Mise en place d’un laboratoire naturel sur le mont Covey Hill (Québec, Canada)

Le mont Covey Hill héberge des populations de salamandres rares et menacées dont les habitats sont maintenus en partie par\ud l’eau souterraine. Des travaux de recherche multidisciplinaires (UQAM, U. McGill, U. Montréal, IRBV, Centre Brace, SCABRIC et\ud ministères) ont permis de comprendre l’hydrologie ainsi que la répartition et les caractéristiques des habitats de salamandres. Ces projets ont contribué à la mise en place de stations de suivi écologique à long terme et de stations hydrométriques permanentes. En tant que propriétaire de terrains dédiés à la conservation, Conservation de la Nature assure la coordination de ces initiatives. Le mont Covey Hill est aujourd’hui un Laboratoire naturel unique au Québec, dédié à la compréhension intégrée et à long terme d’un écosystème fragile. Cet article a pour objectif de présenter le Laboratoire naturel par une description des recherches en cours et à venir

Microbial dynamics in maize-growing soil under different tillage and residue management

Non-Peer ReviewedMicroorganisms are involved in the fertility-related processes of agricultural fields. The long-term impact of tillage and residue management on soil microorganisms was studied over the growing season, in a sandy loam to loamy sand soil of southwestern Quebec. Tillage and residue treatments had been first imposed in fall 1991, on a maize (Zea mays L.) monoculture. Treatments consisted of no till, reduced tillage, and conventional tillage with crop residues either removed from (-R) or retained on (+R) experimental plots, laid out in a randomized complete block design. Soil microbial biomass carbon (SMB-C), soil microbial nitrogen (SMB-N) and phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) concentrations were measured four times over the 2001 growing season i.e., in May 7 (preplanting), June 25, July 16, and September 29 (prior to corn harvest). The effect of time was larger than those of tillage or residue treatments. While SMB-C showed little seasonal change (160 μg C g-1 soil), SMB-N was responsive to post emergence mineral nitrogen fertilization, and PLFA analysis showed an increase in fungi and total PLFA throughout the season. The effect of residue was more pronounced than that of tillage, with increased SMB-C and SMB-N (61% and 96%) in +R plots compared to –R plots. This study illustrated that measuring soil quality based on soil microbial components must take into account seasonal changes in soil physical and chemical conditions

The Lived Experiences of Elders’ Age-Related Changes in Emotional and Social Factors

There is a need for more studies examining elderly’s perspective of age-related changes in emotional (anxiety, depression, hope and optimism) and social (interpersonal relationships, social support and level of engagement or activity) factors. There is an increase in psychological needs for older adults, and it is important to explore and enhance knowledge in this field to better serve this population. The purpose of this qualitative research was to describe the lived experiences of elders’ age-related changes in emotional and social factors. The theories and concepts that grounded this study included the activity theory of aging and the continuity theory of normal aging. The key research question for this study explored the lived experiences of elders’ age-related changes in emotional and social factors. For this phenomenological study, eight individuals who met the eligibility criteria were recruited using purposive sampling. Semi structured interviews with open ended questions were used to gather information and a content analysis of the data gathered the following themes (a) desired relationships with friends and family, (b) financial freedom, (c) maintaining independence, (d) alleviation from parental responsibilities, (e) fear of death, and (f) fear of loneliness. Understanding the impact emotional and social distress causes in adults aged 65 and above and the perceived needs to improve their emotional and social health can promote positive social change by serving as the basis to develop interventions addressing their needs and targeted to increase quality of life for this population

Nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide emissions from surface and subsurface drip irrigated tomato fields

Irrigation practices change the soil moisture in agricultural fields and influence emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG). A 2 yr field study was conducted to assess carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from surface and subsurface drip irrigated tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) fields on a loamy sand in southern Ontario. Surface and subsurface drip irrigation are common irrigation practices used by tomato growers in southern Ontario. The N2O fluxes were generally ≤50 μg N2O-N m⁻² h⁻¹, with mean cumulative emissions ranging between 352 ± 83 and 486 ± 138 mg N2O-N m⁻². No significant difference in N2O emissions between the two drip irrigation practices was found in either study year. Mean CO2 fluxes ranged from 22 to 160 mg CO2-C m² h⁻¹ with cumulative fluxes between 188 ± 42 and 306 ± 31 g CO2-C m⁻². Seasonal CO2 emissions from surface drip irrigation were significantly greater than subsurface drip irrigation in both years, likely attributed to sampling time temperature differences. We conclude that these irrigation methods did not have a direct effect on the GHG emissions from tomato fields in this study. Therefore, both irrigation methods are expected to have similar environmental impacts and are recommended to growers

Cryptosporidium and Giardia as Determinants for Selection of an Appropriate Source of Drinking-water in Southern Sri Lanka

Four different water sources (irrigation canals, small reservoirs, shallow wells, and tubewells), used for domestic purposes, in an irrigated area in southern Sri Lanka, were tested for Giardia spp. cysts and Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts. Identification of these parasites in water sources is important as these are increasingly recognized as causative agents of waterborne diarrhoeal disease. All the four sources of water were contaminated with cysts and oocysts. The sources of surface-water contained a greater number of protozoa compared to tubewells and shallow wells (p<0.05). The results indicate a reduction of high parasite loads by natural filtration as the water moves from canals to shallow wells through the soil profile. This could present an opportunity to reduce the burden of diarrhoeal disease due to protozoa by selecting an appropriate source of drinking-water and identifying those water sources that require treatment solutions

Integrated “farm to fork approach” to improving food and nutrition security in the Caribbean by linking agricultural productivity and diversity on small holder farms to school feeding programs

PowerPoint presentationPresented at the International Food Security Dialogue 2014 : theme “Nutritional security ‐ relations between food, agriculture, health and nutrition”Delivered at the International Food Security Dialogue conference (2014) this presentation provides information regarding the successful Canadian International Food Security Research Fund (CIFSRF) food security project. Slides present statistical information about farm productivity; child health and obesity; project goals, and how the integrated project model was created and implemented. Equipped with drip irrigation and other agricultural technologies, local farmers delivered about 20 tons of new nutritious produce in one year to the school feeding program (SFP) in St. Kitts – a remarkable feat in food procurement in the Eastern Caribbean