Dr. Françoise Hennion - Ecobio - Université de Rennes 1

Dr. Françoise Hennion
Plant ecophysiologist and biochemist
Researcher, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
UMR 6553 ECOBIO, CNRS – Université de Rennes 1
Campus de Beaulieu; F- 35042 Rennes cedex, France
Tel: +33 (0)2 23 23 51 26; Fax: +33 (0)2 23 23 50 26
E-mail: Francoise.Hennion@univ-rennes1.fr
* 1964, France
1995 – Present: CNRS Researcher, in UMR ECOBIO, CNRS - Université de Rennes 1, France, Team
“Structure and Dynamics of Diversity”
Habilitation à Diriger des Recherches (2009) : Diversification of ecophysiological responses of plants to
climate change;
1993 – 1995 CNRS Engineer at Institut Polaire français (IPEV), Plouzané, France; in charge of the
recruitment of volunteer scientists, and of environmental management in french subantarctic islands
1992, 1993 Pre-doctoral and post-doctoral work at British Antarctic Survey, Cambridge, UK
1992 PhD at the Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France
Key words
Research topics: Responses of plants to abiotic or biotic environments; low temperature, salt, water; climatic
change. Variability and diversification of traits in environments. Biochemical stress markers (polyamines).
Methodological expertise: Biochemistry. Chromatography (HPLC). Field ecophysiological techniques. Plant
morphology. Monitoring of plant development in standard conditions: phytotrons, common gardens.
Funding
Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris (participation in PhD costs); British Council (1x); British Antarctic
Survey (2x); CNRS, France : 1- Zone-Atelier de Recherche sur l’Environnement Subantarctique et
Antarctique, 2- ATIP « Ecology of Diversification »; Institut Polaire français (IPEV, programmes 228, 340,
407, 136) ; Brittany Region (participation in « Glucorad » project).
Academic Teaching
Master 2 Whole-Plant Biology, National Agronomy Research Center (INRA) – Agrocampus -
University Rennes 1
Master 1 Functional, Behavioural, and Evolutionary Ecology, University Rennes 1
Academic services
Reviewing for Global Change Biology, Journal of Experimental Botany, Physiologia Plantarum, Canadian
Journal of Botany, Scientia Horticulturae, Polar Biology, European Journal of Phycology…
Responsibilities :
Research Unit Ecobio, Rennes :
Deputy-director of CNRS ATIP team “Ecology of Diversification”, 2006-2011
Deputy-director of team Physiology-Ecophysiology, 2000-2004

Elected member of Research Unit Consultative Council, 2000-2004, 2007-2011, and from 2012
Responsible for HPLC system
Regional :
Elected member in Special Committee for Health and Safety, CNRS, Région Bretagne, from 2000
National :
Elected member in Scientific Council of Ecology Department CNRS INEE, 2006-2010
Main research programmes
- French Polar Institute (IPEV) :
1995-2013, «Climate change, human activities and biodiversity in subantarctic terrestrial ecosystems
(ECOBIO)», Heads Y. Frenot (1995-2002), M. Lebouvier (2002-2013);
2003-2004, « RiSCC 4-islands », Head F. Hennion
1999-2003, « Ecophysiology of Kerguelen Cabbage », Head R. Douce;
1989-1992, “Plant Biology”, Head H. Couderc
Seven field surveys on subantarctic Kerguelen islands
Involved in Programmes of Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) :
“Regional Sensitivity to Climate Change in Antarctic Terrestrial and Limnetic Ecosystems (RiSCC)”
2000-2005; “Evolution and Biodiversity in the Antarctic” (EBA), from 2005
- Région Bretagne : 2005-2008, Programme de Recherche d’Intérêt Régional (PRIR) : propriétés
biologiques des glucosinolates à l’égard des radiations ionisantes, Head C. Chenal
Students
PhD students
Marie HERMANT, 2007-2011, PhD at Rennes 1 University, PhD grant from the Ministry, co-supervision 50%
with Pr. A. Prinzing, « Variation of traits along environmental gradients: role of phenotypic integration and
variability within clades »; passed with the highest level of distinction on 07 th February 2011
Irène HUMMEL, 2000-2004, PhD at Rennes 1 University, co-supervision with Pr. I. Couée and Dr. A. El
Amrani. « Polyamine involvement in early seedling development under environmental stresses in the
endemic subantarctic crucifer Pringlea antiscorbutica and in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana.
Submitted January 2004.
Laetitia GICQUIAUD, 1998-2002, PhD at Rennes 1 University, co-supervision with Dr. M-A. Esnault,
« Ecological amplitude and metabolic plasticity (antioxidative enzymes and amines) : comparison of four
genetically close species (Bromus sect. Genea, Poaceae) ».
Undergraduate students
Soukaïnatou AIDARA, October 2011, contract; “Quantitation of free amines in Dactylis glomerata by HPLC”.
Eléonore CRUNCHANT, March-April 2011, contract; “Microevolutionary diversification of amine composition
in Dactylis glomerata : influence of species diversity and phylogenetic proximity of the surrounding plant
community”.
Soukaïnatou AIDARA, April-June 2010, Master 1 in Biochemistry, University Rennes 1, “Characterization of
biochemical phenotypes in plants in relation with genetic origin and environment”.
Mohammed EL DIKA, June-August 2009, contract; “Flexibility of biochemical phenotypes (amines and
polyamines) in subantarctic plant species along abiotic gradients” (16 species).
Hicham HOUHOU, April-June 2009, Master 1 in Biochemistry of University Rennes 1, “Characterization of
biochemical phenotypes (amines and polyamines) in nine subantarctic plant species”. Rank 13/20.
Guillaume LANNUZEL & Fabien LE NOUVEL, 2008, “Characterization of 18 subantarctic plant species:
typology of traits and preparation of protocols for the field study”. Licence 3 Biology, Plant Sciences,
University Rennes 1.

Thomas JENKINS, April-June 2006, Master 1 in Organism and Population Biology of University Rennes 1,
co-supervision 70% with Pr. A. Prinzing, « Characterization of life history traits (height and phenology)
and of biochemical phenotypes (amines and polyamines) in nine subantarctic plant species along abiotic
gradients and under climate change ». Rank : 13.5/20.
Benjamin TORWESTEN, April-June 2006, Professional Master 1 of University Rennes 1 – Higher School of
Agronomy at Rennes, co-supervision 70% with Pr. A. Bouchereau, « Phytochemical profiles (polyamines)
of phylogenetically diverse plant taxa (9 species) within a subantarctic island ».
Mathieu CINIER, March-July 2005, Master 1 in Biochemistry of University Rennes 1, co-supervision with Pr.
A. Bouchereau. “Improvement of chromatographic analysis of plant polyamines”. Rank : 13/20.
Khadidja HENNI, 2003-2004, DEA of Genetics, Adaptations and Plant Productions of University Rennes 1 –
Higher School of Agronomy at Rennes, co-supervision with Pr. C. Chenal and Dr. M.-A. Esnault.
«Response of Pisum sativum to radio-induced stress due to Xrays external irradiation». Rank : 12/20.
Gaëlle EMBS, 2003-2004, DEA of Eco-ethology of University Rennes 1, co-supervision with Dr. P. Vernon.
« Physiological and biochemical characterization of the subantarctic crucifer Pringlea antiscorbutica and
its host Diptera, Calycopteryx moseleyi ». Rank : middle, with 15/20.
Irène HUMMEL, 1999-2000, DEA of Eco-ethology of University Rennes 1, co-supervision with Pr. I. Couée.
« Polyamine involvement in seedling developmental plasticity in the endemic subantarctic
crucifer Pringlea antiscorbutica». First in rank ; PhD grant from the Ministry.
Manuel DUFEU, 1998-1999, DEA of Genetics, Adaptations and Plant Productions of University Rennes 1 –
Higher School of Agronomy at Rennes, co-supervision with Dr. J. Martin-Tanguy, "Polyamine and
aromatic amine metabolism in the Brassicaceae Pringlea antiscorbutica : seed viability, germination and
early seedling development in relation with temperature".
From 2000 : Field Scientist Volunteers working for our IPEV programmes, training for these one-year
contractants to work as research assistants in the field at îles Kerguelen and Crozet ; protocoles for
biochemical sampling and extractions, and monitoring of plant growth and reproduction
Book chapters
Hennion F., Huiskes A., Robinson S. & Convey, P. 2006. Physiological traits of organisms in a changing
environment. In : Bergstrom D., Huiskes A., Convey P. (eds) Trends in Antarctic Terrestrial and
Limnetic Ecosytems: Antarctica as a Global Indicator. Springer, Dordrecht, The Netherlands, pp. 129-
159
Bergstrom D.M., Frenot Y. & Hennion F. (2004) 6.2. Phenology and reproduction. In : Huiskes A., Quesada
A., Gremmen N. (eds) RiSCC Manual, version 2.0, 184 p., 11 annexes. p. 68-69.
Bergstrom D.M., Frenot Y. & Hennion F. (2004) 6.3. Morphometry. In : Huiskes A., Quesada A., Gremmen N.
(eds) RiSCC Manual, version 2.0, 184 p., 11 annexes. p. 70-71.
Hennion F. & Robinson S. (2004) 6.4. Sampling for biochemical and genetic studies. In : Huiskes A.,
Quesada A., Gremmen N. (eds) RiSCC Manual, version 2.0, 184 p., 11 annexes. p. 73 et annexe 8.
Major publications
Bartish IV., Aïnouche A., Dongrui J., Bergstrom D., Chown S., Winkworth R. & Hennion F. Phylogeny and
colonization history of Pringlea antiscorbutica (Brassicaceae), an emblematic endemic from the South
Indian Ocean Province. Molecular Phylogenetics & Evolution, accepted
Ozinga W., Colles A., Bartish I., Hennion F., Hennekens S., Pavoine S., Poschlod P., Hermant M.,
Schaminée J. & Prinzing A. Specialists leave fewer descendants within a region than generalists.
Global Ecology and Biogeography, in press
Hermant M., Hennion F., Bartish IV., Yguel B. & Prinzing A. Disparate relatives: Life histories vary more in
genera occupying intermediate environments. Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and
Systematics, available online 8 March 2012 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ppees.2012.02.001

Hennion F., Bouchereau A., Gauthier C., Hermant M., Vernon P. & Prinzing A. 2012. Variation in amine
composition in plant species: how it integrates macroevolutionary and environmental signals. American
Journal of Botany, 99: 36-45
Bartish I.V., Hennekens S., Aidoud A., Hennion F. & Prinzing A. 2010. Species pools along contemporary
environmental gradients represent different levels of diversification. Journal of Biogeography, 37(12),
2317-2331
Wagstaff S.J. & Hennion F. 2007. Evolution and biogeography of Lyallia and Hectorella (Portulacaceae),
geographically isolated sisters from the Southern Hemisphere. Antarctic Science, 19: 417-426.
Schermann-Legionnet A., Hennion F., Vernon P. & Atlan A-G. 2007. Breeding system of the subantarctic
plant species Pringlea antiscorbutica R. Br. and search for potential insect pollinators in the Kerguelen
Islands. Polar Biology, 30: 1183-1193.
Hennion F., Frenot Y. & Martin-Tanguy J. 2006. High flexibility in growth and polyamine composition of the
crucifer Pringlea antiscorbutica in relation to environmental conditions. Physiologia Plantarum, 127:
212-224.
Barillari, J., Iori, R., Rollin, P. & Hennion, F. 2005. Glucosinolates in the subantarctic crucifer Kerguelen
cabbage (Pringlea antiscorbutica). Journal of Natural Products, 68, 234-236.
Hummel, I., El Amrani, A., Gouesbet, G., Hennion, F. & Couée, I. 2004. Involvement of polyamines in the
interacting effects of low temperature and mineral supply on Pringlea antiscorbutica (Kerguelen
cabbage) seedlings. Journal of Experimental Botany, 55, 1125-1134.
Hummel, I., Quemmerais, F., Gouesbet, G., El Amrani, A., Frenot, Y., Hennion, F. & Couée, I. 2004.
Characterization of environmental stress responses during early development of Pringlea
antiscorbutica in the field at Kerguelen. New Phytologist, 162, 705-715.
Dufeu, M., Martin-Tanguy, J. & Hennion, F. 2003. Temperature-dependent changes of amine levels during
early seedling development of the cold-adapted subantarctic crucifer Pringlea antiscorbutica.
Physiologia Plantarum, 118, 164-172.
Hummel, I., Couée, I., El Amrani, A., Martin-Tanguy, J. & Hennion, F. 2002. Involvement of polyamines in
root development at low temperature in the subantarctic cruciferous species Pringlea antiscorbutica.
Journal of Experimental Botany, 53, 1463-1473.
Gicquiaud, L., Hennion, F. & Esnault, M-A. 2002. Physiological comparisons among four related Bromus
species with varying ecological amplitude: polyamine and aromatic amine composition in response to
salt spray and drought. Plant Biology, 4, 746-753.
Hennion, F. & Martin-Tanguy, J. 2000. Amines of the subantarctic crucifer Pringlea antiscorbutica are
responsive to temperature conditions. Physiologia Plantarum, 109, 232-243.
Hennion, F. & Martin-Tanguy, J. 1999. Amine distribution and content in several parts of the subantarctic
endemic species Lyallia kerguelensis (Hectorellaceae). Phytochemistry, 52, 247-251.
Aubert, S., Hennion, F., Bouchereau, A., Gout, E., Bligny, R. & Dorne, A-J. 1999. Subcellular
compartmentation of proline in the leaves of the subantarctic Kerguelen cabbage Pringlea
antiscorbutica R. Br. In vivo 13 C-NMR study. Plant, Cell and Environment, 22, 255-260.
Hennion, F. & Bouchereau, A. 1998. Accumulation of organic and inorganic solutes in the subantarctic
Cruciferous species Pringlea antiscorbutica in response to saline and cold stresses. Polar Biology, 20,
281-291.
Hennion, F. & Walton, D.W.H. 1997a. Seed germination of endemic species from Kerguelen
phytogeographic zone. Polar Biology, 17, 180-187.
Hennion, F. & Walton, D.W.H. 1997b. Ecology and seed morphology of endemic species from Kerguelen
phytogeographic zone. Polar Biology, 18, 229-235.
Hennion, F., Fiasson, J-L. & Gluchoff-Fiasson, K. 1994. Morphological and phytochemical relationships
between Ranunculus species from Iles Kerguelen. Biochemical Systematics and Ecology, 22, 533-42.