L’Institut de Systématique, Évolution, Biodiversité est une unité CNRS du Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle de Paris, ayant aussi pour tutelles l’Université Pierre et Marie Curie et l’Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes.
L’UMR 7205 a pour objectif de répondre aux questions concernant l’origine de la biodiversité, les modalités de diversification des espèces, la mise en place des communautés animales en lien avec l’évolution spatio-temporelle des taxons. L’unité est un des pôles européens de systématique et contribue de manière importante à la taxonomie et à la biologie de l’évolution. Les approches de systématique phylogénétique privilégiées par l’unité sont intégratives et ont amené la conception d’outils taxonomiques, moléculaires, génétiques, acoustiques, cytogénétiques, morphologiques et morphométriques.
L’Institut de Systématique, Évolution, Biodiversité (ISYEB) succède à l’OSEB depuis le 1er Janvier 2014. Les laboratoires de l’Institut se trouvent au Jardin des Plantes dans des bâtiments situés rue Buffon et rue Cuvier (Entomologie, Mammifères et Oiseaux, Malacologie, Botanique, Reptiles-Amphibiens, Géologie).
I am interested in a range of primary questions in evolutionary biology related to spatial and temporal patterns and processes of bird diversification, from higher-level phylogeny to phylogeography and population genetics, species accumulation across time and biomes, character evolution and genes involved in speciation and adaptation.
Most of my projects take place in Asia, Madagascar and the Afrotropics, where I am trying to understand the relative importance of dispersal and vicariance in generating the extant level of endemism in these regions, as well as describing the processes of in situ diversification within each of these regions. A last component of my research aims to identify genes or genomic regions involved in reproductive isolation and/or adaptation using hybrid zones identified in previous projects.
Brief CV
Since 2013. Associate Professor/Curator of Birds. Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris.
2010-June 2012. Post-doctorate Associate. California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, California. In collaboration with Dr. David P. Mindell (NSF) and Dr. John P. Dumbacher (CAS).
2007-2009. Post-doctorate Associate. Percy Fitzpatrick Institute of African Ornithology-DST-NRF Centre of Excellence, UCT, South Africa and Museum of Vertebrate Zoology- UC Berkeley. In collaboration with Prof. Timothy M. Crowe (UCT) and Prof. Rauri C.K. Bowie (MVZ-UC, Berkeley).
2003-2006. Ph.D., Evolutionary Biology, University Pierre and Marie Curie, Paris 6. Supervisor Eric Pasquet (MNHN) .
Field Experience/Expertise
Field work in five biogeographic realms and twelve countries (France, Lao RDP, Cambodia, Vietnam, Guatemala, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Guinea, Mozambique, South Africa). Familiar with bird and trapping, blood sampling, biometric measurements, and preservation of avian museum specimens in the field.
Reviewer
Acta Zoologica Sinica, BMC Evolutionary Biology, Conservation Genetics, Ecology and Evolution, Emu, Evolution, Gene, Ibis, Journal of Biogeography, Journal of Heredity, Journal of Ornithology, Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research, Journal of Zoology, Malimbus, Molecular Biology and Evolution, Molecular Ecology, Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, National Research Foundation, South Africa, Ostrich, Zoologica Scripta.
Associate Editor : Ibis (April 2010-March 2014).
List of publications before 2014
28. Fuchs J., Parra J.L., Goodman S.M., Raherilalao M.J., Vanderwal J., Bowie R.C. (2013) Extending ecological niche models to the past 120 000 years corroborates the lack of strong phylogeographic structure in the crested drongo (Dicrurus forficatus forficatus) on Madagascar. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 108, 658–676.
27. Fuchs J., Pons J.-M., Liu L., Ericson P.G.P., Couloux A., Pasquet E. (2013) A multi-locus phylogeny suggests an ancient hybridization event between Campephilusand melanerpine woodpeckers (Aves : Picidae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 67, 578–588. Available at : http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S1055790313000717
26. Pons J.-M., Kirwan G.M., Porter R.F., Fuchs J. (2013) A reappraisal of the systematic affinities of Socotran, Arabian and East African scops owls (Otus, Strigidae) using a combination of molecular, biometric and acoustic data. Ibis, 155, 518–533.
25. Fuchs J., Irestedt M., Fjelds\a a J., Couloux A., Pasquet E., Bowie R.C. (2012) Molecular phylogeny of African bush-shrikes and allies : tracing the biogeographic history of an explosive radiation of corvoid birds. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 64, 93–105.
24. Fuchs J., Johnson J.A., Mindell D.P. (2012) Molecular systematics of the caracaras and allies (Falconidae : Polyborinae) inferred from mitochondrial and nuclear sequence data. IBIS, 154, 520–532.
23. Fuchs J., Crowe T.M., Bowie R.C.K. (2011). Phylogeography of the Fiscal Shrike (Lanius collaris) : A novel pattern of genetic structure across the arid zones and savannas of Africa. Journal of Biogeography 38 : 2210-2222.
22. Fuchs J., Chen S., Johnson J.A., Mindell D.P.(2011). Pliocene diversification within the South American forest-falcons (Falconidae : Micrastur). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 60 : 398-407.
21. Fuchs J., Fjeldså J., Bowie R.C.K.( 2011). Diversification across an altitudinal gradient in the Tiny Greenbul (Phyllastrephus debilis) from the Eastern Arc Mountains of Africa. BMC Evolutionary Biology 11 : 117. (Highly accessed)
20. Pons J.-M., Olioso G., Cruaud C., Fuchs J. (2011). Phylogeography of the Eurasian Green woodpecker (Picus viridis). Journal of Biogeography 38 : 311-325.
19. Benedict L., Bowie R.C.K.,Fuchs J., McManes M. (2010). When non-coding is non-neutral : the role of CHD1 gene polymorphism in sexing, phylogenetics and as a correlate of fitness in birds. Ibis 152 : 223-225.
18. Fuchs J., Pasquet E., Couloux A., Fjeldså J., Bowie R.C.K. (2009). A new Indo-Malayan member of the Stenostiridae (Aves : Passeriformes) revealed by multi-locus sequence data : Biogeographical implications for a morphologically diverse clade of Old World flycatchers. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 53 : 384-393.
17. Fuchs J., Pons J.-M., Goodman S.M., Bretagnolle V., Melo M., Bowie R.C.K., Currie D., Safford R., Virani M.Z., Thomsett S., Hija A., Cruaud C., Pasquet E. (2008). Tracing the colonization history of the Indian Ocean scops-owls (Strigiformes : Otus) with further insights into the spatio-temporal origin of the Malagasy avifauna. BMC Evolutionary Biology 8 : 197.
16. Melo M., Fuchs J.. (2008). Phylogenetic relationships of the Gulf of Guinea Alcedo kingfishers.Ibis 150 : 633-639.
15. Irestedt M., Fuchs J., Jønsson K.A., Ohlson J.I., Pasquet E., Ericson P.G.P. (2008). The systematic affinity of the enigmatic Lamprolia victoriae (Aves : Passeriformes) - An example of avian dispersal between New Guinea and Fiji over Miocene intermittent land bridges ? Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 48 : 1218-1222.
14. Fuchs J., Pons J.-M., Ericson P.G.P., Bonillo C., Couloux A., Pasquet E. (2008). Molecular support for a rapid cladogenesis of the woodpecker clade Malarpicini, with further insights into the genus Picus (Piciformes : Picinae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 48 : 34-46.
13. Jønsson K.A., Irestedt M., Fuchs J., Ericson P.G.P., Christidis L., Bowie R.C.K., Norman J., Pasquet E., Fjeldså J. (2008). Explosive avian radiations and multi-directional dispersal across Wallacea : Evidence from the Campephagidae and other Crown Corvida. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 47 : 221-236.
12. Fuchs J., Ericson P.G.P., Pasquet E. (2008). Mitochondrial phylogeographic structure of the white-browed piculet (Sasia ochracea) : cryptic genetic differentiation and endemism in Indochina. Journal of Biogeography 35 : 565-575.
11. Fuchs J., Cibois A., Duckworth W.J., Eve R., Robichaud W.G., Tizard T., Van Gansberghe D. (2007). Birds of Phongsaly province and the Nam Ou river (Laos). Forktail 23 : 22-86.
10. Pasquet E., Pons J.-M., Fuchs J., Cruaud C., Bretagnolle V. (2007). Evolutionary history and biogeography of the drongos (Dicruridae), a tropical Old World clade of corvoid passerines. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 45 : 158-167.
09. Fuchs J., Cruaud C., Couloux A., Pasquet E. (2007). Complex biogeographic history of the cuckoo-shrikes and allies (Passeriformes : Campephagidae) revealed by mitochondrial and nuclear sequence data. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 44 : 138-153.
08. Moyle R.G., Fuchs J., Pasquet E., Marks B. (2007). Feeding behavior, toe count and the phylogenetic relationships among alcedinine kingfishers (Alcedininae). Journal of Avian Biology 38 : 317-326.
07. Fuchs J., Pons J.-M., Pasquet E., Raherilalao M.J., Goodman S.M. (2007). Geographical structure of genetic variation in the Malagasy Scops-Owl inferred from mitochondrial sequence data. Condor 109 : 408-418.
06.Fuchs J., Ohlson J.I., Ericson P.G.P., Pasquet E. (2007). Synchronous intercontinental splits between assemblages of woodpeckers suggested by molecular data. Zoologica Scripta 36 : 11-25.
05. Fuchs J., Ohlson J.I., Ericson P.G.P., Pasquet E. (2006). Molecular phylogeny and biogeographic history of the piculets (Piciformes : Picumninae). Journal of Avian Biology 37 : 487-496.
04. Fuchs J., Fjeldså J., Pasquet E. (2006). An ancient African radiation of corvoid birds (Aves : Passeriformes) detected by mitochondrial and nuclear sequence data. Zoologica Scripta 35 : 375-385.
03. Fuchs J., Fjeldså J., Bowie R.C.K., Voelker G., Pasquet E. (2006). The African warbler genus Hyliota as a lost lineage in the Oscine songbird tree : Molecular support for an African origin of the Passerida. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 39 : 186-197.
02.Fuchs J., Fjeldså J., Pasquet E. (200). The use of mitochondrial and nuclear sequence data in assessing the taxonomic status of the Endangered Uluguru Bush Shrike (Malaconotus alius). Ibis 147 : 717-724.
01. Fuchs J., Bowie R.C.K., Fjeldså J., Pasquet E. (2004). Phylogenetic relationships of the African bush-shrikes and helmet-shrikes (Passeriformes : Malaconotidae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 33 : 428-439.
Publications
2026
Chen Guangji, Wang Shuang, Bilyeli Øksnebjerg Daniel, Nielsen Sascha Dreyer, Dai Wei, Jiang Wei, Liang Jing, Han Wei, Zhou Chengran, Li Qiye, Petersen Bent, Monadjem Ara, Bhembe Zamekile D, Maphalala Machawe, Ocampo Diego et al., 2026 — Draft assemblies for 177 bird species enhance genus-level coverage. Abstract
Background With over 10,000 recognized species, birds constitute one of the most diverse and widely distributed…GigaScience , , giag045
Plazanet Aymeric, Rousseau Pierre, Jiguet Frédéric & Fuchs Jérôme, 2026 — Individual gut microbiome variations in the Red Knot (Calidris canutus) at a migratory stopover site. Journal of Ornithology , ,
Truchassout Henri, Bussière Hélène, Mulot Baptiste, Latorre Laetitia, Pasquet Eric & Fuchs Jérôme, 2026 — Genomic survey of the ex situ Palm Cockatoo (Probosciger aterrimus) population identifies an undiscovered species-level lineage endemic to Yapen Island. Abstract
Birds benefit from many ex situ research and conservation programs that are essential to integrated conservation…Conservation Geneticsvol. 27, n° 4, p. 90
Bakai Antonii, Fuchs Jérôme, Gorman Gerard, Sajdak Dominika & Kajtoch Łukasz, 2025 — A systematic review of interspecific breeding in woodpeckers. Hybridization is a common phenomenon in birds. Woodpeckers (Picidae) are no exception, as approximately 20% of species are…Ibis , , ibi.70014
Sharif Muhammad Bilal, Ferry Björn, Fuchs Jérôme, Cronholm Bodil, Heintzman Peter D. & Dalén Love, 2025 — Environmental DNA from peck marks shows potential for noninvasive monitoring of woodpeckers. PLOS Onevol. 20, n° 8, e0328831
Fuchs Jérôme, Ericson Per & Irestedt Martin, janvier 2024 — Genomic insights into the evolutionary and demographic histories of the extinct Hoopoe Starling ( Fregilupus varius ). Ibis , , tex.hal_id: hal-04399502 tex.hal_version: v1
