Research

I have general interests in understanding species diversification and adaptation to challenging environments.

My current work focuses on the evolution of assortative mating in a range of situations from allopatry to secondary contact with a special interest on what drives the evolution of intermediate levels of assortative mating in this range. I use mainly population genetics models.

I am also interested in the dynamics of adaptation of age-structured populations to changing environments. I especially investigate the feedback loop between these dynamics and demography. I build simulation models to understand the role of evolution in the change in species ranges due to climate change.

I previously worked on the evolution of aging in heterogeneous environments with quantitative genetics and adaptive dynamics models.


Education and professional positions

2014-2015:    Post-doctoral researcher. Biology Department, UNC Chapel Hill, USA.

                      Maria Servedio Lab.


2014:             Post-doctoral researcher. Institute of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies,        

                      University of Zurich, Switzerland.

                      Frederic Guillaume Lab.


2013:             Ph.D. Evolution, Ecology & Genetic resources

                      University of Sciences of Montpellier 2 UM2, France.

                      Director: Ophelie Ronce.


2010:             M.S. Evolution & Ecology

                      University of Sciences of Montpellier 2 UM2, France


2007 - 2009:  Montpellier SUPAGRO, France


Publications

Cotto, O. and Ronce, O. (2014), Maladaptation as a source of senescence in habitats variable in space and time. Evolution. doi: 10.1111/evo.12462

Cotto, O., Kubisch, A., and Ronce, O. (2014), Optimal Life-History Strategy Differs between Philopatric and Dispersing Individuals in a Metapopulation. The American Naturalist, Vol. 183, No. 3, pp. 384-393

Cotto, O., Olivieri, I. and Ronce, O. (2013), Optimal life-history schedule in a metapopulation with juvenile dispersal. Journal of Evolutionary Biology, 26: 944–954. doi: 10.1111/jeb.12100


Keywords

Evolutionary biology, assortative mating, sexual selection, speciation, evolution in stage/age-structured populations, life history evolution, biodiversity, evolution of aging, metapopulation, eco-evolutionary dynamics, quantitative and population genetics, simulations.