Eco-evolutionary dynamics in aquatic environments

Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Québec
What the facility does

Ecology and evolution of aquatic ecosystems currently under anthropogenic stress or at risk of being under stress in the future.

Areas of expertise

My research team studies the relationships between the ecological and evolutionary forces that maintain the biodiversity of aquatic ecosystems. More specifically, we study the consequences of anthropogenic stress on the ecology and evolution of aquatic populations and communities. We look at how adaptive reactions influence ecological interactions in communities and ecosystem operation. Improving knowledge of the reciprocal influence between ecology and evolution is critical for adequately preserving aquatic resources and understanding the factors that influence biodiversity loss.

My research program is unique in Canada because it is the only eco-evolutionary program studying interior aquatic ecosystems in the country. The CFI’s infrastructure is used for studying key environmental issues that will increasingly threaten the integrity of 21ST century aquatic ecosystems, such as changes in water chemistry due to climate change, mining of metals, acidification, and altered food webs from exotic invasion and disrupted trophic interactions.

Research services

- Eco-evolutionary experimentation in the field and lab

- Microscopy and imaging

- Lipid and pigment extraction

- Metabolic performance

- Community genetics

Sectors of application
  • Education
  • Fisheries and aquaculture
Specialized labEquipmentFunction
Acquatic ecosystem ecology and evolutionTruckField research
 Boat, outboard motors, and trailerField research
 Chemostats & associated equipment (water baths, pumps, pumpheads)Eco-evolutionary laboratory experiments
 High-resolution stereomicroscopes & cameraCommunity analyses of zooplankton and invertebrates
 High-resolution inverted microscopes & cameraCommunity analyses of phytoplankton
 MicrobalanceLipid and pigment extraction; preparation of media for chemostat experiments
 Freeze dryer systemLipid and pigment extraction
 Nitrogen evaporatorLipid and pigment extraction
 Benchtop refrigerator centrifugeLipid and pigment extraction; resurrection ecology experiments
 FluorometerMetabolic performance
 Flammables storage freezerPreservation of ethanol-preserved community genetics samples
 PCR machine & gel electrophoresisCommunity genetics
 Automated temperature and conductivity dataloggersField research
 Stream sampling unitField research
 Clean benchSterile preparation of DNA samples and assembly of chemostat experiments

- Environment Canada

- Parks Canada

- Group for Interuniversity Research in Limnology and aquatic environment (GRIL)

- Quebec Center for Biodiversity Science (QCBS)

- WSP Canada Inc.

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