RESEARCH TOPICS

Specialist in phytotechnologies and plant ecology, particularly phytoremediation, contaminated land reclamation, and the ecology of hostile environments. My research explores the adaptation of plants to contaminated or metalliferous soils and the development of nature-based solutions. Drawing on a functional trait approach, I aim to maximize ecological services in urban environments, such as brownfield sites, and improve the selection of plant species during their revegetation. My expertise, enriched by international and multidisciplinary collaborations, combines fundamental research in plant ecology with concrete applications of ecological development.

Currently, my research focuses on the study of plant communities in serpentine soils in southern Quebec, ecosystems naturally rich in metals, in order to better understand the adaptation mechanisms of plants to soil contamination. This is with the aim of transferring this knowledge to the revegetation of similar urban environments, thus contributing to improving the resilience of cities. I am also studying the ability of plants to migrate contaminants from the soil to plant root systems, with a view to phytomanagement of contaminated land.

Keywords: Functional ecology • Serpentine and ultramafic soils • Contamination • Phytoremediation • Plants • Urban wastelands • Planning • Landscape architecture • Nature-based solutions • Salix spp

STUDENTS

M.Sc students
Roxanne Fontaine-Garant, co-supervision with Danielle Dagenais

TEACHING

APA-1130: Écologie et développement durable
APA-2130: Écologie végétale, théorie et pratique

PUBLICATIONS

Peer-reviewed publications can be found on Google Scholar.