Research Ioanna Gavriilidi

Abstract

Human activities are transforming the natural world at an alarming rate and scale. As suitable habitats shrink, the persistence of populations increasingly depends on their ability to adjust or adapt to rapidly human-altered environments. Environmental pollution has reached unprecedented global levels, imposing strong selective pressures on exposed organisms. While some pollutants have emerged only recently, others, such as metals, have been contaminating the environment since antiquity—causing enduring pollution that remains detectable today. This offers a rare opportunity to explore the long-term ecological and evolutionary consequences of anthropogenic environmental change. In this project, I will investigate the behavioural, physiological and genetic responses of lizards to recent and ancient anthropogenic metal pollution. I will assess whole-organism performance in populations with historical, recent and no prior exposure (pristine), and examine the mechanisms through which lizards acquire metal tolerance. With controlled contamination lab experiments using progeny from historically and recently exposed and pristine populations, I aim to disentangle the relative roles of genetic differentiation and plastic physiological adjustment in conferring tolerance to metal pollution. This project unites interdisciplinary expertise, fieldwork, and multigenerational animal experiments to unravel how rapidly and by which mechanisms wildlife copes with chronic anthropogenic pollution.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Bervoets Lieven
• Fellow: Gavriilidi Ioanna

Research team(s)

• Ecosphere01/10/2026 - 30/09/2029

Funding

• FWO

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

In this project, I will compare ects of cognition and personality and their evolutionary trajectories in mainland and island lizards (Podarcis erhardii). Islands differ considerably from mainland habitats in a series of biotic and abiotic factors, and organisms often respond to this variation with striking phenotypic change. Because populations on different islands evolve independently, archipelagos offer unique opportunities for testing ideas concerning phenotypic plasticity and genetic evolution. The effects of insularity on the morphology, physiology, and life history of organisms have been studied extensively in many species. Changes in cognition and personality have received far less attention. Yet, such changes seem highly probable; as islands typically harbour less predators, competitors, and prey, I expect adjustments of cognitive capacity (high vs. low intelligence), cognitive style (speed vs. accuracy) and personality (fast vs. slow). By measuring these variables in individuals of several mainland and island populations, and by raising individuals with varied provenance in common garden set-ups, I hope to acquire insight into the plasticity and evolutionary flexibility of cognition and personality. To test the generality of these findings, I will extend the island-mainland comparison to other Podarcis species inhabiting isolated archipelagos.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Van Damme Raoul
• Co-promoter: Baeckens Simon
• Fellow: Gavriilidi Ioanna

Research team(s)

• Functional Morphology01/11/2021 - 31/10/2025

Funding

• FWO
• FWO

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

In this project we will compare aspects of cognition and personality of mainland and island lizards, Podarcis siculus. Islands differ considerably from mainland habitats in a series of biotic and abiotic factors, and organisms often respond to this variation with striking phenotypic change. Because populations on different islands evolve independently, archipelagos offer unique opportunities for testing ideas concerning phenotypic plasticity and genetic evolution. The effects of insularisation on the morphology and life history of organisms have been studied extensively in many species. Changes in cognition and behavioural syndromes have received far less attention. Yet, such changes seem plausible; as islands typically harbour less predators, competitors and prey, we expect adjustments of cognitive capacity (high-low intelligence), cognitive style (speed-accuracy) and personality (fast-slow), e.g. By measuring these variables in individuals of several mainland and island populations, and by raising individuals with varied provenance in common garden set-ups, we hope to acquire insight into the plasticity and evolutionary flexibility of cognition and personality.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Van Damme Raoul
• Co-promoter: Baeckens Simon
• Fellow: Gavriilidi Ioanna

Research team(s)

• Functional Morphology01/10/2019 - 30/09/2023

Funding

• BOF

Project type(s)

• Research Project