{"id":33404,"date":"2026-04-15T16:07:16","date_gmt":"2026-04-15T14:07:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/isblue.fr\/news\/nicolas-djeghri-sinteresse-aux-transformations-des-communautes-de-plancton-marin-liees-aux-changements-climatiques\/"},"modified":"2026-04-23T11:45:52","modified_gmt":"2026-04-23T09:45:52","slug":"nicolas-djeghri-sinteresse-aux-transformations-des-communautes-de-plancton-marin-liees-aux-changements-climatiques","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/isblue.fr\/en\/news\/profile\/nicolas-djeghri-sinteresse-aux-transformations-des-communautes-de-plancton-marin-liees-aux-changements-climatiques\/","title":{"rendered":"Nicolas Djeghri studies how marine plankton communities are changing in response to climate change"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In his research, Nicolas Djeghri<\/strong> focuses on changes in marine plankton communities resulting from climate change, including shifts in their taxonomic and functional composition (traits), as well as their recurring dynamics, particularly seasonality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thanks to his two-year ISblue postdoctoral fellowship (2024\u20132026) at LEMAR, he is focusing in particular on changes in the seasonality of plankton in the North-East Atlantic since 1958, using a statistical method he has developed to better account for seasonality in multidimensional data.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Supervised by Olivier Gauthier (Senior Lecturer, UBO), his project falls under ISblue\u2019s Theme 4, “The Living Ocean and Ecosystem Services<\/a>“, and is also linked to Theme 1, “Climate Regulation by the Ocean<\/a>“.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How did you hear about the ISblue postdoctoral call?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Thanks to my contacts at the lab \u2013 networking really does make a difference!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What was your journey like before you got to this point?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Quite traditional, but effective:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After completing a Bachelor\u2019s degree in Nantes and a Master\u2019s degree in Marseille, I carried out my PhD at LEMAR in Brest on the trophic ecology of photosymbiotic jellyfish. I then went on to do a postdoc at the Marine Biological Association (MBA), specifically as part of the Continuous Plankton Recorder (CPR) survey in Plymouth, UK, where I trained in community ecology and digital ecology and developed my current research interests. I am now back in Brest for a new postdoc adventure!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What made you want to work in marine science?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I have long been drawn to the sea, its mystique, and the thrill of exploration\u2026
And plankton in particular: these invisible “little monsters” have always fascinated me!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is your day-to-day life as a researcher like?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

R (a programming language for statistics), writing\u2026 then more R, and more writing!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These days, I mainly focus on data analysis and developing methodologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I don\u2019t do fieldwork or lab work anymore. Fortunately, others are collecting the data! And sometimes, I try to explain my work to my colleagues\u2026 without completely losing them along the way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is your greatest memory from the field or from your research?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I was lucky enough to spend three weeks sampling in the Norwegian Sea as part of the DRASTIC oceanographic campaign aboard an old sailing ship built in 1914: the Lun II. A timeless experience\u2026 and a real adventure!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Find out more about the DRASTIC at-sea camp<\/a>aign<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is the biggest challenge in your field today?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s hard to say. Probably predicting the dynamics of biodiversity.
We\u2019re managing to do so in certain areas, on certain scales\u2026 but overall, it remains extremely complex.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is there a particular achievement you\u2019re especially proud of?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Most recently, it\u2019s probably the statistical method I\u2019ve developed: Cyclical Ecological Trajectory Analysis (CETA). There\u2019s an accompanying R package available to make it easier for others to use. I think it could be useful to a great many researchers, as describing seasonality in complex data is a real headache.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Has there been a failure or a difficulty that really stuck with you?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

My previous postdoc was a bit of a struggle, but looking back, it was also what set me on the path that has brought me this far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do you have any ideas or plans for life after your postdoc?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

To continue with my research and settle down \u2013 in other words, sit the competitive exams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Good news: I\u2019ve already secured a new two-year postdoc position (outside ISblue), which will allow me to continue my research!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And apart from research, what helps you switch off?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Historical European martial arts (FIIIIIIIIGHT!), even though I haven’t been very diligent of late\u2026\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Further information<\/h2>\n\n\n\n