ECR Spotlight is a series of interviews with early-career authors from a selection of papers published in Journal of Experimental Biology and aims to promote not only the diversity of early-career researchers (ECRs) working in experimental biology but also the huge variety of animals and physiological systems that are essential for the ‘comparative’ approach. Morgane Fournier is an author on ‘ The avian vocal system: 3D reconstruction reveals upper vocal tract elongation during head motion’, published in JEB. Morgane conducted the research described in this article when working as an engineer in Pauline Provini's lab at INSERM, Université Paris Cité. She is now a PhD student in the lab of Anne-Claire Fabre at the Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Bern, Switzerland, investigating the factors that influence the morphology and function of bones in living animals in order to help reconstruct the ecology of extinct animals.
Morgane Fournier
How did you become interested in biology?
Since I was a little girl, I have always been fascinated by the nature surrounding me. Although I don't come from a family with a scientific background, my parents have always been keen to nurture my curiosity and expose me to new experiences. Visits to natural history museums, especially the one in Paris, deepened my fascination – particularly with dinosaurs, like many children. But unlike most, my fascination grew stronger and evolved into a clear professional goal: continue in the field of research. Through my studies and several internships, I was even more fascinated by the immense diversity of living species and the importance of studying them to better understand extinct ones. Now, as a PhD student, I'm on the path to realizing my dream.
Describe your scientific journey and your current research focus
I began my academic journey with a bachelor's degree in geology at the Pierre and Marie Curie University, followed by a master's degree in systematics, evolution and paleontology at the Sorbonne University and the National Museum of Natural History in Paris. I later pursued a second master's in interdisciplinary approaches to life sciences at the Centre for Interdisciplinary Research and the University of Paris Diderot. Throughout my studies, I gained hands-on experience with various methods, including geometric morphometrics, finite element analysis, 3D segmentation, while working on a wide range of taxa such as fossil carnivorous mammals, bats, rodents, turtles and birds.
Today, my focus is on amphibians, particularly European salamanders and newts. What fascinates me about some of these species is their ability to exhibit two distinct life cycles within the same species. For example, many Alpine newts follow a complex life cycle, with aquatic larvae metamorphosing into terrestrial juveniles and, later, into terrestrial adults, which return to the water on a seasonal basis. So, this species encounters not only one but two metamorphoses in their life. However, in certain populations, the metamorphosis is incomplete, and these newts retain their larval traits and remain aquatic as they continue to grow, staying young forever (while still being able to reproduce). During my PhD research, I aim to explore how variations in life cycle strategies affect bone morphology at different developmental stages in these newts and salamanders, while also considering other influences such as sexual dimorphism and environmental factors. This will hopefully allow me, in the future, to learn more about the life cycle, habitat, and other ecological aspects of fossil amphibians.
Specimen preparation for CT-scanning. Fire salamander (Salamandra salamandra) from the Natural History Museum of Vienna. Using a CT scanner, I can capture the 3D bone morphology while ensuring the specimen remains intact.
How would you explain the main findings/message of your paper to a member of the public?
Birds are remarkable singers, capable of producing a wide range of sounds. Unlike humans, whose voice box is located in the larynx, birds have their voice-producing organ situated deeper in their bodies, between the trachea and bronchi. This means that the sounds they make travel through the trachea before coming out of their mouths. Because of this, the size of the trachea can affect the sounds that birds produce. Additionally, when we watch birds singing or calling, we often notice that they move their heads. Our study reveals that these head movements can change the shape of the trachea, especially its length, and that these changes aren't the same along the entire trachea. Understanding these details helps us appreciate the complexity of how birds create their beautiful songs.
What do you enjoy most about research, and why?
What I love most about research is the constant process of discovery and learning. Each project is like solving a complex jigsaw puzzle, where each new piece of data brings you closer to understanding the bigger picture. I love the challenge of asking questions and working systematically to find the answers, which often leads to unexpected results that can change our understanding. I also enjoy the opportunity to meet and collaborate with researchers from different scientific backgrounds. Interacting with experts from different fields often gives rise to new ideas and perspectives that I wouldn't have considered on my own. This diversity enriches the research process, making it even more exciting and intellectually stimulating.
What do you like to do in your free time?
In my free time, I love being active outdoors. I have a particular passion for exploring underground environments like caves and quarries, which is why I've taken up caving. I also regularly go climbing, enjoy Via Ferrata, and find hiking to be a great way to connect with nature. When I'm in the mood for something more relaxing, I like to unwind by drawing. I enjoy creating anatomical and naturalistic drawings, paying close attention to detail and accuracy, but I also love drawing human portraits. I find it especially rewarding to explore different techniques for capturing a variety of emotions.
Morgane Fournier’s contact details: Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Universität Bern, Baltzerstrasse 6, 3012 Bern, Switzerland.
E-mail: [email protected]
