Biogeography, Macroecology & Ecophylogenetics

BIOGEOGRAPHY, MACROECOLOGY & ECOPHYLOGENETICS

In addition to the fundamental interest in understanding the conceptual basis of the organization of ecological systems, the context of global change requires us to rapidly make connections between different disciplines in ecology. In particular, predicting how climate change, exploitation, and uses alter diversity patterns, change species interactions, their distribution, and ecosystem functioning has become a research priority (Mouquet et al. 2015). In this framework I have initiated several research programs to study the distribution of different facets of biological diversity and their congruence in space and time. I have also contributed to methodological developments to deduce the ecological mechanisms underlying the distribution of species (environmental filters, interaction filters, dispersal) from observed data, within the framework proposed by the theory of metacommunities (Leibold et al 2003). Finally, I am interested in functional rarity, an essential and still little studied facet of biological diversity. This research has also resulted in producing reviews papers and integrated approaches such as the Ecophylogenetics framework. I combined analysis of empirical datasets for many taxa both in terrestrial and marine habitats at local and global scales.

Back to Nicolas Mouquet homepage

(a) Conceptual representation of ecological filters selecting species from the global pool and shaping the realised local communities. (b) Main processes involved in shaping species range dynamics and community structure and their direct (A E) and indirect (F K) effects on the filtering process. Interactions between abiotic environment, physiology and dispersal can also be important but are omitted here to avoid the figure becoming too complex. From Thuiller, W., Munkemuller, T, Lavergne, S., Mouillot, D., Mouquet, N., Schiffers, K. and Gravel, D. (2013).A road map for integrating eco-evolutionary processes into biodiversity models. Ecology Letters, 16, 94-105, doi:10.1111/ele.12104

Functional rarity
Munoz F, Klausmeier CA, Gauzere P, Kandlikar PG, Litchman E, Mouquet N, Ostling A, Thuiller W, Algar AC, Auber A, Cadotte MW, Delalandre L, Denelle P, Enquist BJ, Fortunel C, Grenie M, Loiseau N, Mahaut L, Maire A, Mouillot D, Pimiento C, Violle C, and Kraft NJB (2023) The ecological causes of functional distinctiveness in communities Ecology Letters, DOI:10.1111/ele.14265
Auber A, C Waldock, A Maire, E Goberville, C Albouy, A C Algar, M McLean, A Brind’Amour, A L Green, M Tupper, L Vigliola, K Kaschner, K Kesner-Reyes, M Beger, J Tjiputra, A Toussaint, C Violle, N Mouquet, W Thuiller, and D Mouillot (2022) A functional vulnerability framework for biodiversity conservation. Nature Communications 13:4774
Loiseau N, Mouquet N, Casajus N, Grenie M, Gueguen M, Maitner B, Mouillot D, Ostling A, Renaud J, Tucker C, Velez L, Thuiller W, and Violle C. (2020) Global distribution and conservation status of ecologically rare mammal and bird species. Nature Communication, 11, 5071 doi:10.1038/s41467-020-18779-w. (* These authors contributed equally to this study)
iolle, C., Thuiller, W., Mouquet, N., Munoz F., Kraft N.J.B., Cadotte M.W., Livingstone S.W., Grenie M., Mouillot D. (2017). A Common Toolbox to Understand, Monitor or Manage Rarity? A Response to Carmona et al. Trends in Ecology and Evolution doi:10.1016/j.tree.2017.10.001
Violle, C., Thuiller, W., Mouquet, N., Munoz F., Kraft N.J.B., Cadotte M.W., Livingstone S.W., Grenie M., Mouillot D. (2017). Functional Rarity: The Ecology of Outliers. Trends in Ecology and Evolution,32,356-367, doi:10.1016/j.tree.2017.02.002
Mouillot, D., Bellwood, D.R., Baraloto, C., Chave, J., Galzin, R., Harmelin-Vivien, M., Kulbicki, M., Lavergne, L., Lavorel, S., Mouquet, N., Paine, C.E.T., Renaud, J. and Thuiller, T. (2013). Rare Species Support Vulnerable Functions in High- Diversity Ecosystems . PLoS Biology, 11, e1001569, doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.1001569

The different facets of biological diversity
Rault C,Leprieur F, Barbaro L, Kreft H, Mouquet N, Papaix J, Cagan HS, Violle C & Barnagaud JY (2023) Trait-environment associations diverge between native and alien breeding bird assemblages on the world's oceanic islands Global Ecology and Biogeography, DOI:10.1111/geb.13729
Doxa, A., Holon, F., Deter, J., Villeger, S., Boissery, P. and Mouquet N. (2016). Mapping biodiversity in three-dimensions challenges marine conservation strategies: The example of coralligenous assemblages in North-Western Mediterranean Sea. Ecological Indicators, 61, 1042-1054, doi:10.1016/j.ecolind.2015.10.062
Albouy, C., Leprieur, F., Le Loch, F., Mouquet N., Meynard, C.N., Douzery, E.J.P. and Mouillot, D. (2015). Projected impacts of climate warming on the functional and phylogenetic components of coastal Mediterranean fish biodiversity. Ecography, 38, 681-689, doi: 10.1111/ecog.01254
Guilhaumon, F., Albouy, C., Claudet, J., Velez, L., Lasram, F.B., Tomasini, J.A., Douzery, E.J.P., Meynard, C.N., Mouquet N., Troussellier, M., Araujo, M.B., Mouillot, D. (2015). Representing taxonomic, phylogenetic and functional diversity: new challenges for Mediterranean marine-protected areas. Diversity and Distributions, 21, 175-187, doi:10.1111/ddi.12280
Mazel, F., Guilhaumon, F., Mouquet N., Devictor, V., Gravel, D., Renaud, J., Cianciaruso, M.V., Loyola, R., Diniz-Filho, J.A.F., Mouillot, D., and Thuiller, W. (2014). Multifaceted diversity-area relationships reveal global hotspots of mammalian species, trait and lineage diversity. Global Ecology and Biogeography, 23, 836-847, doi:10.1111/geb.12158
Monnet, A.C., Jiguet, F., Meynard, C.N., Mouillot, D., Mouquet N., Thuiller, W. et al. (2014). Asynchrony of taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic diversity in birds. Global Ecology and Biogeography, 23, 780-788, doi:10.1111/geb.12179
Zupan, L., Cabeza, M., Maiorano, L., Roquet, C., Devictor, V., Lavergne, S., Mouillot, D., Mouquet N., Julien Renaud, J., and Thuiller, W. (2014). Spatial mismatch of phylogenetic diversity across three vertebrate groups and protected areas in Europe. Diversity and Distributions, 20, 674-685, doi:10.1111/ddi.12186
Meynard C.N., Mouillot D., Mouquet N. and Douzery E.J.P. (2012). A Phylogenetic Perspective on the Evolution of Mediterranean Teleost Fishes. PLoS ONE, 7, e36443, doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0036443
Mouillot D., Albouy C., Guilhaumon F., Lasram F.B.R., Coll M., Devictor V., Meynard C.N., Pauly D., Tomasini J.A., Troussellier M., Velez L., Watson R., Douzery E.J.P. and Mouquet N. (2011). Protected and Threatened Components of Fish Biodiversity in the Mediterranean Sea. Current Biology, 21,1044-1050, doi:10.1016/j.cub.2011.05.005
Devictor V., Mouillot D., Meynard C.N., Jiguet F., Thuiller W., and Mouquet N. (2010). Spatial mismatch and congruence between taxonomic, phylogenetic and functional diversity: the need for integrative conservation strategies in a changing world. Ecology Letters, 13, 1030-1040, doi:10.1111/j.1461-0248.2010.01493.x

Patterns & processes
Letessier T.B., Mouillot D., Mannocci L., Jabour Christ H., Elamin Mohammed E., Mohamed Elamin S., Friedlander A.M., Alex Hearn. A., Juhel J.B., Ring Kleiven A., Moland E., Mouquet N., Nillos-Kleiven P.J., Sala E., Thompson C.D.H., Velez L., Vigliola, L., Meeuwig J.J. (2024) Divergent responses of pelagic and benthic fish body-size structure to remoteness and protection from humans Science, 383, 976:982. DOI:10.1126/science.adi7562
Xavier Jordani, M. Mouquet, N., Casatti, L., Menin, M., de Cerqueira Rossa Feres, D. & Helene Albert, C.H. (2019). Intraspecific and interspecific trait variability in tadpole metacommunities from the Brazilian Atlantic rainforest. Ecology and evolution 9 (7), 4025-4037, doi:10.1002/ece3.5031
Henckel, L., Meynard, C.N., Devictor, V., Mouquet, N.& Bretagnolle, V. (2019). On the relative importance of space and environment in farmland bird community assembly. PloS one 14 (3), e0213360, doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0213360
Gray, S.M., Poisot, T., Harvey, E.,Mouquet, N., Miller, T.E. and Gravel, D. (2016). Temperature and trophic structure are driving microbial productivity along a biogeographical gradient Ecography, 39,981-989, doi:10.1111/ecog.01748
Matias M.G., Gravel D., Guilhaumon F., Desjardins-Proulx P., Loreau M., Munkemuller T. and Mouquet N. (2014). Estimates of species extinctions from species–area relationships strongly depend on ecological context. Ecography 37, 1-12, doi:10.1111/j.1600-0587.2013.00448.x
Moritz, C., Meynard, C.N., Devictor, V., Guizien, K., Labrune, C., Guarini, J.M., & Mouquet N. (2013). Disentangling the role of connectivity, environmental filtering, and spatial structure on metacommunity dynamics. Oikos, 122, 1401-1410, doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0706.2013.00377.x
Meynard C.M., Lavergne S., Boulangeat I., Garraud L., Van Es J., Mouquet N. and Thuiller W. (2013). Disentangling the drivers of metacommunity structure across spatial scales. Journal of Biogeography, 40, 1560-1571, doi:10.1111/jbi.12116
Meynard C.N., Mouillot D., Mouquet N. and Douzery E.J.P. (2012). A Phylogenetic Perspective on the Evolution of Mediterranean Teleost Fishes. PLoS ONE, 7, e36443, doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0036443
Munkemuller T., de Bello F., Meynard C.N., Gravel D., Lavergne S., Mouillot D., Mouquet N. and Thuiller W. (2011). From diversity indices to community assembly processes: A test with simulated data. Ecography, 34, 001-013, doi:10.1111/j.1600-0587.2011.07259.x
Meynard C.N., Devictor V., Mouillot D., Thuiller W., Jiguet F. and Mouquet N. (2011). Beyond taxonomic diversity patterns: how do alpha, beta and gamma components of bird functional and phylogenetic diversity respond to environmental gradients across France ? Global Ecology and Biogeograhy, 20, 893-903, doi:10.1111/j.1466-8238.2010.00647.x

Integrative approaches & Reviews
Flandrin U., Mouillot D., Albouy C., Bejarano S., Casajus C., Cinner J., Edgar G., Ghilardi M, Leprieur L., Loiseau L., MacNeil A., Maire E., McLean M., Parravicini V., Pellissier L., Schiettekatte N., Stuart-Smith R., Villeger S. & Mouquet N. (2024) Fish communities can simultaneously contribute to nature and people across the worlds tropical reefs One Earth 7, 1772–1785. DOI:10.1016/j.oneear.2024.09.011/
Mouillot D., Velez L., Albouy C., Casajus N., Claudet J., Delbar V., Devillers R., Letessier T.B., Loiseau N., Manel M., Mannocci L., Meeuwig J., Mouquet N., Nuno A., OConnor L., Parravicini P., Renaud J., Seguin R.,Troussellier T. & Thuiller W. (2024) The socioeconomic and environmental niche of protected areas reveals global conservation gaps and opportunities Nature Communications 15:9007. DOI:10.1038/s41467-024-53241-1
Mouquet N., Langlois J., Casajus N., Auber A., Flandrin U., Guilhaumon F., Loiseau N., McLean M., Aurore R., Stuart Smith R.D. & Mouillot D. (2024) Low human interest for the most at-risk reef fishes worldwide Science Advances, 10,eadj9510. DOI:10.1126/sciadv.adj9510 This paper was featured in Science Advances by Becca Franks: Vulnerable fishes, inattentive humans
Munoz F, Klausmeier CA, Gauzere P, Kandlikar PG, Litchman E, Mouquet N, Ostling A, Thuiller W, Algar AC, Auber A, Cadotte MW, Delalandre L, Denelle P, Enquist BJ, Fortunel C, Grenie M, Loiseau N, Mahaut L, Maire A, Mouillot D, Pimiento C, Violle C, and Kraft NJB (2023) The ecological causes of functional distinctiveness in communities Ecology Letters, DOI:10.1111/ele.14265
Mouillot D, Loiseau N, Grenie M, Algar AC, Allegra M, Cadotte MW, Casajus N, Denelle P, Gueguen N, Maire A, Maitner M, McGill BJ, McLean M, Mouquet N, Munoz F, Thuiller T, Villeger S, Violle C and, Auber A (2021) The dimensionality and structure of species trait spaces. Ecology Letters, doi:10.1111/ele.13778
Warren B.H., R.E. Ricklefs, C. Thebaud, D. Gravel, & Mouquet, N. (2019). How consideration of islands has inspired mainstream ecology: links between the theory of island biogeography and some other key theories. In: Goldstein, M.I. and DellaSala, D.A. Encyclopedia of the Worlds Biomes: Islands and Atolls. Elsevier, Oxford.
Violle, C., Thuiller, W., Mouquet, N., Munoz F., Kraft N.J.B., Cadotte M.W., Livingstone S.W., Grenie M., Mouillot D. (2017). Functional Rarity: The Ecology of Outliers. Trends in Ecology and Evolution,32,356-367, doi:10.1016/j.tree.2017.02.002
Mouquet N. , Lagadeuc, Y., Devictor, V., Doyen, L., Duputie, A., Eveillard, D., Faure, D., Garnier, E., Gimenez, O., Huneman, P., Jabot, F., Jarne, P., Joly, D., Julliard, R., Kefi, S., Kergoat, G.J., Lavorel, S., Le Gall, L., Meslin, L., Morand, S., Morin, X., Morlon, H., Pinay, G., Pradel, R., Schurr, F.M., Thuiller, W. and Loreau, M. (2015). Predictive Ecology in a Changing World. Journal of Applied Ecology, 52, 1293-1310, doi:10.1111/1365-2664.12482
Hubert, N., Calcagno, V., Etienne, R.S. and Mouquet N. (2015). Metacommunity speciation models and their implications for diversification theory. Ecology Letters, 18, 864-881, doi:10.1111/ele.12458
Warren, B.H., Simberloff, D., Ricklefs, R.E., Aguilee, R., Condamine, F.L., Gravel, D., Morlon, H., Mouquet N., Rosindell, J., Casquet, J., Conti, E., Cornuault, J., Fernandez-Palacios, J.M., Hengl, T., Norder, S.J., Rijsdijk, K.F., Sanmartin, I., Strasberg, D., Triantis, K.A., Valente, L.M., Whittaker, R.J., Gillespie, R.G., Emerson, B.C., Thebaud, C. (2015). Islands as model systems in ecology and evolution: prospects fifty years after MacArthur-Wilson. Ecology Letters, 18, 200-217, doi:10.1111/ele.12398
Thuiller, W., Munkemuller, T, Lavergne, S., Mouillot, D., Mouquet, N., Schiffers, K. and Gravel, D. (2013).A road map for integrating eco-evolutionary processes into biodiversity models. Ecology Letters, 16, 94-105, doi:10.1111/ele.12104
Mouquet N., Devictor V., Meynard C.N., Munoz F., Bersier L.F., Chave J., Couteron P., Dalecky A., Fontaine C., Gravel D., Hardy O.J., Jabot F., Lavergne S., Leibold M., Mouillot D., Munkemuller T., Pavoine S., Prinzing A., Rodrigues A.S.L., Rohr R.P., Thebault E. and Thuiller W. (2012). Ecophylogenetics: advances and perspectives. Biological Reviews, 87, 769-785, doi:10.1111/j.1469-185X.2012.00224.x
Poisot T., Canard E., Mouillot D., Mouquet N. and Gravel D. (2012). The dissimilarity of species interaction networks. Ecology Letters, 15, 1353-1361, doi:10.1111/ele.12002, suppl. mat., R package
Rolland J., Cadotte M.W., Davies J., Devictor V., Lavergne S., Mouquet N. , Pavoine S., Ana Rodrigues, Thuiller W., Turcati L., Winter M., Zupan L., Jabot F. and Morlon H. (2012). Using phylogenies in conservation: new perspectives Biology Letters, 8, 692-694, doi:10.1098/rsbl.2011.1024
Gravel D., Massol F., Canard E., Mouillot D. and Mouquet N. (2011). Trophic theory of island biogeography. Ecology Letters, 14, 1010-1016, doi:10.1111/j.1461-0248.2011.01667.x
Lavergne S., Mouquet N., Thuiller W., and Ronce O. (2010). Biodiversity and Climate Change: Integrating Evolutionary and Ecological Responses of Species and Communities. The Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics , 41,321-350, doi:10.1146/annurev-ecolsys-102209-144628