Hard to describe myself... I'm a kind of chimera between a paleontologist, a geochemist, and a data scientist. By coupling different approaches, I try to understand how species (mainly cephalopods) throve, declined or evolved in the context of past climate and oceanic changes, and how life modified the Earth system in return. My research especially focuses on the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods, but I occasionally work on older, younger and modern times. Currently, I am further involved in broad-scale macroevolutionary studies concerning the evolution of life by focusing on the links between shape, body size, metabolism, and environmental or physical constraints. To summarize, I would say that I am an "evologist"
CV / functions
Depuis 2011: Maître de conférences, 2010 – 2011: Post doctorat, 2009 – 2010: ATER, 2006 – 2009: Doctorat, Université de Bourgogne, Dijon2003 – 2006: Licence & Master en géologie, 2001 – 2003: DEUG Sciences de la Terre et de l’univers,
Publications
Dera, G. , Nardin, E. Risser, L., Albino, M., Garnier, Q., Kardacz, M., Monge-Waleryszak, L. (2026) Mapping life’s disparity and evolutionary constraints in a geometric complexity space. Science advances, 12(2), doi: 10.1126/sciadv.aea6945Dera, G. , Nardin, E., Aretz, M., Perrier, V. (2025) Paléontologie et évolution des invertébrés. Dunod, 280pMartinez, M., Aguirre-Urreta, B., Dera, G. , Lescano, M., Omarini, J., Tunik, M., O’Dogherty, L., Aguado, R., Company, M., Bodin, S. (2023) Synchrony of carbon cycle fluctuations, volcanism and orbital forcing during the Early Cretaceous. Earth-ScienceReviews,239,104356 Hodel, F., Fériot, C., Dera, G. , De Rafélis, M., Lezin, C., Nardin, E., Rouby, D., Aretz, M., Antonio, P., Buatier, M., Steinmann, M., Lacan, F. (2022) Eocene-Oligocene southwest Pacific Ocean paleoceanography new insights from foraminifera chemistry (DSDP site 277, Campbell Plateau). Frontiers in Earth Science, 10, 998237 De Baets, K., Nätscher, P., Rita, P., Fara, E., Neige, P., Bardin J., Dera, G. , Duarte, L.V., Hughes, Z., Laschinger, P., García-Ramos, J.C., P iñuela, L. (2021) The impact of the Pliensbachian–Toarcian crisis on belemnite assemblages and size distribution. Swiss Journal of Palaeontology, 140(1), number 25 Nätscher, P., Dera, G. , Reddin, C.J., Rita, P. De Baets, K. (2021) Morphological response accompanying size reduction of belemnites during an Early Jurassic hyperthermal event modulated by life history. Scientific Reports 11:14480
Hodel, F., Grespan, M., de Rafélis, M., Dera, G. , Lezin, C. Nardin, E., Rouby, D., Aretz, M., Steinnman, M., Buatier, M., Lacan, F., Jeandel, C., Chavagnac, V. (2021) Drake Passage gateway opening and Antarctic Circumpolar Current onset 31 Ma ago: The message of foraminifera and reconsideration of the Neodymium isotope record. Chemical Geology 570(1):120171
Roddaz, M., Dera, G. , Mourlot, Y., Calvès, G., Kim, JH., Chaboureau, AC., Mounic, S., Raisson, F. (2021). Provenance constraints on the Cretaceous-Palocene erosional history of the Guiana Shield as determined from the geochemistry of clay-size fraction of sediments from the Arapaima-1 well (Guyana-Suriname basin). Marine Geology, 434(4):106433
El Meknassi, S., Dera, G., De Rafélis, M., Brahmi, C., Lartaud, F., Hodel, F., Jeandel, C., Menjot, L., Mounic, S., Henry, M., Besson, P., Chavagnac, V. (2020) Seawater 87Sr/86Sr ratios along continental margins: Patterns and processes in open and restricted shelf domains. Chemical Geology , 558, 119874
Al-Mojel, A., Razin, P., Le Nindre, Y.-M., Dera, G. (2020) Shallow-marine depositional sequences in a transgressive mixed siliciclastic-carbonate system: The Early Jurassic Marrat Formation from central Saudi Arabia. Journal of African Earth Sciences, 167, 103429
Al-Mojel, A., Razin, P., Dera, G. (2020) High-resolution sedimentology and sequence stratigraphy of the Oxfordian-Kimmeridgian, Hanifa, Jubaila and Arab outcrops along Jabal Tuwaiq, Central Saudi Arabia. Journal of African Earth Sciences , 165, 103803
El Meknassi, S., Dera G., Cardone, T., De Rafélis, M., Brahmi, C., Chavagnac, V. (2018) Sr isotope ratios of modern carbonate shells : Good and bad news for chemostratigraphy. Geology , (11), 1003-1006.
Al-Mojel, A., Dera G., Razin, P., Le Nindre, Y-M. (2018) Carbon and oxygen isotope stratigraphy of Jurassic Platform carbonates from Saudi Arabia : Implications for diagenesis, corrélations and global paleoenvironmental changes. Paleogeography, palaeoclimatology, palaeoecology, 511, 388-402.
Mourlot, Y., Roddaz M., Dera G., Mounic S., Calves G., Kim J.H., Chaboureau A.C., Raisson F. (2018) Geochemical evidence for large-scale drainage reorganization in North West Africa during the Cretaceous, Geochemistry Geophysics Geosystems , 19, 1690-1712.
Goddéris Y., Donnadieu Y., Carretier, S., Aretz, M., Dera G., Macouin, M., Regard, V. (2017) Onset and ending of the late Palaeozoic ice age triggered by tectonically paced rock weathering. Nature Geoscience , 10, 382-386.
Goddéris Y., Le Hir G., Macouin M., Donnadieu Y., Hubert-Théou L., Dera G., Aretz, M., Fluteau F., Li, Z., Halverson G.P. (2016) Paleogeographic forcing of the strontium isotopic cycle in the Neoproterozoic. Gondwana Research , 42, 151-162.
Dera G., Toumoulin, A., De Baets K. (2016) Diversity and evolution of Jurassic belemnites from South Germany. Paleogeography, palaeoclimatology, palaeoecology , 457, 80-97.Martinez M. & Dera G. (2015) Orbital pacing of carbon fluxes by a 9-Myr eccentricity cycle during the Mesozoic. PNAS , 112 (41), 12604-12609
Dera G., Prunier J., Smith P.L., Haggart J.W., Popov E., Guzhov A., Rogov M., Delsate D., Thies D., Cuny G., Pucéat E., Charbonnier G., Bayon G. (2015) Nd isotope constraints on ocean circulation, paleoclimate, and continental drainage during the Jurassic breakup of Pangea. Gondwana Research , 27, 1599-1615Neige P., Dera G. , & Dommergues, J.L. (2013) Adaptive radiation in the fossil record laboratory: A case study among Jurassic ammonoids. Palaeontology , 56(6), 1247-1261.
Pucéat E., Joachimski M.M., Bouilloux A., Monna F., Bonin A., Motreuil S., Morinière, P., Hénard, S., Mourin, J., Dera G., and Quesnes D. (2013) Reply on Comment by Longinelli (2013) on a revised phosphate–water fractionation equation. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 377-378, 380-382.
Charbonnier G., Pucéat E., Bayon G., Desmares D., Dera G., Durlet C., Deconinck JF., Amédro F., Gourlan A., Pellenard P., Bomou B. (2012) Reconstruction of the Nd isotope composition of seawater on continental margins : testing the potential of Fe-Mn oxyhydroxide coatings on foraminifera tests. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta , 99, 39-56.
Dera G. & Donnadieu Y. (2012) Modelling evidences for global warming, Arctic seawater freshening, and sluggish oceanic circulation during the Early Toarcian Anoxic Event. Paleoceanography 27, PA2211Dera G., Neige P., Dommergues, J.L. and Brayard A. (2011) Ammonite paleobiogeography during the Pliensbachian-Toarcian crisis (Early Jurassic) reflecting paleoclimate, eustasy, and extinctions. Global and Planetary Change 78, 92-105Donnadieu Y., Dromart G., Goddéris Y., Pucéat E., Brigaud B., Dera G ., Dumas C., and Olivier N. (2011) A mechanism for brief glacial épisodes in the Mesozoic greenhouse. Paleoceanography 26, PA3212
Dera G., Brigaud B., Monna F., Laffont R., Pucéat E., Deconinck J-F., Pellenard P., Joachimski M.M., and Durlet C. (2011) Climatic ups and downs in a disturbed Jurassic world. Geology 39, 215-218.Pucéat E., Joachimski M.M., Bouilloux A., Monna F., Bonin A., Motreuil S., Morinière, P., Hénard, S., Mourin, J., Dera G., and Quesnes D. (2010) Revised phosphate – water fractionation equation reassessing paleotemperatures derived from biogenic apatite. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 298, 135-142
Dera G., Neige, P., Dommergues, J-L., Fara, E., Laffont, R., and Pellenard, P. (2010) High-resolution dynamics of Early Jurassic marine extinctions: the case of Pliensbachian-Toarcian ammonites (Cephalopoda). Journal of the Geological Society 167, 21-33.Dera G., Pucéat E., Pellenard P., Neige P., Delsate D., Joachimski M., Reisberg L., and Martinez M. (2009). Water mass exchange and variations in seawater temperature in the NW Tethys during the Early Jurassic: evidence from neodymium and oxygen isotopes of fish teeth and belemnites. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 286, 198-207.Lachkar N., Guiraud M., El Harfi A., Dommergues J-L., Dera G., and Durlet C. (2009) Early Jurassic normal faulting in a carbonate extensional basin: characterization of tectonically driven platform drowning (High Atlas rift, Morocco). Journal of the Geological Society 166, 413-430.
Dera G., Pellenard P., Neige P., Deconinck J-F, Pucéat E., and Dommergues J-L. (2009). Distribution of clay minerals in Early Jurassic Peritethyan seas: palaeoclimatic significance inferred from multiproxy comparisons. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecolology 271, 39-51.Dera G., Eble G..J., Neige P., and David B. (2008). The flourishing diversity of models in Theoretical Morphology: from current practices to future macroevolutionary and bioenvironmental challenges. Paleobiology 34, 301-317.
Teaching
Responsabilités sur les 4 dernières années:
Licence
UE Paléontologie (L2 BBE, L2 STE)
UE Histoire de la Vie (L2 BBE)
UE Histoire de la Terre (L2 STE)
Master
UE Paléoenvironnement 1 (Paléoclimat) – Master 1 STPE Terre
UE Paléoenvironnement 2 (Paléocéanographie) – Master 2 STPE Terre
Disciplines enseignées:
Paléontologie des invertébrés, vertébrés et paléobotanique (niveau Licence)
Macroévolution: Evolution du vivant, paléobiodiversité, extinctions de masse (niveau Licence)
Paléogéographie, paléoclimatologie, Paléocéanographie (Niveau Master)
Géochimie isotopique appliquée à la sédimentologie (Niveau Master)
Statistiques (Master)
Terrain (Licence et master)
