Country: France
Occupation & employer: Full University Professor, Université Paris-Sud
Specialty: Population ecology
Geographic areas of expertise: Central Africa, French Guiana, French West Indies, North Africa
Best part about my job: I like to guide and help young scientists. In particular, I like to help them develop original views rather than simply repeating what other people think.
The most unusual or exciting thing that’s happened to me while working in the field: In the late 80s, during a night patrol on Yalimapo beach in French Guiana, I saw a green-yellow circular light moving out of the water, crossing the beach, and disappearing into the vegetation. I was fully awake, but I have no idea what it could have been…
Turtle researcher / conservationist I most admire: Tony Tucker… Yes, Tony, sorry, you didn’t know that, but don’t feel too old! I met Tony while I was a student in molecular biology. While talking with Tony during hours spent on the beach, I discovered that ecology was really a science. I still appreciate talking with him. A word that best describes what I think about him is: honest. But I cannot leave this section without also naming Claude Pieau, Jack Frazier and Nicholas Mrosovsky.
When I’m not working on turtles, I like to: Cooking is my real passion.
Relevant links to find out more about me and my work: My publications are listed and downloadable here, and information about the laboratory I head in Paris may be found here. Below are links to PDFs of some of my recent publications:
- Girondot, M. 2010. Estimating density of animals during migratory waves: application to marine turtles at nesting site. Endangered Species Research 12:85-105.
- Girondot, M., S. Ben Hassine, C. Sellos, M. Godfrey, and J.-M. Guillon. 2010. Modeling thermal influence on animal growth and sex determination in Reptiles: being closer to the target gives new views. Sexual Development 4:29-38.
- Guirlet, E., K. Das, J.-P. Thomé, and M. Girondot. 2010. Maternal transfer of chlorinated contaminants in the leatherback turtles, Dermochelys coriacea, nesting in French Guiana. Chemosphere 79:720-726.
- Maros, A., A. Louveaux, C. Lelarge, and M. Girondot. 2006. Evidence of the exploitation of marine resource by the terrestrial insect Scapteriscus didactylus through stable isotopes analyzes of its cuticle. BMC Ecology 6:6.
- Rivalan, P., R. Pradel, R. Choquet, M. Girondot, and A.-C. Prévot-Julliard. 2006. Estimating clutch frequency in the sea turtle Dermochelys coriacea using stopover duration. Marine Ecology-Progress Series 317:285-295.
