Axis 1: Soil-Water Interface
This research axis focuses on the biogeochemical interface between soil and water. Our goal is to assess the fluxes of dissolved organic material coming from the land and entering aquatic systems.
Current or past projects:
- Tree organic matter as a primary link between terrestrial and aquatic biogeochemical cycles
- Microbial degradation of organic carbon in Arctic soils
- Evaluation of potential environmental impacts of taphonomic research facilities in a cold climate
Axis 2: Combined Effects of Land Use and Climate Change on River Biogeochemistry
This research axis focuses on the effects of land use alterations and climate change on river biogeochemistry. Within this axis, we study aquatic ecosystems that are highly connected to the terrestrial environment, such as tributaries, agricultural drainage fields, and flood plains. By observing the changes in dissolved organic material composition and microbial transformation of these materials, we hope to better predict the impacts of increasing anthropogenic land use changes and global climate changes on aquatic ecosystems.
Current or past projects:
- Agricultural impacts on the water quality of the Saint-Lawrence River floodplain
- Human impact on the river carbon cycle in the St. Lawrence watershed
- Climatic and geographic controls on dissolved organic matter transformation along the land-to-river continuum
Axis 3: Understanding Ecosystem Functioning of Large Rivers
This axis focuses on understanding the ecosystem functioning of large rivers. Due to their size, large rivers are often hard to study. In addition, most studies focus on smaller rivers or small sections of large rivers without an implicit integration of riverine features within the larger "riverscape". With the help of the Lampsilis research vessel, we are able to study entire riverscapes, such as the St. Lawrence River. By studying rivers as a whole, we can have a better idea of their ability to transport and transform organic materials.
Current or past projects:
- Annual interdisciplinary field campaigns on board the Lampsilis research vessel
- Assessing the metabolic strategies and responses of microbial communities to anthropogenic disturbances along the St. Lawrence River
- Biological and photochemical reactivity of dissolved organic matter in a large temperate river
Axis 4: Developing Microbial Tracers of Anthropogenic Impacts on Aquatic Systems
One general objective of our lab is to develop microbial tracers of environmental changes in riverine systems to better monitor ecological and biogeochemical shifts in freshwater environments in response to human influence and environmental changes. On top of assessing how environmental stressors affect microbial community composition and functioning, we also focus on the origin and level of fecal contamination in the St. Lawrence and how in turns it may affect water quality and limit recreational activities.
Current or past projects:
- Detecting the presence and viability of SARS-CoV-2 in the St. Lawrence River
- Anthropogenic impacts on the shallow waters quality of the St. Lawrence
- Spatial and temporal drivers of fecal coliforms across the St. Lawrence riverscape
