Field Museum of Natural History

With a background in ecological sciences, Opale Coutant specializes in community ecology and biodiversity modeling. Her research focuses on how human activities alter the ecological processes that shape species diversity across space and time. She studies these dynamics in tropical forest and freshwater ecosystems, particularly in French Guiana—an area increasingly impacted by gold mining. To address these questions, Opale uses aquatic environmental DNA, a tool well-suited for monitoring biodiversity in remote, species-rich habitats. In the context of nature anthropization, she is also interested in socioecological approaches that explore human–nature relationships and how local populations experience and adapt to biodiversity change.

Project Summary

From Seasonal Biodiversity Distribution Patterns to Local Ecological Knowledge: A Multiscale Investigation to Enhance Freshwater Conservation Planning in Guyana

The Guiana Shield in northeast Amazonia is home to some of the world’s most pristine tropical ecosystems, yet it faces escalating threats from human activities. This project builds on a rapid biodiversity survey in Guyana, aimed at supporting the establishment of a protected area in the Rupununi region. Using environmental DNA and a metacommunity approach, I will investigate how human activities impact fish communities, identify the most vulnerable species and their ecological roles, and provide actionable recommendations for biodiversity conservation. Additionally, I aim to develop a socioecological approach in collaboration with local communities, to integrate local ecological knowledge into biodiversity conservation decision-making.