Colonisation initiale des coléoptères saproxyliques et décomposition des débris ligneux grossiers d'épinette noire après feu en milieu boréal

Cette thèse a pour objet i) l'étude de la phase initiale de colonisation des débris ligneux d'épinettes noires (Picea mariana [Mill] B.S.P.) produits par le feu, par les coléoptères saproxyliques ainsi que l'étude ii) des facteurs régulant les taux de décomposition de ces débris ligneux dans le nord de la forêt boréale du Québec. Cette étude est la seule à ce jour traitant à la fois de la décomposition du bois et de la colonisation saproxylique dans un contexte postfeu. Entre autres, elle a mis à profit un dispositif d'échantillonnage entomologique installé très tôt après feu (7 jours). Ce dispositif ainsi que celui utilisé pour caractériser la décomposition de la matière ligneuse se sont étendus sur un large territoire ce qui a permis de couvrir l'essentiel de la variabilité des conditions postfeu ainsi que de considérer de multiples échelles spatiales. L'étude a ainsi mis en lumière l'importance de la sévérité du feu dans la structuration des patrons de colonisation. De plus, le patron de colonisation laisse présager que les capacités de dispersion des coléoptères saproxyliques colonisant les brulis récents sont très importantes. En plus d'influencer fortement le patron de colonisation des coléoptères saproxyliques, la sévérité du feu affecte aussi le processus de décomposition de la matière ligneuse. Les caractéristiques de l'habitat brûlé ont influencé le patron de colonisation de façon très importante. Les attributs de l'habitat brûlé, plus particulièrement, la sévérité du feu, ont influencé ce patron à de multiples échelles spatiales et ce, à la fois pour les adultes colonisateurs et les néonates. De façon générale, les prédateurs et les xylophages adultes étaient plus abondants dans les paysages et les peuplements sévèrement brûlés alors que la sévérité du feu avait un impact opposé sur les mycophages. L'importance de la sévérité du feu devrait être une conséquence directe de l'impact de cette variable sur les propriétés nutritionnelles du substrat ligneux. En ce sens, une plus forte abondance des adultes xylophages dans les peuplements sévèrement brûlés est contre-intuitive. En effet, les néonates xylophages étaient plus abondantes dans les arbres faiblement brûlés, ces derniers favorisant la survie larvaire en maintenant un taux d'humidité subcorticale suffisant. Un tel comportement postfeu suggère une stratégie de colonisation non-optimale chez plusieurs espèces xylophages. Ce comportement pourrait être le résultat d'une pression évolutive qui aurait amené ces espèces à détecter et utiliser un substrat à l'apport beaucoup plus stable, en l'occurrence celui produit par sénescence naturelle en forêt verte, plutôt que celui résultant d'une perturbation survenant à des intervalles hautement variables dans le temps et l'espace. Se dirigeant vers le substrat brûlé en utilisant les mêmes volatiles que ceux émis par les arbres récemment morts en forêt non-brûlée, les adultes colonisateurs auraient majoritairement convergé vers les paysages contenant davantage de ces volatiles, soit ceux sévèrement brûlés. Malgré la non-optimalité de cette stratégie, l'utilisation des brulis demeurent une opportunité reproductive (plutôt que la panacée) pour les espèces xylophages considérant la très grande quantité de substrats qu'on y retrouve. D'autre part, le processus de dispersion vers les habitats où la quantité de volatiles est élevée implique la prise en compte de caractéristiques environnementales à grandes échelles spatiales. Néanmoins, les caractéristiques de l'habitat brûlé mesurées à des échelles plus fines sont demeurées importantes afin de structurer le patron de colonisation. L'émigration des individus depuis des habitats-sources éloignés vers le substrat de reproduction ou d'alimentation a été la conséquence directe de ce patron spatial multi-échelles. Par ailleurs, l'éloignement des sources de colonisation n'aurait eu que très peu d'impact sur la capacité des coléoptères saproxyliques adultes à atteindre l'habitat à coloniser. Seule l'abondance de quelques espèces majoritairement mycophages diminuait en fonction de la distance aux feux récents. L'absence d'effets négatifs de l'éloignement des sources de colonisation pourrait être conséquente aux très fortes capacités de dispersion présumées des espèces colonisatrices initiales. En plus d'influencer la colonisation saproxylique, la sévérité du feu a eu un impact considérable sur les taux de décomposition de la matière ligneuse. De façon générale, ces taux étaient relativement bas (k = 0,013) lorsque comparés à ceux observés sur des taxons similaires et à l'intérieur d'écorégions comparables. La sévérité du feu a négativement influencé les taux de décomposition notamment en accélérant la perte d'humidité et la chute de l'écorce et en ralentissant la fragmentation des chicots. Les faibles taux de décomposition chez les arbres sévèrement brûlés pourraient aussi être conséquents à une action comminutive réduite des espèces xylophages. \ud ______________________________________________________________________________ \ud MOTS-CLÉS DE L’AUTEUR : Feu de forêt, coléoptères saproxyliques, taux de décomposition, débris ligneux, Picea mariana, dispersion, patrons spatiaux, forêt boréal

Evidence for dust evolution within the Taurus Complex from Spitzer images

We present Spitzer images of the Taurus Complex (TC) and take advantage of the sensitivity and spatial resolution of the observations to characterize the diffuse IR emission across the cloud. This work highlights evidence of dust evolution within the translucent sections of the archetype reference for studies of quiescent molecular clouds. We combine Spitzer 160 um and IRAS 100 um observations to produce a dust temperature map and a far-IR dust opacity map at 5' resolution. The average dust temperature is about 14.5K with a dispersion of +/-1K across the cloud. The far-IR dust opacity is a factor 2 larger than the average value for the diffuse ISM. This opacity increase and the attenuation of the radiation field (RF) both contribute to account for the lower emission temperature of the large grains. The structure of the TC significantly changes in the mid-IR images that trace emission from PAHs and VSGs. We focus our analysis of the mid-IR emission to a range of ecliptic latitudes where the zodiacal light residuals are small. Within this cloud area, there are no 8 and 24 um counterparts to the brightest 160 um emission features. Conversely, the 8 and 24 um images reveal filamentary structure that is strikingly inconspicuous in the 160 um and extinction maps. The IR colors vary over sub-parsec distances across this filamentary structure. We compare the observed colors with model calculations quantifying the impact of the RF intensity and the abundance of stochastically heated particles on the dust SED. To match the range of observed colors, we have to invoke variations by a factor of a few of both the interstellar RF and the abundance of PAHs and VSGs. We conclude that within this filamentary structure a significant fraction of the dust mass cycles in and out the small size end of the dust size distribution.Comment: 43 pages, 13 figures, accepted for publication in Ap

Multi-model approach to integrate climate change impact on carbon sequestration potential of afforestation scenarios in Quebec, Canada

Afforestation of unproductive or currently non-forested territories can increase carbon land sinks and thus contribute to mitigate climate change. However, investments on large-scale afforestation could be risky because of the predicted effect of climate change on forest productivity of newly created plantations. The aim of this study was to assess the carbon sequestration and mitigation potential of afforestation scenarios with different species (Picea mariana, Picea glauca, Pinus banksiana, Pinus resinosa and Populus spp) on open woodlands and abandoned farmlands in the Province of Quebec (Canada) under different radiative forcing projections. We modelled carbon dynamics in these lands under three Representative Concentration Pathways projections (RCP 2.6, RCP 4.5, and RCP 8.5) over the 2021–2100 period. The forest gap model PICUS was used to model tree growth of afforested species as a function of the Representative Concentration Pathways 2.6, 4.5 and 8.5; these data were then used as input in the Carbon Budget Model – Canadian Forest Sector 3 to simulate the evolution of ecosystem carbon stocks and fluxes as a function of forest management and climate. Carbon transfer to harvested wood products, and carbon fluxes associated with product life cycles and substitution effects on markets, were also included in the analyses. Results showed that Pinus species responded more strongly to variations in radiative forcing than for the other simulated species. Overall, aboveground biomass was particularly altered by increased radiative forcing, which in turn reduced harvesting yield and transfers to wood processing and products. At the end of the simulation, despite the expected impacts of radiative forcing on ecosystems, afforestation scenarios on open woodlands with black spruce, white spruce, and jack pine can deliver carbon mitigation of 32% – 70% over the baseline scenario and 4% – 12% for red pine on abandoned farmlands and, hence, contribute to efforts to reduce GHG emissions, especially over the long term. Although climate change is expected to impact the growth of newly planted areas as part of afforestation efforts, the results of our study suggest that the choice of species to plant and the selected forest management strategy have a greater impact on carbon stocks than climate change itself. This study provides a better understanding of the dynamics of afforestation under climate change and whether investments in plantation can contribute to GHG reduction targets

Climate change alone cannot explain boreal caribou range recession in Quebec since 1850

The contraction of species range is one of the most significant symptoms of biodiversity loss worldwide. While anthropogenic activities and habitat alteration are major threats for several species, climate change should also be considered. For species at risk, differentiating the effects of human disturbances and climate change on past and current range transformations is an important step towards improved conservation strategies. We paired historical range maps with global atmospheric reanalyses from different sources to assess the potential effects of recent climate change on the observed northward contraction of the range of boreal populations of woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) in Quebec (Canada) since 1850. We quantified these effects by highlighting the discrepancies between different southern limits of the caribou's range (used as references) observed in the past and reconstitutions obtained through the hindcasting of the climate conditions within which caribou are currently found. Hindcasted southern limits moved ~105 km north over time under all reanalysis datasets, a trend drastically different from the ~620 km reported for observed southern limits since 1850. The differences in latitudinal shift through time between the observed and hindcasted southern limits of distribution suggest that caribou range recession should have been only 17% of what has been observed since 1850 if recent climate change had been the only disturbance driver. This relatively limited impact of climate reinforces the scientific consensus stating that caribou range recession in Quebec is mainly caused by anthropogenic drivers (i.e. logging, development of the road network, agriculture, urbanization) that have modified the structure and composition of the forest over the past 160 years, paving the way for habitat-mediated apparent competition and overharvesting. Our results also call for a reconsideration of past ranges in models aiming at projecting future distributions, especially for endangered species. -- Keywords : anthropogenic disturbances ; climate niche ; eastern Canada ; modelling ; Rangifer tarandus caribou ; species distribution model

Spitzer and ISO Galaxy Counts in the Mid-Infrared

Galaxy source counts that simultaneously fit the deep mid-infrared surveys at 24 microns and 15 microns made by the Spitzer Space Telescope and the Infrared Space Observatory (ISO) respectively are presented for two phenomenological models. The models are based on starburst and luminous infrared galaxy dominated populations. Both models produce excellent fits to the counts in both wavebands and provide an explanation for the high redshift population seen in the longer Spitzer 24 micron band supporting the hypothesis that they are luminous-ultraluminous infrared galaxies at z=2-3, being the mid-infrared counterparts to the sub-mm galaxy population. The source counts are characterized by strong evolution to redshift unity, followed by less drastic evolution to higher redshift. The number-redshift distributions in both wavebands are well explained by the effect of the many mid-infrared features passing through the observation windows. The sharp upturn at around a milliJansky in the 15 micron counts in particular depends critically on the distribution of mid-infrared features around 12 microns, in the assumed spectral energy distribution.Comment: 6 pages, 2 figures, accepted for publication MNRA

Acute effects of electronic and tobacco cigarettes on vascular and respiratory function in healthy volunteers:a cross-over study

Objectives: To assess the acute effects of nicotine-containing electronic cigarettes versus tobacco smoking on vascular and respiratory function and circulating microparticles, particularly platelet microparticles (PMPs, biomarker of haemostasis/thrombosis) and endothelial microparticles (EMPs, biomarker of endothelial function). Methods: Heart rate (HR), blood pressure, reactive hyperaemia index (RHI, microvascular reactivity), augmentation index (arterial stiffness) and respiratory function were assessed in 20 smokers immediately before and after electronic cigarettes use and tobacco smoking. The number of microparticles was determined by flow cytometry using counting beads as a reference. Labelling with Annexin-V was used to detect the total microparticle fraction. EMPs were characterized as CD31+CD42− and PMPs as CD31+CD42+. Results: HR increased after electronic cigarettes use and tobacco smoking (P < 0.001), whereas blood pressure remained unchanged (P > 0.05). RHI (P = 0.006), augmentation index (P = 0.010) but not augmentation index standardized to HR 75 bpm (P > 0.05) increased with electronic cigarettes use but not with tobacco smoking. Following tobacco smoking, there was a significant increase in total microparticles (P < 0.001), EMPs (P < 0.001) and PMPs (P < 0.001). In contrast, electronic cigarettes were only associated with an increase in PMPs (P < 0.001), with no significant changes in the total microparticle fraction or EMPs (all P > 0.05). Peak expiratory flow significantly decreased following electronic cigarettes use (P = 0.019). Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that acute exposure to tobacco smoking as well as electronic cigarettes influences vascular and respiratory function. Where tobacco smoking significantly increased microparticle formation, indicative of possible endothelial injury, electronic cigarettes use induced vasoreactivity and decreased peak expiratory flow. These findings suggest that both electronic cigarettes and tobacco smoking negatively impact vascular function

Globally consistent climate sensitivity of natural disturbances across boreal and temperate forest ecosystems

Disturbance regimes are changing in forests across the world in response to global climate change. Despite the profound impacts of disturbances on ecosystem services and biodiversity, assessments of disturbances at the global scale remain scarce. Here, we analyzed natural disturbances in boreal and temperate forest ecosystems for the period 2001-2014, aiming to 1) quantify their within- and between-biome variation and 2) compare the climate sensitivity of disturbances across biomes. We studied 103 unmanaged forest landscapes with a total land area of 28.2 x 10(6) ha, distributed across five continents. A consistent and comprehensive quantification of disturbances was derived by combining satellite-based disturbance maps with local expert knowledge of disturbance agents. We used Gaussian finite mixture models to identify clusters of landscapes with similar disturbance activity as indicated by the percent forest area disturbed as well as the size, edge density and perimeter-area-ratio of disturbed patches. The climate sensitivity of disturbances was analyzed using Bayesian generalized linear mixed effect models and a globally consistent climate dataset. Within-biome variation in natural disturbances was high in both boreal and temperate biomes, and disturbance patterns did not vary systematically with latitude or biome. The emergent clusters of disturbance activity in the boreal zone were similar to those in the temperate zone, but boreal landscapes were more likely to experience high disturbance activity than their temperate counterparts. Across both biomes high disturbance activity was particularly associated with wildfire, and was consistently linked to years with warmer and drier than average conditions. Natural disturbances are a key driver of variability in boreal and temperate forest ecosystems, with high similarity in the disturbance patterns between both biomes. The universally high climate sensitivity of disturbances across boreal and temperate ecosystems indicates that future climate change could substantially increase disturbance activity.Peer reviewe