Gontran Sonet

Gontran Sonet is a molecular biologist interested in evolution and biodiversity. His research focuses on the use of DNA and natural history collections to study species diversification, unknown fauna and historical animal populations. He studied molecular biology and environmental science at ULB.

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Function

Gontran is a research assistant at the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (RBINS) since 2007. As a member of the JEMU team since its creation, he collaborates with biologists of the RBINS and the Royal Museum for Central Africa (RMCA) by providing molecular tools such as DNA-based species identification (DNA barcoding), evolutionary history reconstruction or genomics analyses to address applied and fundamental scientific questions related to the use and the development of taxonomy.

Research team: JEMU (Joint Experimental Unit)
Research theme: Evolution and the Web of Life
                                      Biodiversity in a changing world
                                      Past interactions between humans and Nature

Current Project(s)

JEMU constitutes an integrated research infrastructure that shares expertise, lab facilities and research projects across both institutes (RBINS and RMCA)

Current projects managed by JEMU include:
- ISeBAF - Insect Service and Biodiversity in Agroecological Farming (partner)
- LAST - Last Aurochs STanding. On the trail of Bos primigenius on its way out of Belgium (co-promotor)
- Development of the biobank of the RBINS (coordinator)
- PPMATS - Phylogeny and Plant secondary Metabolites of Athalia and other Tenthredinid Sawflies (collaborator)

Area of Expertise

DNA-based species identification and delimitation, DNA barcoding
Evolutionary history reconstructions (molecular systematics and phylogenomics)
Ancient DNA analysis (DNA extraction and sequencing from ancient specimens, paleogenomics)

External activities

Member of the:

Global Genome Biodiversity Network (GGBN)
Belgian network of DNA barcoding
International Barcode of Life Consortium
DNA working group of DiSSCo Flanders

Professional Experience

Besides his research activities, Gontran contributes to the management of the laboratory for molecular systematics of RBINS, hosts visiting researchers in the laboratory in the framework of the Global Taxonomy initiative (GTI), and supervises Master theses and student trainings. Gontran was also awarded for the discovery of a "Top 10 New Species" in 2011 for the description, with Colyn et al., of the duiker Philantomba walteri.

Dissemination activities

Gontran (co-)authored more than 40 scientific publications with impact factor, 2 book chapters, >70 communications in international scientific conferences and >20 conferences, guided tours and workshops for the general public.

Publication highlights

- Developing the Protocol Infrastructure for DNA Sequencing Natural History Collections, 2023, Ferrari G., Esselens L., Hart M., Janssens S., Kidner C., Mascarello M., Peñalba J., Pezzini F., von Rintelen T., Sonet G., Vangestel C., Virgilio M., Hollingsworth P., Biodiversity Data Journal, 11, e102317

- DNA barcoding echinoderms from the East Coast of South Africa. The challenge to maintain DNA data connected with taxonomy, 2022, Sonet G., Smitz N., Vangestel C., Samyn Y., PLoS ONE, 17, e0270321

- Tracking the origin of worked elephant ivory of a medieval chess piece from Belgium through analysis of ancient DNA, 2022, Goffette Q., Gonzalez N.Suarez, Vanmechelen R., Verheyen E., Sonet G., International Journal of Osteoarchaeology, 32, 38 – 48

- A masculinizing supergene underlies an exaggerated male reproductive morph in a spider, 2022, Hendrickx F., De Corte Z., Sonet G., Van Belleghem S.M., Köstlbacher S., Vangestel C., Nature Ecology & Evolution, 6, 195 – 206

- DNA barcoding fishes from the Congo and the Lower Guinean provinces: assembling a reference library for poorly inventoried fauna, 2019, Sonet G., Snoeks J., Nagy Z.T., Vreven E., Boden G., Breman F.C., Decru E., Hanssens M., Zamba A.Ibala, Jordaens K., Mamonekene V., Musschoot T., Van Houdt J., Van Steenberge M., Wamuini S.Lunkayilak, Verheyen E., Molecular Ecology Resources, 19, 728 – 743