The university

Nordicity

Canada is, by definition, a northern country. Most of its territory is covered by boreal forest, taiga, and tundra. At a time of rapid environmental change, Canada's peoples are finding it increasingly challenging to harness, develop, and protect their northern resources, hence the importance of thorough knowledge of northern environments in order to better protect and manage them.

To better understand the impact of climate and other environmental changes, UQAR has devoted itself to the study of cold natural continental environments-nordicity-one of its three main areas of research.

Changes That Send Shivers Down Your Spine

Northern areas are regions that experience real-i.e., cold and snowy-winters. Inhospitable for some, they are nevertheless home to unique biodiversity and ecosystems, as well as to human societies that have successfully innovated to adapt to the difficult conditions.

Climate and environmental changes affecting northern environments have attracted special attention from experts. All prediction models suggest that northern environments will undergo serious climate change that will have major consequences for landscapes, ecosystems, and biodiversity.

Many changes have already been observed in Arctic environments, such as the rapid melting of permafrost, shrinking glaciers, and the breakup of the polar ice pack. Climate change also affects boreal forest fire regimes as well as forest hydrological balance, vulnerability to new insects, and more. Increasingly common spells of mild winter weather also influence animal mobility, avalanche regimes, and coastal erosion.

The many changes affecting all components of northern ecosystems are a real challenge for the animals and plants that live in these fragile environments. Some animal species have already modified their lifecycles to adapt to longer and earlier summers. For others, the new conditions can bring stress that may prove fatal.

Nordicity studies and research will help us gain a fuller understanding of cold natural continental environments and, eventually, devise solutions to mitigate the negative impact of climate and environmental change.

Nordicity Training and Research

The overall goal of training and research programs in nordicity is to better understand the workings of continental environments in cold climates in order to respond to major challenges in plant and animal conservation (biodiversity), sustainable management, and fragile environment land use planning in a context of rapid change.

This field of study examines all terrestrial environments severely affected by the cold, i.e., areas characterized by cold temperate climates as well as boreal, subarctic, arctic, and alpine environments, which includes most of Québec and Canada right up to the Far North.

The creation of this niche in nordicity at UQAR is part of efforts to consolidate teaching and research programs, especially in biology (undergraduate and graduate levels) and geography (undergraduate and master's levels). All together, UQAR has over 300 undergraduates and close to 100 graduate students in the following programs:

• Bachelor's in biology
• Bachelor's in geography
• Specialized graduate diploma in wildlife management (DESS)
• Master's in wildlife management and habitats (M.Sc.)
• Master's in geography (M.Sc.)
• PhD in biology (Ph.D.)
• PhD in environmental studies (Ph.D.)

The research program is built around three highly complementary disciplines: the biology, ecology, and geography of cold environments. Key fields in biology and ecology include the study of northern organisms (animal and vegetable), populations, and ecosystem biodiversity. Geography researchers are particularly interested in the dynamics of ice-covered rivers, coastal erosion, slope dynamics (avalanches, landslides, etc.), and natural risks. The impact of environmental change and human activity on northern landscapes is one of our core concerns, as are ecosystems and their biodiversity. The sociological and economic aspects of environmental management and the adaptation of human, animal, and plant populations to climate change are other topics of research.

Ideal Surroundings

UQAR's faculty and material resources (laboratories, equipment) make it a leading teaching and research institution for the study and teaching of the biology, ecology, and geography of cold environments.

The university's location at the gateway to the northerly regions of the North American northeast also facilitates the study of ecosystems in these areas. UQAR also stands out for its hands-on approach, and offers numerous internship, lab and fieldwork opportunities.

Research Units

• The Biodiversity and Conservation in Northern Environments Research Group (BioNord) chiefly seeks to enhance our knowledge of northern ecosystems while improving our ability to predict the effects of climate change and develop tools to limit its negative impact.
• The Canada Research Chair in Northern Ecosystem Conservation (CRCCEN) seeks to better understand the workings of northern ecosystems, learn more about the impact of human activity on these environments, and propose sustainable development methods.
• The Inhabited Forest Research Chair (CRFH) conducts forestry research in the Lower St. Lawrence region and the Gaspé Peninsula on the workings of the forest ecosystem, forest management, silviculture, and forestry socioeconomics (in partnership with the Québec government and CRCD).
• The Nordicity Study Center (CEN) is an internationally renowned research unit of which UQAR is an institutional partner.

For more information, visit : www.uqar.ca/recherche/