Welcome to the conservation and socio-ecology lab

What do we do?

We integrate socio-ecological complexity in our research projects to conserve and manage our ecosystems and their biodiversity, with a focus on aquatic ecosystems. Our research is transdisciplinary and inclusive, and works at the interface of ecology and sociology. Here are our main research themes (click on a theme to learn more):

THEME 1

Ecology of regulated aquatic ecosystems

THEME 2

Aquatic connectivity and biodiversity

THEME 3

Human dimension in fisheries

THEME 4

Human dimension in conservation science

THEME 5

Wetland biodiversity and hydrology

Canada Research Chair

The lab hosts the Canadian Research Chair in socio-ecology of conservation, fish and wildlife management (Tier 2) offered to Katrine Turgeon (Lab PI)

The lab develops new tools and knowledge to understand how humans and nature interact.

By using case studies, we take a transdisciplinary approach and work closely with various stakeholders to tackle problems that are directly applicable to conservation and natural resources management to guide policy decisions and education within the context of global change.

Who are we?

We are a team of 18 researchers (PI, postdocs, PhD and MSc candidates) working on various subjects related to aquatic ecology and socio-ecology.

20230705_095950.jpg
IMG_3812-12.jpg
IMG_3873-62.jpg
IMG_3953-117.jpg
FOR_20220825_PL06_aval_ponceau_b.jpg
pexels-erik-mclean-4157094.jpg
IMG_20190320_142816.jpg
DSCN0118.jpg
pexels-skitterphoto-445190.jpg
20230614_140306.jpg


News from the lab

  • April - May 2025 | Students visiting Barbados' ecosystems

    During two weeks, Kat brought 8 undergraduated students from the Bachelor degree in Ecology and Environment of UQO in Barbados to discover coral reefs, mangroves, intertidal pools, beaches invaded with sargassum (picture) and much more! We learned a lot!

  • April 2025 | Welcome Anthony!

    The lab is happy to welcome Anthony Fontaine as a new postdoc in the Lab. Anthony is co-supervised by Marc Amyot and myself. During his postdoc, Anthony will study the impacts of multiple stressors (hydropower, timber harvest and fires) on fish community (diversity, fish growth, mercury contamination).

  • March 2025 | The lab was well represented at the GRIL symposium!

    We had a blast at the annual GRIL symposium! The lab was well represented and many of us presented their work and progress. We shared knowledge, met new people and had fun on the dance floor. Thumbs up for the program and the organization.

  • Jan 2025 | 22nd Barbados Marine Robotics Workshop

    Kat and PO participated in the 22nd Barbados Marine Robotics Workshop in Barbados to develop tools to map and survey aquatic and marine ecosystems in non-invasive ways. Despite choppy waters, we successfully collected valuable data. More to come!

  • Nov 2024 | Macrophytes as NbS!

    Kat and Thibaud (PhD candidate) participated in a scientific retreat at the Gault reserve with 20 more researchers to discuss on how aquatic macrophytes (fresh and saltwater) could be used as Nature Based Solution (NbS). A cool paper should emerge from this very productive retreat! Stay posted.

  • Sept. 2024 | Welcome Izaak!

    The lab is happy to welcome Izaak Régis as a new Master student. Izaak project will examine the impacts of riparian vegetation control in hydroelectric powerlines on biodiversity and hydrological dynamics. This project is coconstructed in collaboration with Hydro-Québec. Fieldwork in June 2025.

  • June 2024 | Field work is started in the lab!

    Fieldwork is started in the lab!!! We have teams deploying nets in lakes, doing electrofising in streams in the Parc National du Mont Tremblant, deploying nets in reservoirs in Abitibi and we have a team characterizing wetlands in hybrid poplar plantation in Eastern townships.

  • May 2024 | 1.3M$ to study aquatic ecological connectivity in Québec

    We received funding from the NSERC-Mitacs Alliance fund to study aquatic connectivity at different scales. This project involved researchers from four Universities (UQO, UQAC, UQTR and McGill) and collaborators from Hydro-Québec, MELCCFP and Nature Conservancy Canada

Our collaborators!