
geraldine.garcia[at]univ-poitiers.fr
Main research question
Paleoherpetologist, my research activities have focused on the evolution of reptile fauna and their environments in deep times.
Topics of study
1/ The phylogeny of reptiles, including chelonians, based on the study of fossil assemblage in continental environments, particularly aquatics.
2/ The use of environmental proxy such as:
- the microstructure of amniotic eggshells with their ecological and biological implications
- the growth marks on ectotherm skeletal pieces (sclerochronology) in order to characterize the seasonality. This works integrate experimentation and is developed in collaboration with Olga Otero.
I also conduct projects on the scientific heritage based on the collections of the University, with a regional paleontological part.
Fieldworks
My study material is provided by field collections from numerous countries, particularly Ethiopia, Chad, Romania and I co-supervise field excavations in southern France and the region of La Nouvelle Aquitaine (Collab. Xavier Valentin).
Other responsibilities
Currently, supervision of the Bonaparte project in the CPER FEDER Insect (2015-2020) and coPI of the project 97 entitled “Biodiversity of the past in Vienne”, Fondation Lisea Biodiversité (2016-2020).
Find out more
The Valorisation of Scientific Collections Center at the University of Poitiers
The Velaux fossil site
Paleontological excavations
Testudo tortoise
Ventral plastron, Ravin de la Pluie site, Greece.