Gheylen Daghfous is scientific advisor and curator responsible for reptiles, amphibians, fish, and invertebrates at the Biodôme. He is involved in the management of these animal populations and leads various research and wildlife conservation projects.
- Scientific advisor
- Curator of ichthyofauna (fish), herpetofauna (amphibians, reptiles) and invertebrates
Affiliations :
- Université de Montréal
- Association des biologistes du Québec (ABQ)
- Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA)
- Canadian Accredited Zoos and Aquariums (CAZA)
- Canadian Herpetological Society (CHS)
- Canadian Society of Zoologists (CSZ)
Web pages :
Areas of research and expertise
- Ichthyology and Herpetology
- Neuroethology and Animal Behavior
- Sensory Systems Biology
- Conservation Biology
Education
Postdoctoral training – Neurosciences, 2011-2016
Université du Québec à Montréal et Université de Montréal
Doctorate – Biology and physiology or organisms, 2010
Muséum national d’histoire naturelle, Paris
Master’s – Earth sciences, environment, ecology, 2007
Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris
Bachelor’s – Biology, 2005
Université Paris Sud, Orsay, France
Contributing to the conservation of animal species
Biologist and physiologist specializing in herpetology and ichthyology, Gheylen Daghfous joined the Biodôme team in 2019 as curator responsible for animal populations. Since 2023, he has held the position of scientific advisor with a dual mandate: managing the populations of reptiles, amphibians, fish, and invertebrates at the Biodôme, as well as conducting conservation research.
The goal of his research is to improve our understanding of the biology (behavior, morphology, genetics, ecology, etc.) of threatened species, such as the Wood turtle and the Western chorus frog, to better protect them.
His research also includes studying the biology of invasive exotic species, such as the sea lamprey, native to the Atlantic Ocean but invasive in the Great Lakes system. This research aims to mitigate the impact of sea lampreys on ecosystems and native species.