Ecology and evolution of aquatic ecosystems currently under anthropogenic stress or at risk of being under stress in the future.
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.
- Eco-evolutionary experimentation in the field and lab
- Microscopy and imaging
- Lipid and pigment extraction
- Metabolic performance
- Community genetics
- Education
- Fisheries and aquaculture
Specialized labs and equipment
Specialized lab | Equipment | Function |
---|---|---|
Acquatic ecosystem ecology and evolution | Truck | Field research |
Boat, outboard motors, and trailer | Field research | |
Chemostats & associated equipment (water baths, pumps, pumpheads) | Eco-evolutionary laboratory experiments | |
High-resolution stereomicroscopes & camera | Community analyses of zooplankton and invertebrates | |
High-resolution inverted microscopes & camera | Community analyses of phytoplankton | |
Microbalance | Lipid and pigment extraction; preparation of media for chemostat experiments | |
Freeze dryer system | Lipid and pigment extraction | |
Nitrogen evaporator | Lipid and pigment extraction | |
Benchtop refrigerator centrifuge | Lipid and pigment extraction; resurrection ecology experiments | |
Fluorometer | Metabolic performance | |
Flammables storage freezer | Preservation of ethanol-preserved community genetics samples | |
PCR machine & gel electrophoresis | Community genetics | |
Automated temperature and conductivity dataloggers | Field research | |
Stream sampling unit | Field research | |
Clean bench | Sterile preparation of DNA samples and assembly of chemostat experiments |
Private and public sector research partners
- Environment Canada
- Parks Canada
- Group for Interuniversity Research in Limnology and aquatic environment (GRIL)
- Quebec Center for Biodiversity Science (QCBS)
- WSP Canada Inc.
Additional information
Title | URL |
---|---|
De minuscules baromètres du climat dans les lacs | http://www.sciencepresse.qc.ca/actualite/2013/05/09/minuscules-barometres-climat-lacs |