Patrick
Boivin
Research professional
Laboratory of Jacques Brisson


patrick.boivin@umontreal.ca
514-343-6111 #82123

RESPONSABILITIES


  • Development and planning of research projects
  • Implementation of experimental designs
  • Seeding and planting
  • Sampling of vegetation data
  • Writing research reports


RESEARCH PROJECTS


The different research projects I am currently working on are under the supervision of Jacques Brisson and Danielle Dagenais.

 

Evaluation of the potential of embankments and highway drainage ditches in the treatment of surface water

Phytotechnologies such as rainwater management works (RMW) with vegetation have potential for treating rainwater. Although existing vegetated strips and drainage ditches, omnipresent in the road landscape, can constitute effective RMWs for evacuating rainwater, their performance in treating runoff water is still unknown. In this context, our research team aims to better understand the filtration / settling / infiltration processes that take place on embankments and highway ditches.

 

Evaluation of the performance of trees and grasses within green infrastructure

The selection of plants for bioretention is generally based on the aesthetic properties and reliability of these species in urban environments. However, we cannot predict the performance of plants in bioretention based on their horticultural performance in usual urban planting contexts. In this context, our research team monitors plants within these green infrastructures in order to assess their state of health, their growth and their physiological behavior. The acquisition of this knowledge aims to establish performance indices for the species evaluated in order to issue recommendations aimed at better management of them in the design of green infrastructure and in terms of their maintenance.

 

Integrated vegetation control of rights-of-way 

Patrick Boivin emprisesThis research area is part of the implementation of an integrated vegetation control approach for transmission rights-of-way. The goal of this approach is to promote the establishment and maintenance of low vegetation compatible with the operation of the network, while reducing costs and negative environmental impacts. The clearing of 735 kV lines has made it possible to initiate various research projects aimed at developing new intervention methods reflecting this approach. These projects fall under one of the following three headings: ecological monitoring, seeding of stable herbaceous mixtures and control of stump and sucker growth.

 

Preventing and controlling the invasion of highways by common reed

Haies de saules en bordure d'autorouteThe invasion of common reed, facilitated by the presence of highway rights-of-way as a pathway for its spread, poses a significant threat to the biodiversity of wetlands in southern Ontario. Because reed is shade intolerant, planting shrubs in rights-of-way could prevent reed from spreading and invading highway sections that cross ecosystems particularly vulnerable to invasion. In this context, our research team aims to test the effectiveness of planting shrub species as barriers to the spread of reed along and outside of rights-of-way.

 

Control strategy for a new invader: the giant hogweed

La berce du CaucaseGiant hogweed is a particularly harmful and toxic invasive alien plant. Its broad leaves shade out and eliminate natural vegetation cover and contribute to the denudation of soils which then become susceptible to erosion, particularly in riparian strips. This plant is now quite widespread in southern Quebec, and some data suggest that the province is on the verge of a more significant invasion. Faced with this problem of invasion, our research team's objective is to determine the best approach to control the proliferation of this plant. Various methods involving mechanical control and control by plant competition are being studied.

 

Maintaining the biodiversity of Mount Royal by controlling invasive plants

Patrick Boivin Mont-RoyalNorway maple (Acer platanoides) and European buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica) are two exotic species that threaten the plant biodiversity and ecological integrity of Mount Royal's forests. Our research team provides scientific support to the Centre de la montagne in monitoring the progression of these two invasive species following control interventions.