Thierry Lodé
Encyclopedia
Thierry Lodé is a French biologist and professor who teaches evolutionary ecology
in the CNRS Units ETHOS (Ethology, Evolution, Ecology, University of Rennes 1
, France). As vice president of council for natural and biodiversity
preservation, Lodé contributes in conservation biology
, chiefly carnivores (otter
s, polecat, mink
) and aquatic fauna (beaver
, amphibians).
His work deals mainly with sexual conflict
, stressing that sexuality appears as a confrontation between males and females. "No norms, he said, no exclusive behaviors exist in natural sexuality but variations of sexual behaviors, from homosexuality
to polygyny
". Resulting in an antagonistic co-evolution, the sexual conflict leads to speciation
i.e., the development of new species.
Lodé wrote more than 80 international scientific papers (in English) and four books.
as a result of the supra-normal stimulus in evolution
and built a theory including bilateral symmetry and supra-normal stimulus from the concept developed by Lorenz
. Lodé said that bilateral symmetry
is an essential characters in life. Most animals prefer to mate with sexual partners exhibiting symmetric pattern. Actually, symmetric traits are largely altered by growth and health, and asymmetry often reveals genetic problem or immune system
(MHC) deficiencies.
Besides, the French kiss
consists in a saliva
exchange resulting from the exploration of the sexual partner’s immune responses (MHC
). He stresses that the divergences which occur resulting from the conflict could lead to sympatric speciation
. Arguing that evolution is a historic process for adaptation
, he opposes creationism
, including intelligent design
. Finally, analyzing numerous animal strategies, Thierry Lodé denies some major genetic explications in sociobiology
and behavioral ecology
, especially regarding kin selection
, homosexuality
and sympatric speciation
.
Thierry Lodé proposed that the sexual conflict
, as a new paradigm in evolutionary biology, provides valuable information that refutes most of common places arguments for theories of preference in sexual selection.
biology. Thierry Lodé championed also several human rights causes, especially as an anarchist, prison abolition. He developed activities for the liberty of the contraception
, asserting that he is against the institution of the marriage
, for the equality between sexes and for a sexuality stamping contemporary taboos. He supported José Bové
to the last French presidential elections and collaborates to the monthly Le Monde libertaire and to the anarchist newspaper l’Endehors.
Evolutionary ecology
Evolutionary ecology lies at the intersection of ecology and evolutionary biology. It approaches the study of ecology in a way that explicitly considers the evolutionary histories of species and the interactions between them. Conversely, it can be seen as an approach to the study of evolution that...
in the CNRS Units ETHOS (Ethology, Evolution, Ecology, University of Rennes 1
University of Rennes 1
The University of Rennes 1 is one of the two main universities in the city of Rennes, France. It is under the Academy of Rennes. It specializes in science, technology, law, economy, management and philosophy. The University of Rennes 1 has been in existence since 1969, but its heritage stems back...
, France). As vice president of council for natural and biodiversity
Biodiversity
Biodiversity is the degree of variation of life forms within a given ecosystem, biome, or an entire planet. Biodiversity is a measure of the health of ecosystems. Biodiversity is in part a function of climate. In terrestrial habitats, tropical regions are typically rich whereas polar regions...
preservation, Lodé contributes in conservation biology
Conservation biology
Conservation biology is the scientific study of the nature and status of Earth's biodiversity with the aim of protecting species, their habitats, and ecosystems from excessive rates of extinction...
, chiefly carnivores (otter
Otter
The Otters are twelve species of semi-aquatic mammals which feed on fish and shellfish, and also other invertebrates, amphibians, birds and small mammals....
s, polecat, mink
Mink
There are two living species referred to as "mink": the European Mink and the American Mink. The extinct Sea Mink is related to the American Mink, but was much larger. All three species are dark-colored, semi-aquatic, carnivorous mammals of the family Mustelidae, which also includes the weasels and...
) and aquatic fauna (beaver
Beaver
The beaver is a primarily nocturnal, large, semi-aquatic rodent. Castor includes two extant species, North American Beaver and Eurasian Beaver . Beavers are known for building dams, canals, and lodges . They are the second-largest rodent in the world...
, amphibians).
His work deals mainly with sexual conflict
Sexual conflict
Sexual conflict occurs when the two sexes have conflicting optimal fitness strategies concerning reproduction, particularly the mode and frequency of mating, leading to an evolutionary arms race between males and females. The conflict encompasses the actions and behaviors of both sexes to influence...
, stressing that sexuality appears as a confrontation between males and females. "No norms, he said, no exclusive behaviors exist in natural sexuality but variations of sexual behaviors, from homosexuality
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
to polygyny
Polygyny
Polygyny is a form of marriage in which a man has two or more wives at the same time. In countries where the practice is illegal, the man is referred to as a bigamist or a polygamist...
". Resulting in an antagonistic co-evolution, the sexual conflict leads to speciation
Speciation
Speciation is the evolutionary process by which new biological species arise. The biologist Orator F. Cook seems to have been the first to coin the term 'speciation' for the splitting of lineages or 'cladogenesis,' as opposed to 'anagenesis' or 'phyletic evolution' occurring within lineages...
i.e., the development of new species.
Lodé wrote more than 80 international scientific papers (in English) and four books.
Scientific conceptions
Thierry Lodé analysed the beautyBeauty
Beauty is a characteristic of a person, animal, place, object, or idea that provides a perceptual experience of pleasure, meaning, or satisfaction. Beauty is studied as part of aesthetics, sociology, social psychology, and culture...
as a result of the supra-normal stimulus in evolution
Evolution
Evolution is any change across successive generations in the heritable characteristics of biological populations. Evolutionary processes give rise to diversity at every level of biological organisation, including species, individual organisms and molecules such as DNA and proteins.Life on Earth...
and built a theory including bilateral symmetry and supra-normal stimulus from the concept developed by Lorenz
Lorenz
Lorenz is an originally German name derived from the Roman surname, Laurentius, which mean "from Laurentum".Lorenz may refer to:-Music:* Christian "Flake" Lorenz, a German musician...
. Lodé said that bilateral symmetry
Symmetry
Symmetry generally conveys two primary meanings. The first is an imprecise sense of harmonious or aesthetically pleasing proportionality and balance; such that it reflects beauty or perfection...
is an essential characters in life. Most animals prefer to mate with sexual partners exhibiting symmetric pattern. Actually, symmetric traits are largely altered by growth and health, and asymmetry often reveals genetic problem or immune system
Immune system
An immune system is a system of biological structures and processes within an organism that protects against disease by identifying and killing pathogens and tumor cells. It detects a wide variety of agents, from viruses to parasitic worms, and needs to distinguish them from the organism's own...
(MHC) deficiencies.
Besides, the French kiss
French kiss
A French kiss is a kiss in which one participant's tongue touches the partner's lips or tongue and usually enters his or her mouth. A French kiss is a slow passionate kiss which is usually considered intimate, romantic, erotic or sexual...
consists in a saliva
Saliva
Saliva , referred to in various contexts as spit, spittle, drivel, drool, or slobber, is the watery substance produced in the mouths of humans and most other animals. Saliva is a component of oral fluid. In mammals, saliva is produced in and secreted from the three pairs of major salivary glands,...
exchange resulting from the exploration of the sexual partner’s immune responses (MHC
MHC
-Biology:*Myosin heavy chain - part of the motor protein myosin's quaternary protein structure*Major histocompatibility complex - a highly polymorphic region on chromosome 6 with genes particularly involved in immune functions-Colleges:...
). He stresses that the divergences which occur resulting from the conflict could lead to sympatric speciation
Sympatric speciation
Sympatric speciation is the process through which new species evolve from a single ancestral species while inhabiting the same geographic region. In evolutionary biology and biogeography, sympatric and sympatry are terms referring to organisms whose ranges overlap or are even identical, so that...
. Arguing that evolution is a historic process for adaptation
Adaptation
An adaptation in biology is a trait with a current functional role in the life history of an organism that is maintained and evolved by means of natural selection. An adaptation refers to both the current state of being adapted and to the dynamic evolutionary process that leads to the adaptation....
, he opposes creationism
Creationism
Creationism is the religious beliefthat humanity, life, the Earth, and the universe are the creation of a supernatural being, most often referring to the Abrahamic god. As science developed from the 18th century onwards, various views developed which aimed to reconcile science with the Genesis...
, including intelligent design
Intelligent design
Intelligent design is the proposition that "certain features of the universe and of living things are best explained by an intelligent cause, not an undirected process such as natural selection." It is a form of creationism and a contemporary adaptation of the traditional teleological argument for...
. Finally, analyzing numerous animal strategies, Thierry Lodé denies some major genetic explications in sociobiology
Sociobiology
Sociobiology is a field of scientific study which is based on the assumption that social behavior has resulted from evolution and attempts to explain and examine social behavior within that context. Often considered a branch of biology and sociology, it also draws from ethology, anthropology,...
and behavioral ecology
Behavioral ecology
Behavioral ecology, or ethoecology, is the study of the ecological and evolutionary basis for animal behavior, and the roles of behavior in enabling an animal to adapt to its environment...
, especially regarding kin selection
Kin selection
Kin selection refers to apparent strategies in evolution that favor the reproductive success of an organism's relatives, even at a cost to the organism's own survival and reproduction. Charles Darwin was the first to discuss the concept of group/kin selection...
, homosexuality
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
and sympatric speciation
Sympatric speciation
Sympatric speciation is the process through which new species evolve from a single ancestral species while inhabiting the same geographic region. In evolutionary biology and biogeography, sympatric and sympatry are terms referring to organisms whose ranges overlap or are even identical, so that...
.
Thierry Lodé proposed that the sexual conflict
Sexual conflict
Sexual conflict occurs when the two sexes have conflicting optimal fitness strategies concerning reproduction, particularly the mode and frequency of mating, leading to an evolutionary arms race between males and females. The conflict encompasses the actions and behaviors of both sexes to influence...
, as a new paradigm in evolutionary biology, provides valuable information that refutes most of common places arguments for theories of preference in sexual selection.
Social engagement
Thierry Lodé is a nonconformist biologist, engaged in social struggles and extolling a libertarianLibertarian
Libertarian may refer to:*A proponent of libertarianism, a political philosophy that upholds individual liberty, especially freedom of expression and action*A member of a libertarian political party; including:**Libertarian Party...
biology. Thierry Lodé championed also several human rights causes, especially as an anarchist, prison abolition. He developed activities for the liberty of the contraception
Contraception
Contraception is the prevention of the fusion of gametes during or after sexual activity. The term contraception is a contraction of contra, which means against, and the word conception, meaning fertilization...
, asserting that he is against the institution of the marriage
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
, for the equality between sexes and for a sexuality stamping contemporary taboos. He supported José Bové
José Bové
Joseph Bové is a French farmer and syndicalist, member of the alter-globalization movement, and spokesman for Via Campesina. He was one of the twelve official candidates in the 2007 French presidential election...
to the last French presidential elections and collaborates to the monthly Le Monde libertaire and to the anarchist newspaper l’Endehors.
Books
- Thierry Lodé "La biodiversité amoureuse, sexe et évolution" 2011 Eds Odile Jacob ISBN 978-2-7381-2640-5
- Thierry Lodé "La guerre des sexes chez les animaux, une histoire naturelle de la sexualité" 2006 Eds Odile Jacob ISBN 2-7381-1901-8 (Preface by Patricia Adair Gowaty, Distinguished Research Professor Odum School of Ecology University of Georgia.)
- Thierry Lodé "Les stratégies de reproduction des animaux" 2001 Éditions Dunod Masson Sciences
- Thierry Lodé "Génétique des populations" 1998 Editions Ellipses
External links
- CNRS Three questions to Thierry Lodé
- Animal ecology and polecat project
- EnDehorsEnDehorsL'EnDehors is a French individualist anarchist newspaper, created by Zo d'Axa in 1891.Numerous activists contributed to the paper, including Jean Grave, Bernard Lazare, Albert Libertad, Octave Mirbeau, Saint-Pol-Roux, Tristan Bernard, Georges Darien, Lucien Descaves, Sébastien Faure, Félix Fénéon,...
Texts by Thierry Lodé - A paper in the famous French Hebdo Marianne
- Le Monde libertaire
- Las siete virtudes del amor libre