LAPSCO - CNRS/UCA UMR 6024

MARTINELLI Natalia

admin.lapsco, Natalia Martinelli — 2026-07-09T14:56:43Z

Natalia MARTINELLI

Équipe 3 : Stress Physiologique et Psychosocial, Bien-Être

Bureau CATech, rdc
LAPSCO 34 av. Carnot 63037 Clermont-Ferrand Cedex France

natalia.martinelli@uca.fr

Themes de recherches, mission, périmètres > mot-clés :

theme1 | theme2 | theme3 | theme4 | theme5

Nancy Rebout

Lea LEMAIRE — 2026-06-02T13:44:47Z

PhD student, supervisors : Bernard Thierry and Alban Lemasson

My researchgate

My linkedin

Thesis title : A comparative study of the flexibility of vocal communication in four species of macaque

According to the social complexity hypothesis, social systems characterized by complex relationships require high communicative complexity to regulate interactions between group members. In macaques, species differ in their social style. Intolerant species show a steep gradient of dominance coupled with formal submission signals. Tolerant species exhibit more balanced relationships that allow subordinates to protest or counter-attack against higher-ranking individuals, which leads to a significant level of uncertainty – and thus complexity in the sense of Shannon's information theory – regarding the outcome of social interactions. By comparing the vocal communications of two intolerant species, Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata) and rhesus macaques (M. mulatta) as well as two tolerant species, Tonkean macaques (M. tonkeana) and crested macaques (M. nigra), I am testing the existence of a link between social style and vocal flexibility.

Freeman, S.M., Rebout, N., & Bales, K.L. (2018). Effect of reward type on object discrimination learning in socially monogamous coppery titi monkeys (Callicebus cupreus). American journal of primatology, e22868. http://doi.org/10.1002/ajp.2286

Rebout, N., Desportes, C., & Thierry, B. (2017). Resource partitioning in tolerant and intolerant macaques. Aggressive Behavior, (October 2016), 1–8. http://doi.org/10.1002/ab.21709

Rebout, N., Thierry, B., Sanna, A., Cozzolino, R., Aujard, F., & De Marco, A. (2017). Female mate choice and male–male competition in Tonkean macaques : Who decides ? Ethology, 123(5). http://doi.org/10.1111/eth.12605

Benjamin Benti

Lea LEMAIRE — 2026-06-02T13:33:14Z

Mail : benjamin.benti@etu.unistra.fr

Phone : +33 6 03 79 34 58

Thesis : Quantification of the effects of anthropogenic and heterospecific sounds on the behaviour of Cetaceans

Supervisor : Valérie Dufour, Co-supervisors : Charlotte Curé, Patrick Miller

In the marine environment, the high travel speed of sounds and their low absorption result in a very complex soundscape. Cetaceans, which have evolved advanced sound emission and reception systems, are able to perceive many different kinds of sounds. The aim of my Ph.D. is to determine to which extent external sounds, and more precisely sounds produced by other Cetacean species and sounds related to human activities, can be informative to Cetaceans, and how they respond to them.

In order to do so, we expose humpback whales and pilot whales to broadcasts of the sounds of different killer whale ecotypes and different military sonar types, while recording their behaviour with animal-borne tags. We're interested in their horizontal movement patterns and in the alterations of their diving, feeding, and vocal behaviours in response to acoustic disturbances.

Publications

Benti B, Curé C, Dufour V (2019) Individual signature in the most common and context-independent call of the Rook (Corvus frugilegus). The Wilson Journal of Ornithology In-Press

Lam F-P, Kvadsheim PH, Isojunno S, van IJsselmunde S, Wensveen PJ, Hansen RR, Silve LD, Kleivane L, Martin Lòpez LM, Benti B, Dekeling R, Miller PJO (2018) Behavioural response study on the effects of continuous sonar and the effects of source proximity on sperm whales in Norwegian water – the 3S-2017 Cruise report. (TNO 2018 R10958)

Wallace EK, Altschul D, Körfer K, Benti B, Kaeser A et al. (2017) Is music enriching for group-housed captive chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) ? PLOS ONE 12(3) : e0172672. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0172672

Jules Dorschner

Lea LEMAIRE — 2026-06-02T13:23:33Z

PhD Student of Veracruz University and Clermont-Auvergne University

Current research :

Investigating social and physical cognition in the spider monkeys : a candidate to better understand the evolution of cognition in primates

Directed by : Laura TH Salazar, Valérie Dufour & Matthias Laska

Despite an increased interest in primate cognition research, studies have mainly focused on a limited number of species, especially great apes and macaques, even though platyrrhines, the American primates, represent around a third of all primate species. This gap in knowledge is even more concerning when we know that some of these species, in addition to possessing extreme anatomical adaptations such as a fully prehensile tail or an enhanced vocal apparatus, share socio-ecological factors with species known to possess high levels of cognition, like chimpanzees. Among them, Ateles, known as spider monkeys, represent a relevant candidate for studying the drivers behind the evolution of cognition in primates. Indeed, their complex social system coupled with their high level of frugivory are similar to those of great apes. Could their cognition be of the same similarity ? My aim is to answer this question through thorough experimental designs. Tool use, reasoning, and social cognition, among other tests, are conducted on free-ranging and captive spider monkeys within the Mexican jungle, their natural environment. This work is carried out as part of a collaboration between France and Mexico, in a protected reserve managed by the University of Veracruz. Beyond its academic scope, my research also aims to draw the public's attention to spider monkeys through scientific outreach and naturalistic photography exposure, as they are as fascinating as vulnerable primates. They act as key seed dispersers in American tropical forests, but may disappear within this century.

Main interests

I am interested in comparing cognition across species. I appreciate a lot being in the jungle and observing many species and behaviors every day ; it is a true honor. I also practice naturalistic photography and hope to use it as a tool for scientific communication.

Maelan Tomasek

Lea LEMAIRE — 2026-06-02T13:19:41Z

PhD Student and Doctor in Veterinary Medicine (DVM)

Evolution of cognitive abilities in Lake Tanganyikan cichlids

Current research :

Two main questions drive my research : how does a fish think and how does cognition evolve ? Questions as vast as an ocean in which I'm currently drifting, desperately trying to find answers (quite ironical knowing that I'm only working in lakes or in seas…). My project therefore aims at developing cognitive tasks for wild fish, directly in the wild or brought into laboratory-like settings. My main models are cichlids in Lake Tanganyika or labrids in the Mediterranean Sea. The hardest part of my job is to conduct experiments underwater, because you know that at one point you'll have to stop playing with incredible beings in their wonderful world and break the surface to go back to a world full of shrieking babbling apes (apparently called “humans”).

Interests :

As you may have understood, my main interest is animal cognition, especially in aquatic organisms. I've previously had the chance to work with diverse species such as rooks (non-aquatic ones although they loved their pool), cuttlefish, squids, and of course, fish. As a vet, I'm also deeply interested in medicine and in questions of ethics and welfare, focusing mainly on aquatic animals and basically every organism with which us humans struggle to sympathise, like fish or this friend that constantly returns to their toxic ex.

Written publications :

Tomasek, M., Stark, M., Dufour, V., Jordan, A., Cognitive flexibility in a Tanganyikan bower-building cichlid, Aulonocranus dewindti. Anim Cognition (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10071-023-01830-w

Tomasek, M., Ravignani, A., Boucherie, P. H., Van Meyel, S., & Dufour, V. Spontaneous vocal coordination of vocalizations to water noise in rooks (Corvus frugilegus) : An exploratory study. Ecology and Evolution (2023) https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.9791

Tomasek, M., Impact de la santé en recherche comportementale et cognitive : focus sur les organismes aquatiques, Veterinary Thesis, 2022, https://dumas.ccsd.cnrs.fr/dumas-03934194

Oral presentations :

“Pubescent teenagers or Tanganyikan cichlids : cognitive experiments with unmotivated wild fish”, Behaviour 2023 (awarded Best Student Talk)

“Cognitive flexibility in a Tanganyikan bower-building cichlid”, SFECA 2023

Louise Robinet

Lea LEMAIRE — 2026-06-02T13:08:34Z

Agronomy Engineer (Functional Behavioral and Evolutionary Ecology)

Current research :

I am currently involved in a project investigating the impact of human activities on the behavior and ecology of Olive baboons (Papio anubis) in Uganda, particularly along an anthropogenic gradient. This research addresses critical issues related to the impact of anthropogenic changes on wildlife, offering insights into the complex interactions between animals, humans, and the environment. This project contributes to both scientific understanding and concrete strategies for promoting coexistence and mitigating potential challenges in anthropized landscapes. We already collected some data on the field, following a troop of baboons along a road and carefully observing the behavior and interactions in this human-baboon meeting place.

Past research :

In 2023, I did my final year internship studying wolf (Canis lupus) predation on domestic horses (Equus caballus). I examined the link between behavior and cardiac parameters in response to stressful stimuli as well as inter-individual differences in physiological and behavioral stress reactions to predation. This interdisciplinary project involved collaboration with various stakeholders and honed my ability to manage diverse perspectives, presenting results to different audiences, including scientific and non-scientific communities. I also had the huge opportunity to do scientific popularization of my work by giving a formation to horse breeders, managers of equestrian facilities, and veterinarians.

Killian Martin

Lea LEMAIRE — 2026-06-02T12:49:20Z

PhD thesis : Vocal control in the rook (Corvus frugilegus)

Directed by : Valérie Dufour and Nicolas Obin

Oscines (a.k.a songbirds) generally produce vocalisations in specific contexts. In particular, song, the most complex class of vocalisations in the repertoire of a given species, is usually associated with territorial defence or courtship prior to and during the reproductive period. However, little is known of the cognitive aspects of song production. Few bird species have indeed had their cognitives abilities under study, with the notable exception of corvids.

Corvids, on the other hand, demonstrate extensive cognitive abilities both in the laboratory and in the wild (e.g. tool-making, spatial memory enabling caching of food reserves for the winter, social intelligence in the species that live in stable groups). This opens the possibility that these birds are actually able to produce vocalisations of their own volition, at times they choose freely ; not to fulfil an outside purpose, but perhaps even in a manner analogous to human music.

My PhD will deal with the study of rook vocalisations, regarding the range of vocalisations produced, but also a higher-level approach with analysis of the structure of rook song, the control of its production.

In another approach, I will attempt to generalise previous studies on vocal signatures, features that can identify a bird or group of birds, with goals to reach pair, social group, and perhaps even colony-level signatures.

Given the large amounts of data involved, I will leverage machine learning in my project, both for the detection and the classification of the vocalisations.

Laurie Castro

Lea LEMAIRE — 2026-06-02T12:45:51Z

PhD student and agronomy engineer

Current research : Cognitive abilities in sheep (Ovis aries) and goats (Capra hircus) : a comparative study

Directed by : Valérie Dufour and Raymond Nowak

In farm animals, it is likely that the process of domestication has influenced the general level of cognitive abilities, with humans selecting the most docile and robust individuals. Sheep and goats are closely related, they both live in similar social systems and feed on grass and herbs. Despite their long and shared history of domestication, there are almost no comparative studies of behavior and cognitive abilities between them, even though this could help to understand factors that drive the evolution of cognition. In addition, the welfare of farm animals is now a major concern for society. To prevent farm animals from being exposed to poor welfare conditions, to improve farming practices and housing systems, and to assess welfare more accurately, it is necessary to understand the socio-cognitive abilities of these animals, i.e. how they process, store and use information.

My PhD focuses on how sheep and goats represent their physical and social world. I am also looking at the interplay between emotion and cognition, as emotional reactivity could also affect cognitive performances. I work with a group of free-ranging sheep and goats in a public park in Alsace (67), and test individuals on cognitive tasks.

Main interests

My main interests are animal cognition and comparative psychology. I like to work on questions of cognitive evolution and its main drivers, as well as on interactions between emotions and cognition. I am also interested in issues of animal welfare and ethics in relation to domestic species. I particularly enjoy engaging in outreach work to communicate these topics to a broader audience.

Bernard Thierry

Lea LEMAIRE — 2026-06-02T12:39:19Z

Research Director at CNRS

List of publications : Link to research gate

Address : Ethologie cognitive et sociale, CNRS, Délégation Alsace, 23 rue du loess, 67037 Strasbourg, France

email : bernard.thierry@cnrs.fr phone : (33) 388 107 458

Profile

1982, MD Thesis, Veterinary Medicine, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire, Toulouse

1984, PhD Thesis, Ethology, Université Louis Pasteur, Strasbourg

1997, Research Direction Habilitation, Ethology, Université Louis Pasteur, Strasbourg

Research topics

Social cognition and group movements in mammals : how information transmission and recruitment processes lead to collective performances in mammals
Comparative study of primate societies : how adaptive function trades off against epigenetic constraints in the social organization of macaques

Current projects

Reproductive strategies in a tolerant species of macaque : how adult males manage mating competition, stress, and rank reversals in Tonkean macaques
(Collaborators : A. De Marco, H. Gachot, J. Duboscq)

Comparative study of communication in four macaque species : is there a link between complexity of vocal signals and degree of social inequality ?
(collaborators : N. Rebout, A. De Marco, R. Cozzolino, A. Sanna, L. Sterck, J. Micheletta, A. Lemasson)

Publication list
Recent publications

Broihanne M.H., Romain A., Call J., Thierry B., Wascher C., De Marco A., Verrier D., Dufour V., 2019. Monkeys (Sapajus apella and Macaca tonkeana) and great apes (Gorilla gorilla, Pongo pygmaeus, Pan paniscus and Pan troglodytes) play for the highest bid. Journal of Comparative Psychology 133 : 301-312.

De Marco A., Rebout N., Massiot É., Sanna A., Sterck E.H.M., Langermans J.A.M., Cozzolino R., Thierry B. & Lemasson A., 2019. Differential patterns of vocal similarity in tolerant and intolerant macaques. Behaviour 156 : 1209-1233.

Rebout N., De Marco A., Lone J.C., Sanna A., Cozzolino R., Micheletta J., Sterck E.H.M., Langermans J.A.M., Lemasson A. & Thierry B., 2020. Tolerant and intolerant macaques show different levels of structural complexity in their vocal communication. Proceedings of the Royal Society B 287 : 20200439.

De Marco A., Cozzolino R. & Thierry B., 2020. Responses to a dead companion in a captive group of tufted capuchins (Sapajus apella). Primates 133 : 301-312.

Thierry B., Deneubourg J.L. & Poulin N., 2020. Modelling persistence over generations in biological and cultural evolution based on differential paces of change. BioSystems 196 : 104139.

Highlights

– Rebout N., De Marco A., Lone J.C., Sanna A., Cozzolino R., Micheletta J., Sterck E.H.M., Langermans J.A.M., Lemasson A. & Thierry B., 2020. Tolerant and intolerant macaques show different levels of structural complexity in their vocal communication. Proceedings of the Royal Society B 287 : 20200439.

doi : 10.1098/rspb.2020.0439

We tested the social complexity hypothesis which posits that animals living in complex social environments should use complex communication systems. We focused on two components of vocal complexity : diversity (number of categories of calls) and flexibility (degree of gradation between categories of calls). We compared the acoustic structure of vocal signals in groups of macaques belonging to four species with varying levels of uncertainty (i.e. complexity) in social tolerance (the higher the degree of tolerance, the higher the degree of uncertainty) : two intolerant species, Japanese and rhesus macaques, and two tolerant species, Tonkean and crested macaques. We recorded the vocalizations emitted by adult females in affiliative, agonistic and neutral contexts. We analysed several acoustic variables : call duration, entropy, time and frequency energy quantiles. The results showed that tolerant macaques displayed higher levels of vocal diversity and flexibility than intolerant macaques in situations with a greater number of options and consequences, i.e. in agonistic and affiliative contexts. We found no significant differences between tolerant and intolerant macaques in the neutral context where individuals are not directly involved in social interaction. This shows that species experiencing more uncertain social interactions displayed greater vocal diversity and flexibility, which supports the social complexity hypothesis.

– De Marco A., Cozzolino R. & Thierry B., 2020. Responses to a dead companion in a captive group of tufted capuchins (Sapajus apella). Primates 133 : 301-312.

doi : 10.1007/s10329-019-00743-y

The observation of specific reactions by animals to dead conspecifics raises questions about their capacity to understand death. We describe the behavior of a captive group of tufted capuchins in the hours following the death of an adult female. The behavior of 12 subjects was recorded over a 5-h period. Most group members displayed exploratory behaviors toward the corpse, peering at it, smelling, touching, lifting or pulling it at least once. Interactions with the corpse were particularly frequent in the first hour, then decreased in the following hours. The relatives of the deceased female were the most involved individuals, and her daughter spent more time near her body than the other members of the group. Rates of interaction with the body were especially high in subadult individuals. Most of the behaviors directed to the body of the deceased individual appeared to be investigative.

– Thierry B., Deneubourg J.L. & Poulin N., 2020. Modelling persistence over generations in biological and cultural evolution based on differential paces of change. BioSystems 196 : 104139.

doi : 10.1016/j.biosystems.2020.104189

Paces of change are faster in cultural evolution than in biological evolution due to different levels of stability in information storage. This study develops mathematical models to investigate the consequences of differential mutation rates on the ability of groups of information units to survive over many generations. We examined the ability of groups composed of connected units to live on despite the occurrence of deleterious mutations that occur at probabilities ranging from 10⁻¹ to 10⁻⁶. It appears that the degree of connection between units should be high enough for groups to persist across generations, but this alone did not ensure their survival ; when groups of units were limited in size and subjected to high mutation rates, they did not survive for very long. By contrast, a significant proportion of groups were able to survive numerous generations if mutation rates were low and/or group size was large. The results revealed that the mean number of surviving generations was minimized for certain sizes of groups. When allowing information units to duplicate at each generation, simulation showed that a great number of groups avoided extinction even when mutating at the rate of cultural change if the initial group size was large and the duplication rate was high enough to counteract the consequences of environmental perturbations. The modelling described in this study sets out the conditions under which groups of units can survive along generations. It should serve as a basis for further investigations about the links between processes of biological and cultural changes.

Michel Streith

Lea LEMAIRE — 2026-06-02T11:55:22Z

Anthropologue

Directeur de recherche CNRS

michel.streith@uca.fr

Tél. 04 73 40 85 16

Parcours professionnel

2001 : Doctorat d'anthropologie sociale et d'ethnologie, mémoire « Dynamiques paysannes en Mecklembourg (Allemagne orientale). Survie d'un savoir-faire », École des hautes études en sciences sociales, Paris.

2015 : Habilitation à diriger des recherches, option sociologie, mémoire « Pour une socio-anthropologie des pratiques alternatives en agriculture », Université Nanterre.

2004-2012 : membre du laboratoire CNRS-LADYSS

Depuis 2012 : membre du laboratoire CNRS-LAPSCO

2014-2020 : Directeur-adjoint de la Maison des sciences de l'Homme de Clermont-Ferrand (MSH).

2004 : Chargé de recherche CNRS

2016 : Directeur de recherche CNRS