Nature-based coastal restoration: Development of an early-rearing production protocol of sugar kelp (Saccharina latissima Linnaeus) for bottom planting activities in the Gulf of St-Lawrence (Québec, Canada)

Successful bottom planting of indigenous macroalgae Saccharina latissima aimed at coastal restoration purposes require the mass production in controlled conditions of strongly fixed, healthy sporophytes followed by optimal transfer techniques in order to ensure viability and vigor of the young seedlings about to be directly introduced in the coastal environment. Early development of S. latissima submitted to different combinations of substrate type (natural vs artificial brick-shaped substrate), gametophyte spraying method (water-based vs binder-based) and water velocity (0.1 vs 0.2 m s-1) was evaluated during a growth trial that lasted 42 days. Overall, all experimental groups (8 in triplicate) reached the targeted length of 15 mm between 35-42 days post-seeding. No strong indications that the proposed 2×2×2 factorial design generated long lasting effects on growth and development indicators were observed (thallus length, SGR and % coverage). The observation of no persistent difference in the growth response of S. latissima under all experimental conditions, demonstrates that it is well suited for mass production of seedlings. Our results and evidenced-based practices led us to conclude that the use of an artificial substrate in combination with a binder-based gametophyte pulverization and the application of a velocity 0.2 m s-1 during early-growth could be adopted in a standardized protocol. We argue that 1) artificial substrates (uniform shape, stackable and rough surface) will most likely allow better use of a vessel’s open deck space and adherence of the developing holdfast; 2) the use of a binder may slow down the dehydration of the propagules and promote adhesiveness to the substrate during rearing, handling and transfer operations and under varying flow rates or wave actions respectively and 3) highest velocity should promote the selection of propagules with strongest attachment and thus possibly limit post-transfer dislodgement. We suggest further studies should 1) focus on identifying optimal gametophyte concentration at the spraying step, in order to reduce production costs and maximise productivity of seedling operations and 2) include biomass determination (g of tissue per cm2) in combination to the semi-quantitative density evaluation (% coverage) based on image-analysis, in order to improve our global assessment of growth

Élevage du saumon de l’atlantique en circuit recirculé : évaluation des options de gestion des boues et des effluents

[Résumé non disponible

Élevage du saumon de l’atlantique en circuit recirculé : évaluation des options de gestion des boues et des effluents

[Résumé non disponible

Consolider ses compétences de compréhension en lecture par la BD

Centrée sur la prévention de l’échec scolaire au primaire, cette étude propose d’analyser les retombées d’une approche multimodale s’appuyant sur l’exploitation d’un corpus de BD dans le cadre d’ateliers de lecture interactive et de formations axées sur le développement de comportements sociaux appropriés. Le présent article ne concerne que le volet lecture. À cet égard, l’approche préconisée mise sur l’enseignement explicite de stratégies de compréhension en lecture par le recours à la BD. L’objectif poursuivi est de vérifier l’effet de cette intervention novatrice sur le développement de la compréhension en lecture de textes narratifs, de la conscience métacognitive des stratégies de lecture et de l’habileté à produire des inférences en situation de lecture de BD. Pour répondre à cet objectif, le devis quasi-expérimental retenu permet de comparer un groupe expérimental de 52 élèves de 6e année ayant été soumis au programme d’intervention proposé (ateliers de lecture interactive de BD et ateliers sur les habiletés sociales) à un groupe contrôle de 47 autres élèves de 6e année n’y ayant pas été exposés. Les résultats quantitatifs des analyses de comparaison de moyennes effectuées ne permettent pas de conclure de façon statistiquement significative à l’effet positif de l’intervention sur les compétences en lecture des élèves. Toutefois, les résultats de certaines analyses complémentaires viennent nuancer ces résultats; un nombre important des élèves ayant pris part aux ateliers (environ 50%) affirment en effet se sentir, au terme de l’expérience, plus habiles en lecture BD, en compréhension de ce qu’ils lisent, en réalisation d’inférences et en utilisation efficace des illustrations.With a global focus on dropping out prevention in primary schools, the present study analyses the highlights of a multimodal workshop experiment that blended in-class reading of multimodal texts (graphic novels) to the development of social skills. For now, this article focuses only on reading. Graphic novels workshops, based on explicit teaching of reading comprehension, aimed at children’s enhancement of global reading strategies, self-cognition and inferential skills. In order to reach that goal, results (pre and post) from an experimental group of 6th grade children (N = 52) were compared to those of a control group (N = 47). When comparing groups means, the statistical test showed no effect of the intervention on students’ reading skills. However, additional analysis shed new light on the differences between groups. After the treatment, an important number of students from the experimental group (50%) reported feeling more skilled when reading graphic novels, more able to understand what they read, to make inferences, and to better use pictures