{"id":501,"date":"2016-09-27T15:47:43","date_gmt":"2016-09-27T15:47:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/fitness2.mythemecloud.io\/?page_id=501"},"modified":"2026-02-04T09:11:52","modified_gmt":"2026-02-04T08:11:52","slug":"research","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/thomasvignaud.com\/index.php\/research\/","title":{"rendered":"Research"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Scientific research has not always been my primary occupation. I spent several years working in the private sector, and later in fundraising and the management of large-scale sustainable development projects. Throughout that time, I remained closely connected to science, both in practice and in perspective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, my research focus is primarily on shark behavior<\/strong>. My PhD work centered on shark population genetics<\/strong>, and I have contributed to a range of ocean-oriented research projects, particularly in coral reef ecosystems, often in collaboration with other researchers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beyond species-focused research, I am interested in the development of projects related to rewilding, artificial reefs, and eco-conception<\/strong>, with a consistent interest in understanding and supporting the conditions that allow ecosystems to function at their full potential.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My research approach is grounded in field experience and long-term ecological thinking, with an emphasis on work that can inform both conservation and action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n
Above: some of my early work on sharks, mainly in the Pacific Ocean<\/em> (the tiger shark was found dead, I never killed any shark)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n
Above: example of Figures from my papers on sharks population genetics<\/em><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Fiji I created The Awakening Shark Dive, based on the concept I develop on the Serenity Project<\/a> and working together with The Barefoot Collection<\/a> from the island of Kuata<\/a>. I recently published an article on bull shark personalities<\/a>, and we are working with funds from EthoPredator<\/a> to grow this research to new level. One way to do this is by supervising Jan’s PhD<\/a> in a still ongoing success with many great results to be published soon. I also supervise other student’s work on other local projects such as coral or smaller sharks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am still the scientific and technical referent to everything that happens there underwater, from developing new techniques and equipment to adapting and improving everything we do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n
Above: Working with bull sharks in Fiji, focusing on their personalities and consequences to management<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In parallel I work with Blue Alliance, Marine Protected Areas<\/strong><\/a> as an advisor for research projects as well as for developing Eco-touristic approaches. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

More recently I worked on the island of Mayotte as the Director of Operation for the PI2M <\/a>project. We focus on sustainable development using tools such as research, innovation, and an extended network on both green and blue economy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n
Left: at the economic forum of Mayotte — Right: with the french ministry of oversea territories <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ResearchGate profile<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Papers:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 Bierwirth, J., Vignaud, T.<\/strong>, S\u00e9guigne, C., & Clua, E. (2025). Opportunities for science in touristic shark feeding aggregations – A review. Global Ecology and Conservation<\/em>, 62, e03690. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.gecco.2025.e03690<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 Clua, E. E. G., Vignaud, T.<\/strong>, & Wirsing, A. J. (2025). The Talion law \u201ctooth for a tooth\u201d: self-defense as a motivation for shark bites on human aggressors. Frontiers in Conservation Science<\/em>, 6, 1562502. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fcosc.2025.1562502<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 Clua, E. E. G., Meyer, C. G., Freeman, M., Baksay, S., Bidenbach, H., Haguenauer, A., Linnell, J. D. C., S\u00e9guigne, C., Surina, S., Vely, M., Vignaud, T.<\/strong>, & Planes, S. (2024). First evidence of individual sharks involved in multiple predatory bites on people. Conservation Letters<\/em>, e13067. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1111\/conl.13067<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

– Vignaud, T.<\/strong>, Meyer, C., S\u00e9guigne, C., Bierwirth, J., & Clua, E. (2023). Examining individual behavioural variation in wild adult bull sharks (Carcharhinus leucas<\/em>) suggests divergent personalities. Behaviour, 160(11-14), 1283-1301. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1163\/1568539X-bja10244<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– S\u00e9guigne, C., Vignaud, T.<\/strong>, Meyer, C., Bierwirth, J., & Clua, \u00c9. (2023). Evidence of long-lasting memory of a free-ranging top marine predator, the bull shark Carcharhinus leucas<\/em>. Behaviour<\/em>, 160<\/em>(11-14), 1303-1318. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1163\/1568539X-bja10240<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

– Lesturgie, P., Braun, C. D., Clua, E., Mourier, J., Thorrold, S. R., Vignaud, T<\/strong>., Planes, S., & Mona, S. (2023). Like a rolling stone: Colonization and migration dynamics of the gray reef shark (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos<\/em>). Ecology and Evolution<\/em>, 13, e9746. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/ece3.9746<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

– S\u00e9guigne, C., Mourier, J., Vignaud, T.<\/strong>, Buray, N., & Clua, \u00c9. (2022). Effects of a COVID-19 lockdown-induced pause and resumption of artificial provisioning on blacktip reef sharks (Carcharhinus melanopterus<\/em>) and pink whiprays (Pateobatis fai<\/em>) in French Polynesia (East-Pacific). Ethology<\/em>, 128, 119\u2013130. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1111\/eth.13246<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

– E. E. G. Clua, C. Meyer, J. Linnell, S. Baksay, A. Haguenauer, M. Vely, T. Vignaud<\/strong>, S. Planes. (2022) Using genetic profiling for short and long term improved and eco-responsible management of shark problem individuals. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.21203\/rs.3.rs-549718\/v3<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– Brunnschweiler, J. M., T. M. Vignaud<\/strong>, I. M. C\u00f4t\u00e9, and A., Maljkovi\u0107. 2020. The costs of cohabiting: the case of sharksuckers (Echeneis naucrates<\/em>) and their hosts at shark provisioning sites. Ecology<\/em>101(12):e03160. 10.1002\/ecy.3160<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

– Clua, E and Vignaud T. <\/strong>(2016) Possible collapse of reef shark populations in remote coral reef ecosystems <\/em><\/strong>in the Coral Sea (Western Pacific). Cybium <\/em>2016, 40(1): 51-59.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– Vignaud TM<\/strong>, Maynard JA, Leblois R, Meekan MG, V\u00e1zquez-Ju\u00e1rez R, Ram\u00edrez-Mac\u00edas D, Pierce SJ, Rowat D, Berumen ML, Beeravolu C, Baksay S, Planes S (2014) Genetic structure of populations of whale sharks among ocean basins and evidence for their historic rise and recent decline. Molecular Ecology, 23: 2590\u20132601. doi: 10.1111\/mec.12754

– Vignaud TM<\/strong>, Mourier J, Maynard JA, Leblois R, Spaet J, Clua E, Neglia V, Planes S (2014) Blacktip reef sharks, Carcharhinus melanopterus<\/em>, have high genetic structure and varying demographic histories in their Indo-Pacific range. Molecular Ecology, 23: 5193-5207. doi: 10.1111\/mec.12936<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– Vignaud TM<\/strong>, Clua E, Mourier J, Maynard J, Planes S (2013) Microsatellite Analyses of Blacktip Reef Sharks (Carcharhinus melanopterus<\/em>) in a Fragmented Environment Show Structured Clusters. PLoS ONE 8(4): e61067. doi:10.1371\/journal.pone.0061067<\/p>\n\n\n\n


<\/p>\n\n\n\n


<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Scientific research has not always been my primary occupation. I spent several years working in the private sector, and later in fundraising and the management of large-scale sustainable development projects. Throughout that time, I remained closely connected to science, both in practice and in perspective. Today, my research focus is primarily on shark behavior. My […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-501","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","entry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thomasvignaud.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/501","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thomasvignaud.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thomasvignaud.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thomasvignaud.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thomasvignaud.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=501"}],"version-history":[{"count":38,"href":"https:\/\/thomasvignaud.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/501\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1338,"href":"https:\/\/thomasvignaud.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/501\/revisions\/1338"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thomasvignaud.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=501"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}