We are based at the Center for the Study of Ethology and Cognition (Centre d'Etude en Ethologie et Cognition - UMR 6552) at the Université de Rennes
Camille Troisi
I am a behavioural ecologist interested in understanding how animals deal with the challenges they face in their environment. I'm particularly interested in the role that the early-life environment has on the development of cognition, social behaviour, and animal cultures, working both in the field and the lab.
Since 2024 I'm a Lecturer at the Université de Rennes (France). I previously held a MSCA fellowship (2023-2024) at Gent Universiteit (Belgium), where I studied the role of diet on the gut microbiota and cognition of pigeons. Before that, I was a postdoc at Gent Universiteit (Belgium) and University College Cork (Ireland) working on individual variation in cognition and social behaviour, and environmental factors influencing such variation. I conducted my PhD (2012-2016) at the University of St Andrews (UK) on teaching behaviour and social learning.
While I mostly focus on birds as model species currently (pigeons, gulls, tits, to name a few), I have also worked with primates, rats, and have some ongoing collaborations on fishes.
I am a behavioural ecologist interested in understanding how animals deal with the challenges they face in their environment. I'm particularly interested in the role that the early-life environment has on the development of cognition, social behaviour, and animal cultures, working both in the field and the lab.
Since 2024 I'm a Lecturer at the Université de Rennes (France). I previously held a MSCA fellowship (2023-2024) at Gent Universiteit (Belgium), where I studied the role of diet on the gut microbiota and cognition of pigeons. Before that, I was a postdoc at Gent Universiteit (Belgium) and University College Cork (Ireland) working on individual variation in cognition and social behaviour, and environmental factors influencing such variation. I conducted my PhD (2012-2016) at the University of St Andrews (UK) on teaching behaviour and social learning.
While I mostly focus on birds as model species currently (pigeons, gulls, tits, to name a few), I have also worked with primates, rats, and have some ongoing collaborations on fishes.
Current Researchers
Wen Zhang (2022-present)
I am a PhD student specializing in neuroscience and neurobiology. My research focuses on the gene expression of neurotransmitter receptors related to cognitive behaviors in quails and chickens. I also study the relationship between egg yolk and brain development in gulls.
Wen is based at Gent Universiteit (Belgium), and is co-supervised by An Martel, Frederick Verbruggen and Luc Lens.
Emma Berardi (2026)
I am a second-year Master's student at the University of Toulouse in neuroscience, with a focus on ethology and comparative cognition. I am conducting my internship on the behavioral flexibility of two species of gull: the Lesser Black-backed Gull and the European Herring Gull. Specifically, I study habitat selection, whether it changes between seasons and individuals, and the consistency of these behaviours in the same individual. This study is being carried out in association with Bretagne Vivante in Auray.
Emma is co-supervised by Maxime Pineaux (Bretagne Vivante).
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Youna Fontaine (2026)
I am a first-year Master’s student in Animal and Human Behaviour at the Université de Rennes. As part of my internship, I am investigating the impact of urbanisation on the time budgets of Great Tits (Parus major) and European Blue Tits (Cyanistes caeruleus). Specifically, I examine how impervious surfaces, human traffic, and noise pollution influence their feeding and vigilance rates along an urbanisation gradient. This work is driven by my commitment to understanding the effects of anthropogenic activities on non-human species, as studying animal behaviour in the context of global change is essential for supporting wildlife conservation. |
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Ambre Trofleau-Gilson (2026)
I am a first-year Masters student specialising in the study of animal and human behaviour (ethology) at the University of Rennes. My internship focuses on the vocal parameters of Great and Eurasian blue tits (Parus major and Cyanistes caeruleus) along an urbanization gradient. More specifically, I'm looking at potential differences in frequency and duration between calls from individuals inhabiting areas more or less disturbed by anthropogenic noise pollution. I am highly interested in using the study of anthropogenic impact on behaviour for wildlife conservation. |
Field Assistants
We're re-starting the follow up of the great tit and blue tit population on campus, thanks to students from the CNER. This year the field work is done by Édouard Pernet and Maxence Castel.
Lab Alumni
MSc students
Lumi Vanhulle (2022-2024, Gent Universiteit)
BSc students
Seppe Deprez (2024, Gent Universiteit)
Lumi Vanhulle (2022-2024, Gent Universiteit)
- The role of personality in response inhibition
- The role of habituation on flight initiation distance
BSc students
Seppe Deprez (2024, Gent Universiteit)
- Pigeon foraging behaviour in the wild
- The effect of diet on pigeon behaviour
- The species-confidence hypothesis
- The development of personality in domestic chicks
- Food preferences in golden lion tamarins
- Individual vocal recognition in spider monkeys
- The role of environmental enrichment on lion-tailed macaque behaviour
