Study sites:

• Lake Le Caron
• Mosaik
• Sterne
• Grand Détour
• Stream Caché
• Stream Natel

Person in charge: Michelle Garneau (UQAM)

In collaboration with:

• Nigel Roulet (McGill University)
• Ian Strachan (McGill University)
• Yves Prairie (GRIL, UQAM)
• Paul del Giorgio (GRIL, UQAM)
• Robert-André Daigneault (UQAM)
• Alain Tremblay (Hydro-Québec)

Graduate students:

• Luc Pelletier (Ph. D., McGill University)
• Simon van Bellen (Ph. D., UQAM)
• Julie Loisel (M. Sc., UQAM)
• Pierre-Luc Dallaire (M. Sc., UQAM)
• Jessica Lagacé-Banville (M. Sc., UQAM)
• Daniel Brosseau (M. Sc., UQAM)

This project focuses on the current and past carbon dynamics of peatlands and their contribution to the regional GHG budget in the context of the impoundment of hydroelectric reservoirs such as Eastmain-1. At the end of the project, the modelling carried out using data acquired during these years of research will make it possible to determine the real impacts of the creation of hydroelectric facilities in the boreal region by differentiating between net carbon budgets before and after reservoir flooding.

Objectives:

1. Determining CH4 and CO2 exchange budgets in Eastmain-1 peatlands (Luc Pelletier);
2. Reconstructing Holocene carbon accumulation conditions, and assessing the influence of local and regional fires on this accumulation (Simon van Bellen);
3. Assessing the amount of carbon contained in the peat basins studied and identifying the factors responsible for variations during the recent Holocene (± 3000 years) (Julie Loisel);
4. Characterizing the stratigraphy of peat and associated carbon in two boreal peatlands in the Eastmain-1 area using Ground -penetrating radar (GPR) (Pierre-Luc Dallaire);
5. Determining the quantities of organic carbon accumulated in forest soils in relation to stand types and between different soil types (Jessica Lagacé-Banville);
6. Characterizing Quaternary surficial deposits in the Eastmain-1 region (Daniel Brosseau).