Research
We are passionate about understanding how and why animals behave and function the way they do, both in pristine environments and those impacted by human activities. Much of our work is conducted with live animals under controlled laboratory conditions, complemented by approaches that incorporate ecological (e.g., mesocosms, field studies) and economic realism (e.g., animal production systems). Our research spans a wide range of (mostly aquatic) species, enabling us to study biological processes across diverse contexts.
Our key research themes:
how do animals behave, interact, and respond to environmental change
We seek to better understand how the internal make-up of animals influences their responses to environmental changes and how these responses shape—and are shaped by—interactions with other organisms and broader ecological processes.
Selected publications
Thoré, E., L. Steenaerts, C. Philippe, A. Grégoir, L. Brendonck, and T. Pinceel. Individual behavioral variation reflects personality divergence in the upcoming model organism Nothobranchius furzeri. Ecology and Evolution, 2018, 8: 8448-8457.
Thoré, E., A. Grégoir, B. Adriaenssens, C. Philippe, R. Stoks, L. Brendonck, and T. Pinceel. Population-, sex- and individual level divergence in life-history and activity patterns in an annual killifish. PeerJ, 2019, 7: e7177.
Thoré, E., Aulsebrook, A., Brand, J., Almeida, R., Brodin, T., Bertram, M. Time is of the essence: the importance of considering biological rhythms in an increasingly polluted world. PLOS Biology, 2024, 22: e3002478.
(Emerging) chemical contaminants and ecotoxicology
The release of an increasing amount and diversity of chemicals, including pharmaceutical drugs and microplastics, poses risks to ecosystems that are not fully understood. We investigate how these pollutants affect (aquatic) organisms, focusing on behavioural changes, including its underlying mechanisms and ecological consequences. Our research not only advances understanding but also informs chemical risk assessments and strategies to mitigate the environmental impact of chemical pollutants.
Selected publications
Thoré, E., L. Brendonck, and T. Pinceel. Natural daily patterns in fish behaviour may confound results of ecotoxicological testing. Environmental Pollution, 2021, 276: 116738.
Thoré, E., C. Philippe, L. Brendonck, and T. Pinceel. Towards improved fish tests in ecotoxicology – efficient chronic and multi-generational testing with the killifish Nothobranchius furzeri. Chemosphere, 2021, 273: 129697.
Thoré, E., C. Philippe, L. Brendonck, and T. Pinceel. Antidepressant exposure reduces body size, increases fecundity and alters social behaviour in the short-lived killifish Nothobranchius furzeri. Environmental Pollution, 2020, 265: 115068.
Temporary pond ecology
Temporary ponds harbour unique fauna and are crucial for biodiversity conservation. Our research investigates how these dynamic environments support animal life, particularly focusing on the biology and interactions of annual killifish and large branchiopods in (south)east Africa. Ultimately, we aim to inform conservation and sustainable management practices for these crucial habitats.
Selected publications
Pinceel, T., B. Vanden Berghen, F. Buschke, A. Waterkeyn, E. Thoré, R. Burrough, E. Worth, and L. Brendonck. Co-occurrence of large branchiopods and killifish in African savannah ponds. Ecology, 2021, e03505.
Thoré, E., L. Brendonck, and T. Pinceel. Neurochemical exposure disrupts sex-specific trade-offs between body length and behaviour in a freshwater crustacean. Aquatic Toxicology, 2021, 237: 105877.
Grégoir, A., E. Thoré, C. Philippe, T. Pinceel, L. Brendonck, and B. Vanschoenwinkel. Squeezing out the last egg—annual fish increase reproductive efforts in response to a predation threat. Ecology and Evolution, 2018, 8: 6390-6398.
Sustainable animal production and animal welfare
Drawing from ecological insights, we explore innovative ways to minimise the environmental impact of aquaculture while enhancing animal welfare in production systems.
Selected publications
Thoré, E., L. Brendonck, and T. Pinceel. Conspecific density and environmental complexity impact behaviour of turquoise killifish (Nothobranchius furzeri). Journal of Fish Biology, 2020, 97: 1448-1461.
Thoré, E., and W. Merckx. Substrate colour guides turquoise killifish’s (Nothobranchius furzeri) choice of preferred spawning habitat. Journal of Fish Biology, 2023, 1-8.
Meta-science and open science
We critically examine how science is conducted and communicated, advocating for greater rigor, transparency, and accessibility. Our work in meta-science promotes improved research practices, inclusivity, and reproducibility—mostly, but not exclusively, focusing on eco(toxico)logical research.
Selected publications
Bertram, M., J. Sundin, D. Roche, A. Sánchez-Tójar, E. Thoré, and T. Brodin. Open science. Current Biology, 2023, 33: R792-R797.
(Picture by Bertsy Goic of DrawInScience, as published in above paper.)