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Prof. Stéphane Boyer
Stéphane Boyer
I am a Professor at the Insect Biology Research Institute (IRBI), at Tours University, France.
I have spent 10 years in New Zealand working as a Postdoc, Lecturer and Associate Professor at Lincoln University and Unitec Institute of Technology.
My research focuses on the conservation of endemic animals, the control of invasive species, and the restoration of native ecosystems. I am particularly interested in the study of predator-prey and host-parasitoid relationships in managed and unmanaged ecosystems, the use of environmental DNA and the development of non-invasive DNA sampling for biodiversity monitoring and species discovery. To do this, I use high-throughput DNA sequencing on a variety of platforms.
Get in touch by email: stephane.boyer(at)univ-tours.fr
Or follow me on twitter: @Zelpapang
The Insect Biology Research Institute is devoted to the analysis of adaptive and evolutionary processes across organization levels, from genome to communities.
Our research work is based on the methods and concepts of ecology, integrative physiology, behavioural sciences and genetics, in all cases within an evolutionary frame.
My Research
My Lab
My research touches on aspects of Conservation Biology, Restoration Ecology and the study of Invasive species with a special interest for trophic interactions and the use of Molecular Ecology tools
Click on a project below, or have a closer look on
My research page for more details.
 Trophic interactions |  Conservation of Powelliphanta snails |  Ecological restoration |
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 Advanced genomics |  Ecology of New Zealand earthworms |  Invasive insect species |
 Science outreach |
In late 2016, I launched a new peer-review journal called Rethinking Ecology.
This open access journal published by Pensoft aims at fostering both forward thinking and the publication of novel ideas in ecology. Rethinking Ecology publishes Perspective papers, Rapid communications and Responses with an emphasis on new hypotheses and bold ideas. Contributions from any aspect of the discipline of ecology are welcome (e.g. evolution, ecophysiology, environmental sciences, global change biology, human ecology and decision ecology).
Listen to my interview about the journal on Radio Live. For up to date information, you can follow my Rethinking Ecology project on ResearchGate or follow the journal's twitter account and Facebook page.
Science outreach
I have been involved in a number of science outreach events and have been leading citizen science projects in collaboration with students from several primary schools in Auckland.
More info on the page Molecular Ecology in Action.
Citizen science projects:
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Wētā Watchers (funded by SouthSci)
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Profiling Punakaiki Penguins (funded by The Brian Mason Scientific and Technical Trust)
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DNA barcoding of New Zealand Whitebait (funded by The Royal Society of New Zealand and Unitec)
Science outreach activities
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Bioblitz 2009 in Lincoln
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Ecoblitz 2014 in the Nina Valley
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Ecoblitz 2015 in Cambridge
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Explorama 2016 at the Auckland Museum
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DNA barcoding workshop 2016 at the University of the South Pacific, Suva, Fiji
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Bioblitz 2017 in Corban Estate, Auckland
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Fête de la Science 2018, Tours, France
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Fête de la Science 2019, Tours, France
My
Publications
2023
72. Lange, C., Boyer, S., Bezemer, T. M., Lefort, M. C., Dhami, M. K., Biggs, E., ... & Kaltenpoth, M. (2023). Impact of intraspecific variation in insect microbiomes on host phenotype and evolution. The ISME Journal, 17, 1798–1807. URL PDF
71. Graux, Y., Querejeta Coma, M., Gaba, S., Bretagnolle, V., Boyer S. (2023) A comparison of live versus kill pitfall traps to assess the diet of carabids through a metabarcoding approach. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata, 172(3), 249-260 URL PDF.
70. Querejeta Coma, M., Marchal, L., Pfeiffer, P., Roncoroni, M., Bretagnolle, V., Gaba, S., & Boyer, S. (2023) Environmental variables and species traits as drivers of wild bee pollination in intensive agroecosystems - a metabarcoding approach. Environmental DNA, 5(5), 1078-1091. URL PDF
69. Lefort M.C., Glare T.R., Bouchon D., Boyer S. (2023) How hindgut microbiota may shape sympatric speciation in an invasive phytophagous scarab. Ecologia Experimentalis et Applicata, 171(8), 556-563. URL PDF
64. Querejeta, M., Lefort, M. C., Bretagnolle, V., & Boyer, S. (2021). Metabarcoding faecal samples to investigate spatiotemporal variation in the diet of the endangered Westland petrel (Procellaria westlandica). Avian Conservation and Ecology. 18(1), 17.URL PDF
2022
67. Querejeta M., Hervé V., Perdereau E., Marchal L., Herniou E.A., Boyer S., Giron D. (2022) Changes in bacterial community structure across the different life stages of Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens). Microbial Ecology, 86(2), 1254-1267. URL PDF
66. Kim, Y. N., Robinson, B., Boyer, S., Zhong, H., Lee, K. A., Lee, Y. B., Dickinson, N. (2022). Agroecology niche for New Zealand's native earthworms. Applied Soil Ecology, 176, 104506. URL PDF
65. Lefort M.C., Cruickshank R.H., Descovich K., Adams N.J., Barun A., Emami-Khoyi A., Ridden J., Smith V.R., Sprague R., Waterhouse B., Boyer S. (2022) Blood, sweat and tears: a review of non-invasive DNA sampling. bioRxiv. 385120., ver. 4 peer-reviewed and recommended by Peer Community Journal, 2, e16. URL PDF
64. Batuecas, I., Alomar, O., Castañe, C., Piñol, J., Boyer, S., Gallardo-Montoya, L., Agusti, N. (2022). Development of a multi-primer metabarcoding approach to understand trophic interactions in agroecosystems. Insect Science, 29 (4), 1195-121-0. URL PDF
2021
63. Schmack, J. M., Lear, G., Astudillo‐Garcia, C., Boyer, S., Ward, D. F., & Beggs, J. R. (2021). DNA metabarcoding of prey reveals spatial, temporal and diet partitioning of an island ecosystem by four invasive wasps. Journal of Applied Ecology, 58 (6), pp.1199-1211. URL PDF
2020
62. Lefort, M. C., Beggs, J. R., Glare, T. R., Saunders, T. E., Doyle, E. J., & Boyer, S. (2020). A molecular approach to study Hymenoptera diets using wasp nests. NeoBiota, 63, 57. URL PDF
2019
61. Nboyine J.A., Boyer S., Saville D., Cruickshank R.H., Wratten S.D. (2019) Identifying plant DNA in the faeces of a generalist insect pest to inform trap cropping strategy. Agronomy for Sustainable Development, 39(6), 39-57. URL PDF
60. Lefort MC, Cruickshank RH, Descovich K, Adams NJ, Barun A, Emami-Khoyi A, Ridden J, Smith VR, Sprague R, Waterhouse B, Boyer S. (2019) Blood, sweat and tears: a review of non-invasive DNA sampling. bioRxiv. 385120., ver. 4 peer-reviewed and recommended by PCI Ecology, https://doi.org/10.1101/385120. URL PDF
2018
59. Dickie, I. A., Boyer, S., Buckley, H. , Duncan, R. P., Gardner, P. , Hogg, I. D., Holdaway, R. J., Lear, G. , Makiola, A. , Morales, S. E., Powell, J. R. and Weaver, L. (2018), Towards robust and repeatable sampling methods in eDNA based studies. Molecular Ecology Resources, 18: 940–952. URL PDF
58. Nboyine J.A., Boyer S., Saville D., Cruickshank R.H., Wratten S.D. Agro-ecological management of a soil-dwelling orthopteran pest in vineyards. Insect Science, 25 (3): 475-486 PDF URL
57. Lear G., Dickie I., Banks J., Boyer S., Buckley H.L., Buckley T.R., Cruickshank R., Dopheide A., Handley K.M., Hermans S., Kamke J., Lee C.K., MacDiarmid R., Morales S.E., Orlovich D.A., Smissen R., Wood J., Holdaway R. (2018) Methods for the Extraction, Storage, Amplification and Sequencing of DNA from Environmental Samples. New Zealand Journal of Ecology, 42: 10- . URL PDF
2017
56. Boyer S., Ikeda T., Lefort M.C., Malumbres-Olarte J., Schmidt J.M. (2017) Percentage-Based Author Contribution Index. A Universal Measure Of Author Contribution To Scientific Articles. Research Integrity and Peer Review, 2:18. URL PDF
55. Lefort M.-C., Wratten S.D.; Cusumano A., Varennes Y.-D. Boyer S. (2017) Disentangling higher trophic level interactions in the cabbage aphid food web using high-throughput DNA sequencing. Metabarcoding & Metagenomics, 1: e13709. URL PDF
54. González-Chang M., Boyer S., Creasy G.L., Lefort M.-C., Wratten S.D. (2017) Mussel shell mulch can increase vineyard sustainability by changing scarab pest behaviour. Agronomy for Sustainable Development, 37:42. URL PDF
53. Lefort M.-C., Boyer S., Glare T. (2017) A response to Pennisi - “How do gut microbiomes help herbivores”, a hint into next-generation biocontrol solutions. Rethinking Ecology, 1: 9-13. PDF URL
52. Olmos-Pérez L., Roura A., Pierce G.J., Boyer S., Gonzàlez A.F. (2017) Diet composition and variability of wild Octopus vulgaris and Alloteuthis media (Cephalopoda) paralarvae through a metagenomic lens. Frontiers in Physiology, 8: 321. PDF URL
51. Boyer S. (2017) Outside the tower: Nature’s treasure hunt. Science, 356 (6336), 387-387. PDF URL
50. González-Chang M., Boyer S., Lefort M.-C., Nboyine J.A., Wratten S.D. (2017) Ecological and pest-management implications of sex differences in scarab landing patterns on grape vines. PeerJ, 5, e3213. PDF URL
49. Kim Y.-N., Dickinson N., Bowies M., Robinson B., Boyer S. Molecular identification and distribution of native and exotic earthworms in New Zealand human-modified Soils. New Zealand Journal of Ecology, 41(2): 218-225. PDF URL
48. Kim Y.-N., Robinson B., Horswell J., Boyer S., Dickinson N. Biochemical impacts of endemic Maoridrilus earthworms (Megascolecidae) in biosolids-amended soil. Journal of Environmental Quality, 46, 177-184. PDF URL
47. Kim Y.-N., Robinson B., Lee K.-A., Boyer S., Dickinson N. Interactions between earthworm burrowing, growth of a leguminous shrub and nitrogen cycling in a former agricultural soil. Applied Soil Ecology, 110, 79–87. PDF URL
46. Greenslade P., Boyer S., Shields M., Wratten S.D. (2017) First record of a possible predatory collembolan species Dicyrtoma fusca in New Zealand. Austral Entomology, 56 (3) 332–338. PDF URL
45. Nboyine J.A., Saville D., Cruickshank R.H., Boyer S., Wratten S.D. (2017) When host-plant resistance to a pest leads to higher plant damage. Journal of Pest Science, 90: 173-182. PDF URL
2016
44. Boyer S., Lefort M.-C., Winder L (2016) Rethinking Ecology – Challenging Current Thinking in Ecological Research. Rethinking Ecology 1: 1-8. PDF URL
43. Sprague R., Boyer S., Stevenson G., Wratten S.D. (2016) Assessing pollinators’ use of floral resource subsidies in agri-environment schemes: An illustration using Phacelia tanacetifolia and honeybees. PeerJ, 4:e2677. PDF URL
42. Boyer S., Snyder W.E., Wratten S.D. (2016) Editorial: Molecular and isotopic approaches to food webs in agroecosystems. Food Webs, 9, 1-3. PDF URL
41. Boyer S., Kim Y.-N., Bowie M.H., Lefort M.-C., Dickinson N.M. (2016) Response of endemic and exotic earthworm communities to ecological restoration. Restoration Ecology, 24 (6), 717-721. PDF URL
40. Boyer S. (2016) Full speed ahead to the City on the Hill. Science, 352 (6288), 889. PDF URL
39. Sandhu H., Waterhouse B.R., Boyer S., Wratten S.D. (2016) Scarcity of ecosystem services: an experimental manipulation of declining pollination rates and its economic consequences for agriculture. PeerJ, 4:e2099. PDF URL
38. Gonzáles-Chang M.A.G, Wratten S.D., Lefort M.-C., Boyer S. (2016) Food webs and biological control. A review of molecular tools used to reveal trophic interactions in agricultural systems. Food Webs, 9, 4-11. PDF URL
37. Nboyine J.A., Boyer S., Saville D., Smith M.J., Wratten S.D. (2016) Ground weta in vines of the Awatere Valley, Marlborough: biology, density and distribution. New Zealand Journal of Zoology, 43 (4), 336-350. PDF URL
36. Boyer S., Case B.S., Lefort M.-C. Waterhouse B.R., Wratten S.D. (2016) Can ecosystem-scale translocations mitigate the impact of climate change on terrestrial biodiversity? Promises, pitfalls, and possibilities [version 1; referees: 2 approved]. F1000Research 2016, 5:146. PDF URL
35. Boyer S. (2016) NextGen Voices - How political priorities affect young scientists's ability to do and communicate science. Science, 352 (6268), 20-22. PDF URL
34. Varennes Y.-D., Chang M., Boyer S., Wratten S.D. (2016) Nectar feeding increases exploratory behaviour in the aphid parasitoid Diaeretiella rapae (McIntosh). Journal of Applied Entomology, 140, 479–483. PDF URL
33. Varennes Y.-D., Boyer S., Wratten S.D. (2016) Nectar from oilseed rape and floral subsidies enhances longevity of an aphid parasitoid more than does host honeydew. Biocontrol, 61 (6), 631-638. PDF URL
32. Bowie M.H., Black L., Boyer S., Dickinson N.M., Hodge S. (2016) Persistence of biodiversity in a dryland remnant within an intensified dairy farm landscape. New Zealand Journal of Ecology, 40 (1), 121-130. PDF URL
31. Smith C., Bowie M.H., Hahner J.L., Boyer S., Kim Y.-N., Zhong H.-T., Abbott M., Rhodes S.H., Sharp D., Dickinson N. (2016) Punakaiki Coastal Restoration Project: a case study for a consultative and multidisciplinary approach in selecting indicators of restoration success for a sand mining closure site, West Coast, New Zealand. CATENA, 136, 91–103. PDF URL
2015
30. Lefort M.-C., Boyer S., Vereijssen J., Sprague R., Glare T.R., Worner S.P.A (2015) Preference of a native beetle for "exoticism", characteristics that contribute to invasive success of Costelytra zealandica (Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae). PeerJ, 3, e1454. PDF URL
29. Kim Y.-N., Robinson B., Boyer S., Zhong H.-T., Dickinson N. (2015) Native, exotic and novel: earthworms, soils and plants in New Zealand’s production landscapes. Applied Soil Ecology, 96, 141-150. PDF URL
28. Boyer S., Cruickshank R.H., Wratten S.D. (2015) Faeces of generalist predators as ‘biodiversity capsules’: a new tool for biodiversity assessment in remote and inaccessible habitats. Food Webs, 3, 1-6. PDF URL
27. Lefort M.-C., Worner S.P., Rostas M., Vereijsen J., Boyer S. (2015) Responding positively to plant defences, a candidate key trait for invasion success in phytophagous insects. New Zealand Journal of Ecology, 39 (1), 128-132. PDF URL
2014
26. Boyer S. (2014) Fauna in decline: The community way. Science, 346, 821–821. PDF URL
25. Lefort M.-C., Brown S.D.J., Boyer S., Worner S.P., Armstrong K. (2014) The PGI enzyme system and fitness response to temperature as a measure of environmental tolerance in an invasive species. PeerJ, 2, e676. PDF URL
24. Waterhouse B., Adair K.L., Boyer S., Wratten S.D. (2014) Advanced mine restoration protocols facilitate early recovery of soil microbial biomass, activity and functional diversity. Basic and Applied Ecology. 15(7), 599-606. PDF URL
23. Waterhouse B., Boyer S., Adair K.L. Wratten S.D. (2014) Using municipal biosolids in ecological restoration: what is good for plants and soil may not be good for endemic earthworms. Ecological Engineering, 70, 414-421. PDF URL
22. Adair K., Wratten S.D., Barnes A.-M., Waterhouse B.R., Smith M., Lear G., Weber P., Pizey M., Boyer S. (2014) Effects of biosolids on biodiesel crop yield and belowground communities. Ecological Engineering, 68, 270-278. PDF URL
21. Waterhouse B., Boyer S., Wratten S.D. (2014) Pyrosequencing of prey DNA in faeces of carnivorous land snails to facilitate ecological restoration and relocation programmes. Oecologia. 175 (2), 737-746. PDF URL
20. Varennes Y.-D., Boyer S., Wratten S.D. (2014) Un-nesting DNA Russian dolls – the potential for rapid construction of food webs using residual DNA in empty aphid mummies. Molecular Ecology, 23 (15), 3925–3933. PDF URL
19. Lefort M.-C., Boyer S., De Romans S., Armstrong K. Glare T.R., Worner S.P. (2014) Invasion success of a scarab beetle within its native range: host range expansion versus host-shift? PeerJ, 2, e262. PDF URL
2013
18. Boyer S., Wratten S.D., Holyoake A., Abdelkrim J., Cruickshank R.H. (2013) Using next-generation sequencing to analyse the diet of a highly endangered land snail (Powelliphanta augusta) feeding on endemic earthworms. PLoS One, 8(9), e75962. PDF URL
17. Greenslade P., Boyer S., Wratten S. (2013). New records of springtails in New Zealand pasture: how well are our pastoral invertebrates known ? New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 56, 93–101. PDF URL
16. Versteirt V., Boyer S., Damiens D., De Clercq E.M., Dekoninck W., Ducheyne E., Grootaert P., Garros C., Hance T., Hendrickx G., Coosemans M., & Van Bortel W. (2013) Nationwide inventory of mosquito biodiversity (Diptera: Culicidae) in Belgium, Europe. Bulletin of entomological research, 103, 193–203. PDF URL
15. Lefort M.-C., Barrat B., Marris J., Boyer S. (2013) Combining molecular and morphological approaches to differentiate the pest Costelytra zealandica (White) (Coleoptera: Scarabeidae: Melolonthinae) from the non-pest Costelytra brunneum (Broun) at the larval stage. New Zealand Entomologist 36, 15-21. PDF URL
2012
14. Boyer S., Brown, S.D.J. Collins R.A., Cruickshank R.H., Lefort M.-C.D., Malumbres-Olarte J., Wratten S.D. (2012) Sliding window analyses for optimal selection of mini-barcodes, and application to 454-pyrosequencing for specimen identification from degraded DNA. PLOS One, 7(5), e38215. PDF URL
13. Brown S.D.J., Collins R.A, Boyer S., Lefort M.-C., Malumbres-Olarte J., Vink C.J., Cruickshank R.H. (2012) SPIDER: An R package for the analysis of species identity and evolution, with particular reference to DNA barcoding. Molecular Ecology Resources, 12(3), 562–565. PDF URL
12. Lefort M.-C., Boyer S., Worner S.P., Armstrong K. (2012) Noninvasive molecular methods to identify live scarab larvae: an example of sympatric pest and nonpest species in New Zealand. Molecular Ecology Resources, 12(3), 389–395. PDF URL
11. Boyer S., Blakemore R.J. Wratten S.D. (2011) An integrative taxonomic approach to the identification of three new New Zealand endemic earthworm species (Acanthodrilidae, Octochaetidae: Oligochaeta). Zootaxa, 2994, 21–32. PDF URL
10. Boyer S., Wratten S.D., Pizey M., Weber P. (2011) Impact of soil stockpiling and mining rehabilitation on earthworm communities. Pedobiologia, 54S, S99–S102. PDF URL
9. Boyer S., Yeates G.W., Wratten S.D., Holyoake A., Cruickshank R.H. (2011) Molecular and morphological analyses of faeces to investigate the diet of earthworm predators: Example of a carnivorous land snail endemic to New Zealand. Pedobiologia, 54S, S153–S158. PDF URL
2011
2010 and older
8. Boyer S., Wratten S.D. (2010) The potential of earthworms to restore ecosystem services after opencast mining - A review. Basic and Applied Ecology, 11: 196–203. PDF URL
7. Boyer S., Wratten S.D. (2010) Using molecular tools to identify New Zealand endemic earthworms in a mine restoration project. Zoology in the Middle East 49: S31–S40. PDF URL
6. Secondi J., Aumjaud A., Pays O., Boyer S., Montembeau D., Violleau D. (2007) Water Turbidity Affects the Development of Sexual Morphology in the Palmate Newt. Ethology 113: 711-720. PDF URL
5. Boyer S., Rivault, C. (2006) Impact of human activity on the distribution of native and non-native cockroach species (Dictyoptera) in La Réunion and Mayotte. Bulletin of Entomological Research, 96: 399–406. PDF URL
4. Boyer S., Rivault, C. (2006) Habitat selection and coexistence of cockroach species (Dictyoptera) in sugar-cane fields on Réunion Island. Acta Oecologica 29: 16-26. PDF URL
3. Boyer S., Rivault C. (2004) Interspecific competition for food and shelter in cockroaches. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 113: 15-23. PDF URL
2. Boyer S., Rivault C. (2004) Life history traits of cockroaches in sugar-cane fields in La Réunion (Blattodae: Blattellidae and Blaberidae). Oriental Insects 38: 373-388. PDF URL
1. Boyer S., Rivault C. (2003) La Réunion and Mayotte Cockroaches: impact of altitude and human activity. Comptes Rendus Biologie 326: 210-216. PDF URL
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