My research focuses on understanding how climate change affects species distribution, behavior, and resilience, with a particular emphasis on reptiles and arid ecosystems. I combine fieldwork with ecological modeling to predict biodiversity responses to environmental change.

Research Themes

🔬 Climate Change & Species Distribution

• Modeling species responses to global warming
• Predicting habitat suitability under future scenarios
• Using WorldClim and environmental variables

🦎 Animal Ecology & Adaptation

• Behavioral and physiological adaptation to extreme environments
• Focus on reptiles (especially desert lizards)
• Impact of environmental stressors

📊 Ecological Modeling & Data Science

• Species Distribution Models (SDMs)
• Algorithms: MaxEnt, GLM, Random Forest, SVM
• Data analysis using R

Scientific Projects

🟢 Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund
Project: Genetic diversity & conservation of Uromastyx acanthinura
Role: Principal Investigator
🟣 L’Oréal–UNESCO Women in Science
Project: Climate change impacts on aquatic ecosystems
Role: Principal Investigator

Publications

1. Kechnebbou, M., Belliure, J., Chammem, M. 2026. Habitat Occupancy and Microhabitat Use of Uromastyx acanthinura in Arid Regions of Tunisia. Journal of Bnimal biodiversity and Conservation
2. Kechnebbou, M., Belliure, J., Chammem, M. 2025. Field thermoregulatory behavior in the African spiny-tailed lizards Uromastyx acanthinura. Journal of Ichthyology & Herpetology 112: 217-224.
3. Hamdi, E., Hidouri, S., Kechnebbou, M. et al. 2024. Ascorbic acid and glutamate as therapeutics for oxidative stress and behavioral dysfunction in rats exposed to zinc nanoparticles. Toxicol. Environ. Health Sci. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13530-024-00246-4
4. Kechnebbou, M., de Carvalho, D.L., da Silva, P.H., Silva, D.P. 2021. Global warming drives range shifts in spiny-tailed lizards (Squamata: Agamidae: Uromastyx) in the African and Arabian deserts. Journal of Arid Environments 191: 104522.