conflicts. This bird exhibits several cooperative behaviours. They breed cooperatively, mob, and last but not least, communally build one of the more gigantic nest ever constructed by a bird in the earth (see photos). Within this nest, individuals from several families live together all year round, they roost and breed. Long-term monitoring gives access to their fitness and survival, their mate choice, their associations and the environmental factors that also influence the cost and benefits of cooperation.
This species is fascinating, the more we study it, the more questions arise, and the complex are the answers. My interests are many, but they focus on sexual and social selection in relation to cooperation, the measurement of cooperation and conflict within weaver societies, and their relationship to colony dynamics.
Here is a non-exhaustive list of questions. What are the social benefits of cooperation? What is the importance of partner choice in its evolution? Can we detect cooperative personalities among these birds? Can cooperation be selected by the behavioural responses of others? Can it in turn evolve signalling properties? How does mate choice occurs in this dull cooperative breeding species where individuals mate for life? Is there any mate choice? What is the relative importance of visual, acoustic and behavioural signals for intra and inter sexual interactions? Why is building behaviour conspicuous in this species? Who pays the cost of the commons (building and maintaining the roof of nest)? Is conflict stronger in some colonies than others and who commits infanticide?
I’m also interested in the evolution of plumage ornaments & evolution of behaviours and traits on islands – more information on those projects & my blue tit project click here
E-mail: claire.doutrelant@cefe.cnrs.fr
Selected Publications
1. Fortuna, R. Paquet, M., Ferreira, A.C; Silva, L Theron, F & Doutrelant, C & Covas, R 2021 Maternal allocation in relation to weather, predation and social factors in a colonial cooperative bird Journal of Animal ecology. 90(5), 1122-1133
2. Ferreira, A. C., Silva, L, Renna, F, Brandl, H. B., Renoult, J., Farine, D., Covas, R. & Doutelant, C. 2020 Deep learning based methods for individual recognition in small birds Method in Ecol Evol. 11.9.1072-1085.
3. Doutrelant, C. Fargevieille, A., Grégoire, A. 2020; Evolution of female coloration: what have we learned from birds in general and blue tits in particular Adv. Study in Behaviour 52, 123-202.
4. Robert, A., Lengagne, T., Melo, M., Julien, S.., Gardette, V. Covas, R. & Doutrelant, C. 2019. The Theory of Island Biogeography and Soundscapes: species diversity and the organization of acoustic communities. J. Biogeography 46:1901-1911
5. Covas, R. & Doutrelant, C.* 2019. Testing the sexual and social benefits of cooperation in animals. Trends Ecol Evol 34, 2,112-120. ⟨10.1016/j.tree.2018.11.006⟩ * Both authors contributed equally to the manuscript
6. Fargevieille, A., Grégoire, A., Charmantier, A., del Rey, M., Doutrelant, C. 2017Assortative mating by colored ornaments in blue tits: space and time matter. Ecology and Evolution 7: 2069-2078
7. Doutrelant, C., Paquet, Renoult, J. M. Grégoire, A., Crochet, P.A. Covas, R. 2016 Worldwide patterns of bird colouration on islands. Ecology Letter 19: 537–545
8. Doutrelant, C., Grégoire, A., Midamegbe, A,, Lambrechts, M. , Perret, P 2012. Female plumage coloration is sensitive to the cost of reproduction An experiment in blue tits. Journal of animal ecology 81: 87-96
9. Doutrelant, C., Covas, R. 2007 Helping has signalling characteristics in a cooperatively breeding bird Animal Behaviour 74: 739-747
10. Doutrelant, C., McGregor, P. K. & Oliveira, R. F. 2001 The effect of an audience on intra-male communication in fighting fish, Betta splendens. Behavioural Ecology, 12, 283-286
Publications
D’Amelio, P.; Ferreira, A.; Fortuna, R.; Paquet, M.; Silva, L. ; Theron, F.; Doutrelant, C.; Covas, R. In press. Disentangling climatic and nest predator impact on reproductive output reveals adverse high temperature effects regardless of helper number in an arid-region cooperative bird Ecology Letter
Robert, A., Lengagne, T.,. Melo, M., Gomez & Doutrelant, C. in pressEvolution of vocal performance and song complexity in island birds. Journal of Avian Biology
Robert, A., Melo, M., Lengagne, T.,. Julien, S..& Doutrelant, C. In press Patterns of bird song evolution on islands support the character release hypothesis in tropical but not in temperate latitudes. JEB
Bastianelli, O., Robert, A., Doutrelant, C., de Franceschi, C., Giovannini, P., & Charmantier, A. 2021. Identifying drivers of spatio-temporal variation in survival in four blue tit populations. PCI
Caro, S.P.,. Pierre, L., Bergès, M., Bakker R. ,Doutrelant, C* & Bonnadona,F* . 2021 Mutual mate choice and assortative mating in relation to a carotenoid-based colour trait in blue tits * Behavioural Ecology These authors contributed equally to the study
Quque, M, Paquet, M., Zahn, S., Théron, F., Faivre, B., Sueur, C., Criscuolo, F.,Doutrelant, C. Covas, R ; 2021 Contrasting associations between nestling telomere length and pre and postnatal helpers’ presence in a cooperatively breeding bird Oecologia, 196(1), 37-51
Fortuna, R. Paquet, M., Ferreira, A.C; Silva, L Theron, F & Doutrelant, C * & Covas, R 2021 Maternal allocation in relation to weather, predation and social factors in a colonial cooperative bird Journal of Animal ecology. 90(5), 1122-1133
Culina, Antica, Senar, Juan Carlos, Visser, Marcel E., et al. Connecting the data landscape of long‐term ecological studies: the SPI‐Birds data hub. 2020. Journal of Animal Ecology.
Reis, S., Melo, M., Covas, R., Doutrelant, C., Pereira, H., de Lima, R., Loiseau, C. 2020 Influence of land use and host species on parasite richness, prevalence and co-infection patterns. International Journal for Parasitology 51(1), 83-94
Ferreira,A. C., Covas, R., Silva, L, Esteves, S. Duarte, I., Fortuna, R., Theron, F., Doutrelant, C., Farine, D. 2020 How to infer robust social networks for hypothesis testing: a case study of sociable weavers Ecol Evol 10(17), 9132-9143
Ferreira, A. C., Silva, L, Renna, F, Brandl, H. B., Renoult, J., Farine, D., Covas, R. & Doutelant, C. 2020 Deep learning based methods for individual recognition in small birds Method in Ecol Evol. 11.9 (2020): 1072-1085. Article advert in Science by Erik Stokstad doi:10.1126/science.abe0041
Doutrelant, C. Fargevieille, A., Grégoire, A. 2020; Evolution of female coloration: what have we learned from birds in general and blue tits in particular Adv. Study in Behaviour 52, 123-202.
Bliard, L., Robert, A. Paquet, M, Renoult, J., Grégoire, A., Crochet, P.A. Covas, R & Doutrelant, C., 2020 Examining the link between relaxed predation and bird colouration on islands.Biol Lett 16(4), 20200002.
Gruson, H, Elias, M., Parra, J-L, Andraud, C., Berthier, S., Doutrelant, C. & Gomez, D.2019 Interaction between reproductive character displacement and selection for camouflage on the evolution of iridescence in hummingbird communities. Peer Community In Evolutionary Biology, bioRxiv, 699744.
Dutour, M., Lévy, L., Lengagne, T., Holveck M-J, Crochet, P-A, Perret, P., Doutrelant, C,†. Grégoire, A.,† 2020 Hissing like a snake: bird hisses are similar to snake hisses and prompt similar anxiety behavior in a mammalian model. Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol. 17, 1 † joint last authors
Holveck, M-J, Guerreiro R., Perret, P., Grégoire, A., Doutrelant, C. 2019 Egg coloration indicates female short-term condition: A field experiment in blue tits B.J. Linn Soc 128: 180-200 ⟨10.1093/biolinnean/blz082⟩
Covas, R. & Doutrelant, C.* 2019. Testing the sexual and social benefits of cooperation in animals. Trends Ecol Evol Vol: 34, Issue: 2, Page: 112-120. ⟨10.1016/j.tree.2018.11.006⟩ * Both authors contributed equally to the manuscript
Robert, A., Lengagne, T., Melo, M., Julien, S.., Gardette, V. Covas, R. & Doutrelant, C. 2019. The Theory of Island Biogeography and Soundscapes: species diversity and the organization of acoustic communities. J. Biogeography 46:1901-1911
Gruson, H, Elias, M., Parra, J-L, Andraud, C., Berthier, S., Doutrelant, C. & Gomez, D.2019 Interaction between reproductive character displacement and selection for camouflage on the evolution of iridescence in hummingbird communities. Peer Community In Evolutionary Biology, bioRxiv, 699744.
Jansen, D., Pradel, R.; Mares, R. Doutrelant, C.; Spottiswoode, C.; Covas, R.; Altwegg, R. 2019 An integrated population model sheds light on the complex population dynamics of a unique colonial breeder. Population Ecology, 61 :406-420.
Holveck, MJ., Grégoire, A., Doutrelant, C. Lambrechts, M.M. 2019 Nest height is affected by lamppost lighting proximity in addition to nestbox size in urban great titsJ. Avian Biology 50
Lloyd, K Altwegg, R. Doutrelant, C.; Covas, R; 2018 Factors affecting the foraging distance and duration of a colonial bird, the sociable weaver, in a semi-arid environment” Journal of African of Ecology 56: 659-663DOI: 10.1111/aje.12484
Silva LR, Lardy S, FerreiraA, Rey B, Doutrelant C, Covas R 2018 Females pay the oxidative cost of dominance in a highly social bird Animal Behaviour 144, 135-146
Mares, R. Doutrelant, C., Paquet, M., Spottiswoode, S .and Covas, R. 2017 Breeding decisions and output are correlated with both temperature and rainfall in an arid-region passerine, the sociable weaver . Royal Society Open Science 4 (9), 170835
Paquet, M., Doutrelant, C., Loubon, M., Theron, F., Rat, M., & Covas, R. 2016. Communal roosting, thermoregulatory benefits and breeding group size predictability in cooperatively breeding sociable weavers. Journal of Avian Biology. 47: 749-755
Vaugoyeau, M., Adriaensen, F., Artemyev, A., Bańbura, J., Barba, E., Biard, C. … Doutrelant, C. … & Moller, A. P.. 2016. Interspecific variation in the relationship between clutch size, laying date and intensity of urbanization in four species of hole‐nesting birds. Ecology and evolution. 6 : 5907-5920
Acker, P., Grégoire, A., Rat, M., SpottiswoodeC. N., van Dijk, R. E., Paquet, M., Kaden, J.C., PradelR. , Hatchwell, B. J. , Covas, R., Doutrelant, C. 2015. Disruptive viability selection on a black plumage trait associated with dominance Jounal of Evolutionary Biology 28(11), 2027-2041
Paquet, M. Doutrelant, C., SpottiswoodeC. N., van Dijk, R. E. , Hatchwell, B. J, Grégoire, A. Covas, R. 2015 Antagonistic effect of helpers on breeding male and female survival in a cooperatively breeding bird Jounal of Animal Ecology 84(5), 1354-1362
Paquet, M., Covas, R., Doutrelant, C. 2015 A cross fostering experiment reveals that prenatal environment affects begging behaviour in a cooperatively breeding bird. Animal Behaviour 102 : 251-258
van Dijk, R. E., Covas, R., Doutrelant, C., Spottiswoode, C. N. & Hatchwell, B. J. 2015 Restricted and female-biased dispersal causes fine-scale genetic structure within a population of sociable weavers (Philetairus socius)Molecular Ecology 24(16), 4296-4311.
Rat, M. van Dijk, R. E., Covas, R., Doutrelant, C 2015 Dominance hierarchies and associated signalling in a cooperative passerine. Behavioural Ecology and Sociobiology 69:437–448
Altwegg, R., Doutrelant, C., Anderson, M., Spottiswoode, C., Covas, R. 2014 Climate, social factors and research disturbance influence population dynamics in a declining sociable weaver metapopulation.Oecologia, 174:413–425
Møller A. P., Adriaensen F., Artemyev A. V., Bańbura J., …… Doutrelant C., …. Lambrechts M. M. 2014. Variation in nest size in relation to clutch size in birds. Ecology and Evolution 4 (18): 3583-3595
Reparaz, L. B., van Oers, K., Naguib, M., Doutrelant, C., Visser, M. E, Caro, S.P. 2014. Mate preference of female blue tits varies with experimental photoperiod. PloS one, 9(3), e92527.
Téplitsky, C.; Marta, M. ; Nakagawa, S.; Balbontin, J. ; Burke, T. A.; Doutrelant, C.; Grégoire, A. ; Hansson, B.; Hasselquist D.; Gustafsson D. ; De Lope, F.; Marsal A.; Mills J. A. Moller, A. P.; Wheelwright, N.; Yarral, J. W. & Charmantier, A. 2014 Assessing multivariate constraints to evolution across ten long term avian studies. PloS one, 9(3), e90444.
Doutrelant, C., Grégoire, A., Gomez, D. Staszewski, V.,Arnoux, E., Tveraa, T., Faivre, B. & Boulinier, T. 2013. Colouration in Atlantic puffins and blacklegged kittiwakes: monochromatism and links to body condition in both sexes. Journal of Avian Biology. 44: 451–460
Midamegbe, A., Grégoire, A., Staszewski, V., Perret, P., Lambrechts, M. M., Boulinier, T. & Doutrelant, C.2013Female blue tits with brighter yellow chests transfer more carotenoids to their eggs after an immune challenge Oecologia. 173:387–397
Morinay, J., Cardoso, G., Doutrelant, C.* Covas, R.*, 2013. The evolution of bidsongs on islands. Ecology and Evolution 3(16), 5127-5140. (* joint last authors)
Paquet, M., Covas, R., Chastel O., Parenteau, C., Doutrelant C. 2013. Maternal effects in relation to helper presence in the cooperatively breeding Sociable Weaver – PloS ONE. 8(3): e59336
Lambrechts, M.M., Abouladzé, M., Bonnet, M., Demeyrier, V., Doutrelant, C., Faucon, V., le Prado, G., Lidon, F., Noell, T., Pagano, P., Perret, P., Pouplard, S., Spitaliéry, R., Grégoire, A. 2013. Nest-box size influences where secondary-cavity exploiters roost and nest: a choice experiment. Journal of Ornithology. 154: 563-566.
van Dijk, R., Kaden, J. C.; Beltran, L.M; Paquet, M.; Covas R. Doutrelant, C & Hatchwell, B. J. 2013 The thermoregulatory benefits of the communal nest of sociable weavers (Philetairus socius) are spatially structured within nests. Journal of Avian Biology 43: 001–009
Cubaynes, S., Doutrelant, C, Grégoire, A., Perret, P., Faivre, B., Gimenez, O. 2012. Testing hypotheses in evolutionary ecology with imperfect detection: structural equation modelling of capture recapture data. Ecology 93:248–255
Doutrelant, C., Grégoire, A., Midamegbe, A,, Lambrechts, M. , Perret, P 2012. Female plumage coloration is sensitive to the cost of reproduction An experiment in blue tits. Journal of animal ecology 81: 87-96
Holveck, M-J, Grégoire, A., Staszewski, V., Perret, P., Boulinier, T & Doutrelant, C. 2012 Eggshell spottiness reflects maternally transferred antibodies but not carotenoids in blue tits. Plos One Plos One 7(11): e50389
Lambrechts, M. M., Aimé, C., Midamegbe, A., Galan, M.-J., Perret, P., Grégoire, A., Doutrelant, C. 2012. Nest size and breeding success in first and replacement clutches: an experimental study in blue tits. Journal of Ornithology 153:173–179
Doutrelant, C., Dalecky, A. Covas, R. 2011. Age and relatedness have an interactive effect on the feeding behaviour of helpers in cooperatively breeding sociable weavers. Behaviour. 11-13: 1393-1411
Midamegbe, A, , Grégoire, A., Perret, P & Doutrelant, C. 2011. Female-female aggressiveness is influenced by female colouration in blue tits Animal Behaviour 82: 245-253
Covas, R., Deville, A.-S., Doutrelant, C., Spottiswoode, C.N. &Grégoire , A. 2011. The effect of helpers on the post-fledging period in a cooperatively breeding bird, the social weaver. Animal Behaviour. 81: 121-126
Rémy, A., Grégoire , A., Perret, P. & Doutrelant, C. 2010. Mediating male-male interactions: the role of the UV-blue crest colouration in blue tits. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology. 64:1839-1847 .
Holveck, M.-J., Doutrelant, C., Guerreiro, R., Perret, P., Gomez, D. & Grégoire, A. 2010. Can eggs in a cavity be a female sexual signal? Male nest visits and modelling of egg visual discrimination in blue tits. Biology Letters. 6: 453-457
Covas, R., du Plessis, M& Doutrelant, C. 2008. Helpers in a colonial cooperatively breeding bird contribute to buffer the effects of adverse breeding conditions Behavioural Ecology and Sociobiology 63:103-112.
Doutrelant, C., Grégoire, A, Grnac, N. Gomez, D., Lambrechts, M. M. & Perret, P. 2008 Female coloration indicates female reproductive capacity in blue tits. Journal of Evolutionary Biology 21:226-223
Lambrechts, M. M., Bourgeault, P., Mennerat, A., Galan, M-J ; Cartan-Son, M., Perret, P., Doutrelant, C. & Charmantier, A. 2007 Cavity-nesting black rats in distinct Corsican oak habitats and their potential impact on breeding Paridae. Folia Zool. 56:445-448
Covas, R., McGregor, P. K. M & Doutrelant, C., 2007 Cooperation and communication networks Behavioural Processes 76 (2007) 149–151
Doutrelant, C., Covas, R. 2007 Helping has signalling characteristics in a cooperatively breeding bird Animal Behaviour 74: 739-747 (selected for Faculty of 1000 Biology: http://www.f1000biology.com/article/id/1096985)
Moyen, F.; Doris, G. Doutrelant, C., & Théry R. 2006 Light environments affect color signaling in a temperate bird: the blue tit Revue d’écologie (terre et vie) 61 : 367-382
Covas, R., Dalecky, A., Caizergues, A & Doutrelant, C. 2006. Kin associations and direct vs. indirect fitness benefits in colonial cooperatively breeding sociable weavers Philetairus socius Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 6: 323-331
Doutrelant, C., Covas, R., Caizergues, A. & du Plessis, M. 2004. Unexpected sex ratio adjustment in a colonial cooperative bird: pairs with helpers produce more of the helping sex whereas pairs without helpers do not. Behavioural Ecology and Sociobiology 56 149-154
Covas, R., Doutrelant, C. & du Plessis, M. 2004. Food supplementation in a colonial, cooperatively breeding bird modifies individual decisions as to whether to help or breed. Proceedings of the Royal Society, London 271: 827-832
Alfonso-Alvarez, C., Doutrelant, C. & Sorci, G. 2004. Ultraviolet reflectance affects male-male interaction in the blue tit (Parus caeruleus ultramarinus). Behavioural Ecology 15: 805-809
Covas, R.; Huser, O. & Doutrelant, C. 2004. Pigmy falcons predate on nestlings of their obligate host, the sociable weaver. Ostrich 75: 325-326
Doutrelant, C., McGregor, P. K. & Oliveira, R. F. 2001 The effect of an audience on intra-male communication in fighting fish, Betta splendens. Behavioural Ecology, 12, 283-286 (paper selected by EDITORS choice Science audience betta Science, 2001 Vol 292, 2399 , – DOI: 10.1126 and quoted in the book Behavioural ecology by Danchin et al 2005).
Doutrelant, C., Lemaître, O. & Lambrechts M. M. 2001 Blue tit song geographical variation in the mediterranean region. Ardea 89, 375-385
Doutrelant, C. & Lambrechts M. M. 2001 Macrogeographic variation in song – a test of four hypotheses in blue tits. Ethology 107, 533-544
Doutrelant, C. & McGregor, P. K. 2000 Eavesdropping and mate choice in female fighting fish. Behaviour 137, 1655-1669 (paper quoted in the book Behavioural ecology by Danchin et al 2005).
Doutrelant, C., Leitao, A., Otter, K. & Lambrechts M. M. 2000 Effect of blue tit song syntax on great tit territorial responsiveness – an experimental test of the character shift hypothesis. Behavioural Ecology and Sociobiology 48,119-124 (paper quoted in the book Behavioural ecology by Danchin et al 2005).
Doutrelant, C., Blondel, J., Perret, P. & Lambrechts M. M. 2000 Blue tit song repertoire size, male quality and interspecific competition. Journal of Avian Biology 31, 360-366.
Doutrelant, C., Leitao, A., Giorgi, M. & Lambrechts, M. M. 1999 Geographical variation in blue tit song, the result of an adjustment to vegetation type? Behaviour 136, 481-493.
Doutrelant, C., Aubin T., Hitier S. & Lambrechts M. M. 1998 Two distinct song populations of blue tits, Parus caeruleus, in the French Mediterranean. Bioacoustics 9, 1-16.
Boulinier, T., Danchin, E., Monnat, J.Y., Doutrelant, C. & Cadiou, B. 1996. Timing of prospecting and the value of information in a colonial breeding bird. Journal of Avian Biology 27, 252-256
Sociable Weaver Project 