Marc Gibernau

I'm studying the mechanisms implicated in interactions among organisms and particularly how natural selection maintains or changes interactive systems. The studied models are Aroid– pollinator interactions.

In French Guiana, the pollination ecology of three Philodendron species and of Montrichardia arborescens was studied during several years. These aroids are obligatorily cross-pollinated by scarab beetles (Dynastidae) and have developed several adaptations for beetle pollination (floral chamber, food rewards,…).
Another study was related to seed predation in Philodendron solimoesense by galligen chalcid wasps.
See publications : 9, 13, 20, 23, 24, 38, 40, 43, 46

In France, two related Arum species are common (A. italicum and A. maculatum). A. italicum is pollinated by several species of coprophagous insects (flies, beetles) while inflorescences of A. maculatum are visited only by females of Psychoda phalaenoides (Diptera, Psychodidae). Interestingly this species is present among the insect species visiting inflorescences of A. italicum. The aim of this work is to study in sympatric situations (both Arum species are present in the same habitat ) how the pollination of the two Arum species is achieved and to determine the mechanisms implicated in the evolution from a generalist pollination system (A. italicum) to a specific pollination system (A. maculatum ).
See publications : 25, P6, P12, 37, 45

Aroid inflorescences produce heat (thermogenesis) during anthesis (pollinisation cycle). The temperature of one inflorescence can reach 45°C and be at 25-30°C above ambient air. This heat production is important for pollinator attraction (odour dispersion), but may be also for the spathe opening and the maturation/release of the pollen. For endothermic pollinating insects (for example scarabs), the heat produced by the inflorescence represents an energetic resource which allows them to save energy while being actif in the floral chamber. Moreover, some aroid inflorescences are able to thermoregulate their temperature (as mammals do), they maintain a fixed temperature over several hours (sometimes days) what ever the ambient temperature is.

Insular populations (populations geographically isolated) are studied in order to determine which modifications if any in the flowering mechanisms and the interactions with pollinators have developed. Actually our studied models are aroids from Corsica : Ambrosina bassii, Arum italicum, Arum pictum, Arum cylindraceum, Helicodiceros muscivorus.

In collaboration with :
Denis Barabé (Associated Professor , University of Montreal - Botanical Garden of Montreal)
Roger Seymour (Professor, University of Adelaïde)
Anita Diaz (University of Bournemouth)

54 - Seymour R.S., Gibernau M. and Pirintsos S.A. 2009. Thermogenesis of three species of Arum from Crete. Plant, Cell and Environment : in press.

51 - Barriault I., Barabé D., Cloutier L. and Gibernau M. 2009. Pollination ecology and reproductive success in Jack-in-the Pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum) in Québec (Canada). Plant Biology : doi:10.1111/j.1438-8677.2009.00192.x.

50 - Barriault I., Gibernau M. and Barabé D. 2009. Flowering and thermogenesis cycles in Jack-in-the Pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum ) in Québec (Canada). Botany 87: 324-329.

49 - Gibernau M., Orivel J., Dejean A., Delabie J. and Barabé D. 2008. Flowering as a key factor in ant-Philodendron interactions. Journal Tropical Ecology 24(6) : 689-692 [pdf]

47 - Seymour R.S. and Gibernau M. 2008. Respiration of thermogenic inflorescences of Philodendron melinonii: natural pattern and responses to experimental temperatures. Journal of Experimental Botany 59: 1353-1362 [pdf]

46 - Barabé D, Lavallée K. and Gibernau M. 2008. Pollen viability and germination in some Neotropical Aroids. Canadian Journal of Botany 86: 98-102 [pdf]

45 - Albre J. and Gibernau M. 2008. Reproductive biology of Arum italicum (Araceae) in South of France. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 156: 43-49 [pdf]

44 - Chouteau M., Gibernau M. and Barabé D. 2008. Relationships between floral characters, pollination mechanisms, life forms and habitats in Araceae. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 156: 29-42 [pdf]

P15 - Gibernau M. and Barabé D. 2007. Des fleurs à « sang chaud ». Pour la Science, N°359, Septembre : 50-56

43 - Chouteau M., McClure M. and Gibernau M. 2007. Pollination ecology of Monstera obliqua (Araceae) in French Guiana. Journal of Tropical Ecology 23(5): 607-610 [pdf]

41 - Chouteau M., Barabé D and Gibernau M. 2007. Thermogenesis in Syngonium (Araceae). Canadian Journal of Botany 85 : 184-190 [pdf]

40 - Gibernau M., Orivel J., Delabie J.H.C., Barabé D. and Dejean A. 2007. An asymmetrical relationship between an arboreal ponerine ant and a trash-basket epiphyte (Araceae). Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 91 : 341-346 [pdf]

38 - Chouteau M., Barabé D. and Gibernau M. 2006. A comparative study of inflorescence characters and Pollen-ovule ratios among the genera Philodendron and Anthurium (Araceae). International Journal of Plant Sciences 167(4) : 817-829 [pdf]

37 - Diaz A., Aka Amoin M. and Gibernau M. 2006. Isolating mechanisms in Arum (Araceae). Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 150 : 323-328 [pdf]

36 - Chouteau M., Barabé D. and Gibernau M. 2006. Pollen-ovule ratios in some Neotropical Araceae and their putative significance. Plant Systematics and Evolution 257 (3-4) : 147-157 [pdf]

35 - Gibernau M., Barabé D., Moisson M. and Trombe A. 2005. Physical constraints on temperature difference in some thermogenic aroid inflorescences. Annals of Botany 96 : 117-125 [pdf]

P13 - Quilichini A., Torre A. & Gibernau M. 2005. Preliminary data on the biology and reproduction of Ambrosina bassii L. (Araceae) in Corsica. Aroideana 28 : 35-40 [pdf]