Postdoc: The Laboratory, Marine Biological Association of the U.K
Ph. D. Université McGill
B.Sc, M. Sc. Université Laval

Marine zooplankton ecology. Population dynamics of copepods. Role of zooplankton in the vertical and trophic fluxes of biogenic carbon. Feeding, growth, and survival of larval and juvenile fish, based on otolith analysis. Climate variability and the larval ecology of Arctic cod, Atlantic cod and Atlantic mackerel. Oceanography of ice-covered seas. Modeling the response of arctic marine ecosystems to variations in climate.

1. I study recruitment determination in marine fish of temperate and arctic waters. The growth-predation hypothesis proposes that the initial survival (and hence recruitment) of fish in the plankton depends on fast growth that reduces the period of vulnerability to planktivorous predators. Our recent work on the Scotian Shelf demonstrates for several species, (1) a strong selective mortality that favours fast growing fish; (2) large (100%) interannual differences in the growth of pelagic juveniles; and (3) that interannual differences in feeding success rather than temperature explain interannual differences in growth (Figure). A similar approach is presently pursued in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence, within the framework of GLOBEC-Canada (an NSERC Research Network).
   
   
2. In arctic waters, our team study the transfer of carbon from the plankton to vertebrates (fish, mammals and birds), in particular the population dynamics and trophic role of key organisms such as the Arctic cod (Boreogadus saida) and the amphipod Themisto libellulla. These studies are conducted in close collaboration with several Canadian and foreign specialists within large international multidisciplinary programs. Recently, my work has focused on arctic polynyas which are large areas free of ice that represent oases of light and heat in the midst of the ice pack. Under my leadership, research teams at 8 Canadian universities have participated in the International Northeast Water Polynya Study (NEW, 1993-1995) and have initiated the NOW program (International North Water Polynya Study), an NSERC Research Network.
   
   
3. Gadus morhua. Interannual différences in growth (standard length at age) and feeding success (mean number of prey in gut) as a function of age in planktonic larvae and juveniles of Atlantic cod of the Scotian Shelf. 

• BIO-1250 : Océanographie physique
  
  
• BIO-7019 : Introduction à la modélisation en écologie

Chairholder

Chair of research of Canada in Arctic marine ecosystems to variations in climate.