About

Regis Ferriere is an Associate Professor at the University of Arizona since 2012 and has held a position as Professor at the Ecole Normale Superieure in Paris since 2006. His educational background includes a B.S. and M.S. in Mathematics, an Agrégation in Mathematics, a Doctorate in Ecology, and an Habilitation in Ecology, all obtained in Paris. His research interests focus on the interplay of ecological and evolutionary processes, specifically how ecological interactions influence selection on individual traits and how adaptive traits evolution impacts population dynamics, community structure, diversity, and ecosystem function. Ferriere's work involves developing mathematical foundations of eco-evolutionary modeling, applying these theories to major questions in ecology and evolution—such as the evolution of cooperative interactions, life history evolution, and responses to environmental change—and connecting the theory to empirical systems. He is involved in the development of the CNRS-ENS Ecotron in Paris and collaborates with Biosphere 2 at the University of Arizona to promote large-scale experiments on complex ecological systems under controlled environmental conditions.

Research topics

• Biology
• Ecology
• Environmental science
• Meteorology
• Artificial Intelligence
• Astrobiology
• Computer Science
• Geography
• Geology
• Earth science
• Atmospheric sciences
• Computational biology
• Genetics
• Evolutionary biology
• Physics

Selected publications

• Bioverse: Potentially Observable Exoplanet Biosignature Patterns under the UV Threshold Hypothesis for the Origin of Life

  The Astrophysical Journal · 2025-06-24 · 1 citations

  articleOpen access

  Abstract A wide variety of scenarios for the origin of life have been proposed, with many influencing the prevalence and distribution of biosignatures across exoplanet populations. This relationship suggests these scenarios can be tested by predicting biosignature distributions and comparing them with empirical data. Here, we demonstrate this approach by focusing on the cyanosulfidic origins-of-life scenario and investigating the hypothesis that a minimum near-ultraviolet (NUV) flux is necessary for abiogenesis. Using Bayesian modeling and the Bioverse survey simulator, we constrain the probability of obtaining strong evidence for or against this “UV Threshold Hypothesis” with future biosignature surveys. Our results indicate that a correlation between past NUV flux and current biosignature occurrence is testable for sample sizes of ≳50 planets. The diagnostic power of such tests is critically sensitive to the intrinsic abiogenesis rate and host star properties, particularly maximum past NUV fluxes. Surveys targeting a wide range of fluxes, and planets orbiting M dwarfs enhance the chances of conclusive results, with sample sizes ≳100 providing ≳80% likelihood of strong evidence if abiogenesis rates are high and the required NUV fluxes are moderate. For required fluxes exceeding a few hundred erg s −1 cm −2 , both the fraction of inhabited planets and the diagnostic power sharply decrease. Our findings demonstrate the potential of exoplanet surveys to test origins-of-life hypotheses. Beyond specific scenarios, this work underscores the broader value of realistic survey simulations for future observatories (e.g., Habitable Worlds Observatory, LIFE, Extremely Large Telescopes, Nautilus) in identifying testable science questions, optimizing mission strategies, and advancing theoretical and experimental studies of abiogenesis.

  PublisherDOI

• Activation energies of both constructive and destructive cellular biochemistry determine maximum growth temperature in archaea

  Communications Biology · 2025-10-28 · 2 citations

  articleOpen access

  A conventional explanation for the existence of species-specific maximum growth temperature (MGT) is the occurrence of irreversible loss of essential cellular functions. Hence the hypothesis that the MGT is the thermal point at which cellular destructive processes outpace constructive processes. For a data-based assessment of this hypothesis, we develop a trait-based model of cellular growth in which key cellular traits are the activation energies of constructive and destructive processes. Using Bayesian inversion on growth curves of archaea, we infer trait values and map them to maximal growth temperatures. We identify the difference between those activation energies as a primary driver of variation in maximum growth temperature. The known yet unexplained correlation between maximal and optimal growth temperatures appears to be underpinned by a linear scaling of these activation energies. This scaling relationship points to the plausibility of adaptation to temperatures exceeding the currently known upper limit (110-120 °C) for microbial growth. Using Bayesian inversion on microbial growth curves, the difference between activation energies of molecular destructive and constructive processes is identified as the main driver of variations in the maximum growth temperature of archaeal cells.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Publisher Correction: Activation energies of both constructive and destructive cellular biochemistry determine maximum growth temperature in archaea

  Communications Biology · 2025-11-28

  articleOpen access
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Transient Behavior of the Second Fusillo Subscale Curved CCT Magnet

  IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity · 2025-02-11 · 2 citations

  articleOpen access

  The Fusillo project at CERN aims to design and build a demonstrator magnet with multi-harmonic corrected fields in a 90°, curved, Canted-Cosine-Theta magnet. Two subscale magnets are built with 30° bending, about 1/30 of the demonstrator conductor length, and increased current to reach coil stresses equivalent to those of the demonstrator. These magnets enable qualification of the technology developments, fabrication methods, winding and assembly procedures, magnetic and quench protection design and measurement setups. The second Fusillo subscale magnet had dedicated instrumentation, including temperature sensors, a heater on the aluminium formers, and a set of sensing coils positioned in the curved bore. The magnet voltage and current were also measured. A specific powering sequence was applied to the magnet, including forced energy extractions. The eddy currents and heat propagation in the formers and the windings are simulated in three dimensions. A cooperative simulation approach was used, which involves tools developed at CERN as part of the STEAM framework: FiQuS, a finite element-based tool, and LEDET, a finite difference-based tool. The measurement results are compared with simulations, and the key aspects of the magnet transient behaviour are discussed. The simulation model inputs are refined using the measurement results, and the methodology for doing this is presented.

  PublisherDOI

• A Terminology and Quantitative Framework for Assessing the Habitability of Solar System and Extraterrestrial Worlds

  The Planetary Science Journal · 2025-07-01 · 1 citations

  articleOpen access

  Abstract The search for extraterrestrial life in the solar system and beyond is a key science driver in astrobiology, planetary science, and astrophysics. A critical step is the identification and characterization of potential habitats, both to guide the search and to interpret its results. However, a well-accepted, self-consistent, flexible, and quantitative terminology and method of assessment of habitability are lacking. Our paper fills this gap based on a 3 yr long study by the NExSS Quantitative Habitability Science Working Group. We review past studies of habitability but find that the lack of a universally valid definition of life prohibits a universally applicable definition of habitability. A more nuanced approach is needed. We introduce a quantitative habitability assessment framework that enables self-consistent, probabilistic assessment of the compatibility of two models: first, a habitat model, which describes the probability distributions of key conditions in the habitat, and second, a viability model, which describes the probability that a metabolism is viable given a set of environmental conditions. We provide an open-source implementation of this framework and four examples as a proof of concept: (a) comparison of two exoplanets for observational target prioritization, (b) interpretation of atmospheric O 2 detection in two exoplanets, (c) subsurface habitability of Mars, and (d) ocean habitability in Europa. These examples demonstrate that our framework can self-consistently inform astrobiology research over a broad range of questions. The proposed framework is modular so that future work can expand the range and complexity of models available, both for habitats and for metabolisms.

  PublisherDOI

• Modulation statistics of natural soundscapes

  bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) · 2025-03-10 · 1 citations

  preprintOpen access

  Modulation statistics of “natural soundscapes” were estimated by calculating the modulation power spectrum (MPS) of a database of acoustic samples recorded in nine pristine terrestrial habitats for four moments of the day and two contrasting periods differing in precipitation level. Following Singh and Theunissen (2003), a set of statistics estimating low-pass quality, starriness, separability, asymmetry, modulation depth and temporal-modulation power-law relationships were calculated from the MPS of the samples and related to geographical, meteorological factors and diel variations. MPS were found to be generally low-pass in shape in the modulation domain, with most of their modulation power restricted to low temporal (<10-20 Hz) and spectral modulations (<0.5-1 cycles/kHz). Modulation statistics distinguished between habitats irrespective of moment of the day and precipitation period, with a greater role of Modulation depth and Starriness. Separability and Starriness were found to be related to the global biodiversity decrease from tropical to polar regions, suggesting that the lack of joint high spectral and fast temporal modulations, and MPS complexity are important features characterising “biophony”, the collective sound produced by animals in a given habitat. These findings may help guide research on monitoring auditory behaviors and underlying mechanisms expected to exploit regularities of natural scenes.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• A Terminology and Quantitative Framework for Assessing the Habitability of Solar System and Extraterrestrial Worlds

  ArXiv.org · 2025-05-28

  preprintOpen access

  The search for extraterrestrial life in the Solar System and beyond is a key science driver in astrobiology, planetary science, and astrophysics. A critical step is the identification and characterization of potential habitats, both to guide the search and to interpret its results. However, a well-accepted, self-consistent, flexible, and quantitative terminology and method of assessment of habitability are lacking. Our paper fills this gap based on a three year-long study by the NExSS Quantitative Habitability Science Working Group. We reviewed past studies of habitability, but find that the lack of a universally valid definition of life prohibits a universally applicable definition of habitability. A more nuanced approach is needed. We introduce a quantitative habitability assessment framework (QHF) that enables self-consistent, probabilistic assessment of the compatibility of two models: First, a habitat model, which describes the probability distributions of key conditions in the habitat. Second, a viability model, which describes the probability that a metabolism is viable given a set of environmental conditions. We provide an open-source implementation of this framework and four examples as a proof of concept: (a) Comparison of two exoplanets for observational target prioritization; (b) Interpretation of atmospheric O2 detection in two exoplanets; (c) Subsurface habitability of Mars; and (d) Ocean habitability in Europa. These examples demonstrate that our framework can self-consistently inform astrobiology research over a broad range of questions. The proposed framework is modular so that future work can expand the range and complexity of models available, both for habitats and for metabolisms.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Interior Convection Regime, Host Star Luminosity, and Predicted Atmospheric CO₂ Abundance in Terrestrial Exoplanets

  The Astronomical Journal · 2025-02-05 · 6 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Abstract Terrestrial planets in the habitable zone (HZ) of Sun-like stars are priority targets for detection and observation by the next generation of space telescopes. Earth's long-term habitability may have been tied to the geological carbon cycle, a process critically facilitated by plate tectonics. In the modern Earth, plate motion corresponds to a mantle convection regime called mobile lid. The alternate, stagnant-lid regime is found on Mars and Venus, which may have lacked strong enough weathering feedback to sustain surface liquid water over geological timescales if initially present. Constraining observational strategies able to infer the most common regime in terrestrial exoplanets requires quantitative predictions of the atmospheric composition of planets in either regime. We use end-member models of volcanic outgassing and crust weathering for the stagnant- and mobile-lid convection regimes, which we couple to models of atmospheric chemistry and climate and ocean chemistry to simulate the atmospheric evolution of these worlds in the HZ. In our simulations under the two alternate regimes, we find that the fraction of planets possessing climates consistent with surface liquid water is virtually the same. Despite this unexpected similarity, we predict that a mission capable of detecting atmospheric CO 2 abundance above 0.1 bar in 25 terrestrial exoplanets is extremely likely (≥95% of samples) to infer the dominant interior convection regime in that sample with strong evidence (10:1 odds). This offers guidance for the specifications of the Habitable Worlds Observatory NASA concept mission and other future missions capable of probing samples of habitable exoplanets.

  PublisherDOI

• Microbiome Adaptation Could Amplify Modeled Projections of Global Soil Carbon Loss With Climate Warming

  Global Change Biology · 2025-06-01 · 5 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Warming alters soil microbial traits through ecological and evolutionary processes, directly influencing the decomposition of organic matter, which significantly affects global soil carbon emissions. Yet, soil carbon models largely ignore these processes and their implications for global responses to warming. Here, we incorporate eco-evolutionary theory into a mechanistic model describing microbial soil carbon decomposition to address the question of whether such processes could have consequential effects on climate carbon feedbacks globally. We assume that a key trait of microbes, their resource allocation to production of exoenzymes (which facilitate decomposition of organic matter)-is optimized to environmental temperatures by natural selection. We find that eco-evolutionary optimization results in microbes allocating more resources to enzyme production under warming. When applied at the global scale, eco-evolutionary optimization enhances the biological realism of soil carbon models and significantly amplifies global soil carbon loss by 2100. Our results highlight the significant potential of microbial eco-evolutionary responses to influence carbon cycle feedbacks to climate change, and motivate an urgent need for more comprehensive data to accurately quantify the adaptive potential of microbiomes in response to climate change.

  PublisherDOI

• Quench Protection of the Fusillo Demonstrator Curved CCT Magnet

  IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity · 2025-02-07 · 3 citations

  articleOpen access

  A quench protection study was performed on the Fusillo Demonstrator Curved Canted Cosine Theta (CCCT) dipole magnet developed at CERN. This magnet features an aperture of 236 mm and a bending radius and angle of 1 m and 90 degrees, respectively. It has an inductance of 9.14 H, a peak winding field of 3.6 T and multi-harmonic aperture field correction. Ten turns of a rope cable made of Nb-Ti strands are placed in each channel of aluminium formers, which are surrounded by an aluminium shell. The aluminium structures not only support mechanical forces but also affect the quench behavior of the magnet. A discharge of the stored energy over an external resistor results in significant eddy current heating of the aluminium structures, which quickly brings a large part of the superconducting winding to the resistive state. A three-dimensional (3D) simulation of the eddy currents and heat propagation in the formers with heat propagation in the magnet windings was performed. It uses a cooperative simulation approach involving two software tools developed at CERN as part of the STEAM framework: a finite-element-based tool called FiQuS and a finite-difference-based tool called LEDET. FiQuS calculates the eddy currents and the temperature distribution of the formers, whereas LEDET calculates the current, voltage, and temperature of the windings. This approach enables a 3D quench simulation with great geometrical detail while maintaining reasonable computational cost. Energy extraction with a fixed resistor is studied, and key parameters of the discharge are calculated. The voltage of the magnet remains below the target specification of 1.5 kV, and the adiabatic hot spot temperature of the windings reaches 185 K. It is shown that the magnet differential inductance and winding resistance dominate the protection transient. The simulations provide great insights into the transient behaviour of the magnet, including the metal structures' temperature and the eddy currents' temporal and spatial distribution.

  PublisherDOI

Frequent coauthors

• Amaury Lambert

  Université Paris Sciences et Lettres

  112 shared

• Fanny Gascuel

  Institut de Biologie de l'École Normale Supérieure

  112 shared

• Robin Aguilée

  Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier

  108 shared

• Jean‐François Le Galliard

  Université Paris Sciences et Lettres

  98 shared

• Sylvie Méléard

  Centre de Mathématiques Appliquées

  71 shared

• Sylvain Billiard

  Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique

  59 shared

• Thomas N. Tully

  Louisiana State University

  51 shared

• Jean‐Baptiste André

  Institut Jean Nicod

  50 shared

Awards & honors

• 2013 Annual award from La Recherche popular science magazine…