By Nicolas Bannester-Marchand, MSc graduate of Université de Sherbrooke

As our knowledge of how complex ecological systems are increases, so does our need for tools to study these systems. In order to develop these tools, collaboration among students and experts in the field is essential. This is why I feel very lucky to have had the chance to attend the International Society for Ecological Modelling Conference in Scarborough, Ontario. This conference included experts in the field of ecological modeling from across the globe, with interests ranging from microorganisms to modeling species, whole ecosystems and even global change.

This experience was made possible through the generous grant provided by the QCBS Excellence Award. The financial support offered by the organization allowed me to participate in this event, and eased the financial burden associated with registration fees, accommodation, and travel expenses. Presenting my research in the setting of a conference like this one was a great step in my academic career, but more importantly, discussing the methods with which we can study ecological systems with my peers was an invaluable experience. It helped me broaden my perspective of scientific research and how to use modelling to better explain ecological systems around us. At the conference, I was able to present my results regarding my research on the copper redhorse, an endangered species of fish that is facing the threat of extinction and is only found in Quebec. This work was conducted in collaboration with my supervisors F. Guillaume Blanchet and Nicholas E. Mandrak, as well as Nathalie Vachon from the Ministère de l’Environnement, de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, de la Faune et des Parcs. Our research focused on better understanding the population dynamics of the redhorse and quantifying its risk of extinction, as well as studying the distribution of the most vulnerable stage of the population, young-of-the-year, in the hopes of informing conservation strategies. We studied a theoretical redhorse population through elasticity analysis and three scenarios of population dynamics models (optimistic, base and pessimistic). We then modelled the distribution of all five young-of-the-year redhorse species found in the Richelieu river using joint species distribution models (JSDMs).

About the author: Nicolas Bannester-Marchand is an MSc graduate in the Biology department of the Université de Sherbrooke. “I have always had a strong interest in biodiversity and conservation. Under F. Guillaume Blanchet’s supervision, I also discovered an affinity for modeling and statistics, an integral part of research. Joining these fields together to get the most out of often sparse ecological data has been my goal throughout my graduate studies.”