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  • People +
    • Bjarni Kristófer Kristjánsson
    • Camille A. Leblanc
    • David Benhaim
    • Skúli Skúlason
    • Stefán Óli Steingrímsson
  • Education
    • MARBIO
  • Research +
    • Biodiversity lab >
      • ECO-EVO-DEVO
      • Evolution of cognition: A study of sympatric morphs of Arctic charr
      • Microevolutionary processes in small populations
      • The importance of egg size for phenotypic variations and divergence in wild populations
    • Aquaculture lab >
      • Egg quality and growth in selected Arctic charr
      • Enhanced Soy Protein for Salmonid Aquafeeds
      • Breeding program
    • Research policy >
      • Research Policy of the Department of Aquaculture & Fish Biology >
        • Appendix 1 - Focus of Research
        • Appendix 2 - Storage and access to databases
        • Appendix 3 - Storage and registration of samples
  • Publications
  • Facilities+
    • Verið research station
    • Breeding station
  • Contact


​

David Benhaim
 



 Professor 


​
benhaim(at)holar.is
+3548956356


​Curriculum Vitae

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Research interest
​
Overall my research aims at testing behavioural responses (swimming activity, feeding behavior, personality traits, cognitive traits) to different biotic and abiotic factors. I used this approach in different contexts with my collaborators specialized in other research fields. In collaboration with evolutionary ecologists, I investigate how ecological and evolutionary factors shape fishes behaviour or how behavioural mechanisms can be potentially involved in shaping biodiversity between and within populations. In the context of aquaculture resources, my objective is to better understand fishes adaptation to farming conditions and associated welfare (e.g. feed trials, farming procedures etc.) using behaviour as a non-invasive tool. 

Ongoing Research Projects


2019-2022: Rannís grant. PI of the project aiming at assessing the evolution of cognition of sympatric morphs of Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus).
 
 


2018-2019: AVS grant. Co-applicant of the project aiming at assessing the benefits of a new prebiotic-enhanced soy meal and its impact on growth performance, gut health and welfare of Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus).
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Current students 

PhD​ 
1. Beukeboom, R. 2019-2022. Movement patterns and habitat use in fishes in relation with personality traits. Hólar University. 
2. Dellinger, Marion. 2019-2022. Evolution of Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) sympatric morphs cognition. Hólar University. 
3. Leeper, A. 2018-2022. Dietary manipulation of the gut microbial community in farmed salmonids- toward optimal production, Norwegian University of Life Sciences: NMBU, Matís, Hólar University

MSc 
1. Morris-Bennett, L.A. 2020-2022. Sustainable Culture of Microalgae for Mangrove Oyster Crassostrea Rhizaphorae under Hatchery conditions in Jamaica. HUC, Iceland. 
2. Choblet, Maxime, 2020. Spatial cognition in the arctic charr large benthic morph of Thingvalavatn. MSC year 2 internship at HU, University of Rennes 1, France.
3. Philip, Joris 2019-2021. Impact of physical enrichment on personality traits, growth performance and welfare in juvenile arctic charr. HU, Iceland.  
4. Vernier, Louise. 2016. Relationship between egg size, metabolic rate, growth and personality traits of individuals in divergent populations of Salmonids. MSc Behavioural Ecology, Hólar University, Iceland (HU internship). 

Engineer Schools
1.Caperaa, Maud, 2021. Preference tests in the arctic charr large benthic morph of Thingvalavtan. Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Sciences agronomiques, agroalimentaires, Horticultures et du Paysage, Rennes, France. 
2.Pratt Audrey, 2021. Effect of physical enrichment on brain morphology in juvenile arctic charr. AgroParitech, Paris, France.

BSc 
Maguinness, Ruth, 2021. Behavioural syndrome in juvenile arctic charr in relation with rearing environment. HAS university of applied sciences year 2, Netherlands (HUC internship).

Former students
 
Suret, Léo, 2020. How early-life rearing environment impacts welfare in Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) ? A morphological, behavioural and cognitive approach. MSC year 2 internship at HU, University of Rennes 1, France. I was the main supervisor of the research project.
 
Ladurée, Gabrielle. The Icelandic Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) as a model to inspect the impact of ecological factors on the spatial cognition, 20 pp. MSc Neurosciences-Behavioral sciences, year 1, internship at HU, University of Caen, France. I was the main supervisor of the research project
 
Sauphar, C. 2019. Sustainable aquaculture, assessing the impact of novel feed ingredients on the growth performance and behaviour of juvenile salmonids. European MSc in Marine Environment and Resources (MER MSc), University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU). (Matís/HU internship , Iceland).
 
BSc 
Berlizot, Benoit. 2019. Sustainable aquaculture, assessing the impact of novel feed ingredients on the growth performance and behaviour of juvenile salmonids. Intechmer, Cherbourg, France. (HU internship).


Publications
Kreilling, A.-K., O´Gorman, E. J., Pálsson, S., Benhaïm, D., Leblanc, C. A. L., Ólafsson, J. ., & Kristjánsson, B. K. (2020). Seasonal variation in the invertebrate community and diet of a top fish predator in a thermally stable spring. Hydrobiologia, 5. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-020-04409-5
 
Benhaïm, D., Leblanc, C.A.L., Horri, K., Mannion, K., Galloway, M., Leeper, A., Knobloch, S., Sigurgeirsson, Ó., Thorarensen, H., 2020. The effect of triploidy on the performance, gut microbiome and behaviour of juvenile Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) raised at low temperature. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 229, 105031. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2020.105031
 
Poirier I, Benhaïm D, Poizot E, et al. Marine aggregates in North Atlantic coast: Microbial characteristics and potential interactions with farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), 2020. Mar Environ Res.;157:104864. doi:10.1016/j.marenvres.2019.104864
 
Leblanc, C.A.L., Horri, K., Skúlason, Benhaïm, D.2019. Subtle temperature increase can interact with individual size and social context in shaping phenotypic traits of a coldwater fish. Plos ONE. 
 
Benhaïm, D., Akian, D.D., Ramos, M., Ferrari, S., Yao, K. & Bégout, M.-L., 2017. Self-feeding behaviour and personality traits in tilapia: A comparative study between Oreochromis niloticusand Sarotherodon melanotheron. Applied Animal Behaviour Science187, 85-92.
 
Benhaïm, D., Ferrari Sébastien, Colchen, T., Chatain B. & Bégout, M.-L., 2017. Relationship between individual and group learning in a marine teleost: A case study with sea bass under self-feeding conditions. Learning & Behavior.
 
Ferrari, S., Horri, K., Allal, F., Vergnet, A., Benhaïm, D., Vandeputte, M., Chatain, B. & Bégout, M.-L., 2016. Heritability of Boldness and Hypoxia Avoidance in European Sea bass, Dicentrarchus labrax. PLoS ONE11, e0168506.
 
O’Brien C., Bowie, M., Billard, P., Darmaillacq, S.,Jozet-Alves, C., Benhaïm, D., Basuyaux, O., Dickel, L. 2016. The effect of an artificial incubation environment on hatchling size and behavior in the cuttlefish, Sepia officinalis. Life and Environnement 66(1): 1-9.
 
Benhaïm, D.,Ferrari, S., Chatain, B. & Bégout, M-L. 2016. The shy prefer familiar congeners. Behavioural Processes 126: 113-120.
 
Ferrari, S., Benhaïm, D., Colchen, T., Chatain, B. & Bégout, M-L. 2014. Linking self-feeding behaviour and personality traits in European sea bass, Dicentrarchus labrax.Applied Animal Behaviour Sciences161, 131-141.
 
Benhaïm, D., Bégout, M.L., Chatain, B. 2013. Exploration and cognition in wild caught and domesticated sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) in a maze. Plos one 8(6), e65872.
 
Benhaïm, D., Guyomard, R., Chatain, B., Quillet, E. & Bégout, M-L. 2013. Genetic differences for behaviour in juveniles from two strains of brown trout suggest an effect of domestication history. Applied Animal Behaviour Science147: 235-242.
 
Benhaïm, D., Bégout, M.-L., Péan, S. Manca, M., Prunet, P. & Chatain, B. 2013. Impact of a plant-based diet on behavioural and physiological traits in sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax). Aquatic Living Resources26 : 121-131.
 
Benhaïm, D., Bégout, M-L. & Chatain, B. 2013. Unfamiliar congener used as a visual attractor in wild caught and domesticated sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) placed in a T-maze. Journal of Aquaculture Research and Development4 : 169-176.
 
Benhaïm, D., Péan, S., Lucas, G., Blanc, N., Chatain, B., Bégout, M.-L., 2012. Early life behavioural differences in wild caught and domesticated sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax). Applied Animal Behaviour Sciences141, 79-90.
 
Benhaïm, D.,  Bégout, M.L., Péan, S., Brisset, B., Leguay, D., Chatain, B., 2012. Effect of fasting on self-feeding activity in juvenile sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) in self-feeding conditions. Applied Animal Behaviour Sciences136, 63-73.
 
Benhaïm, D., Péan, S., Brisset, B., Leguay, D., Bégout, M.L., Chatain, B., 2011. Effect of size grading on Sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) juvenile self-feeding behaviour, social structure and culture performances. Aquatic Living Resource24, 391-402.
 
Leblanc, C.A.L., Benhaïm, D., Hansen, B.R., Kristjánsson, B.K., Skúlason, S., 2011. The Importance of Egg Size and Social Effects for Behaviour of Arctic Charr Juveniles. Ethology 117, 664-674.
 
Benhaïm, D., Leblanc, C.A., Lucas, G., 2009. Impact of a new artificial shelter on Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus, L.) behaviour and culture performance during the endogenous feeding period. Aquaculture295, 38-43.
 
Daufresne, T., Lacroix, G., Benhaïm, D., Loreau, M. (2008). Coexistence of algae and bacteria: a test of the carbon hypothesis. Aquatic Microbial Ecology53: 323-332. 
 
Benhaïm, D., Skúlason, S. and Hansen, B.R. (2003). Behavioural variation in juvenile Arctic charr in relation to body size. Journal of Fish Biology62, 1326-1338. 

Book chapters
 
Millot, S.,Bégout, M-L., Benhaïm, D.(2014). Foraging behaviour. In : The Biology of Sea bass (F.J. Sánchez-Vázquez & J.A. Muñoz-Cueto Eds), Science Publishers, Ltd, British Channel Islands, Enfield, New Hampshire, USA, 207-230 pp.


Teaching
​

Since 2001, I have been teaching several courses from BSc to MSc levels in ethology, physiology, nutrition, anatomy, aquaculture. Teaching has been given in different universities. 
 
Current teaching
 
Diploma in aquaculture
  • Harvest and processing. 
  • Fish health and hygiene. 
  • Fish physiology and water quality in aquaculture.
 
United Nations University, Fisheries Training Programme (UNU-FTP) 
Head of the program at Hólar University
Courses given:
  • Introduction to world aquaculture.
  • Hatchery.
  • On growing.
  • Starting up a new farm.
  • Home
  • People +
    • Bjarni Kristófer Kristjánsson
    • Camille A. Leblanc
    • David Benhaim
    • Skúli Skúlason
    • Stefán Óli Steingrímsson
  • Education
    • MARBIO
  • Research +
    • Biodiversity lab >
      • ECO-EVO-DEVO
      • Evolution of cognition: A study of sympatric morphs of Arctic charr
      • Microevolutionary processes in small populations
      • The importance of egg size for phenotypic variations and divergence in wild populations
    • Aquaculture lab >
      • Egg quality and growth in selected Arctic charr
      • Enhanced Soy Protein for Salmonid Aquafeeds
      • Breeding program
    • Research policy >
      • Research Policy of the Department of Aquaculture & Fish Biology >
        • Appendix 1 - Focus of Research
        • Appendix 2 - Storage and access to databases
        • Appendix 3 - Storage and registration of samples
  • Publications
  • Facilities+
    • Verið research station
    • Breeding station
  • Contact