Laboratoire d'écologie des cours d'eau
Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières (UQTR)

Our research group study the effects of cumulative (multiple) stressors on freshwater populations, communities, and ecosystems, hoping to generate knowledge that will help understand the causes and consequences of biodiversity loss in landscapes impacted by human activities (e.g. areas of intensive agriculture). To that end, we combine field surveys, data synthesis/statistical modelling, and experiments (e.g. in mesocosms) to assess how stream (and sometimes lake!) organisms are affected by stressors such as watershed deforestation, agricultural pollution, and climate change. Much of our work is relatively applied and done in partnership with government and not-for-profit organizations. Some projects we currently work on include :
  • Quantifying natural and anthropogenic drivers of fish and freshwater invertebrate biodiversity across North America, using large datasets and machine learning
  • Documenting cumulative impacts of land use and climate change on multitrophic diversity and ecosystem functioning in the St-Lawrence River floodplain and in headwater streams of southern Quebec
  • Comparing traditional vs. emerging (non-invasive) survey methods in streams, e.g. environmental DNA metabarcoding and underwater cameras
  • Using and developing functional, trait-based approaches to evaluate the vulnerability of stream animals to multiple stressors
We are part of UQTR's research center on watershed science (RIVE: Centre de recherche sur les interactions bassins versants-écosystèmes aquatiques)

Contact

Vincent Fugère (he/him/his) (il/lui)
Département des sciences de l'environnement
Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières
Trois-Rivières, QC, Canada. G9A 5H7
Léon-Provancher 3537 (office) & 3410 (lab)
​[email protected]
​Institutional page

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