LASA – Laboratoire des sciences aquatiques
Département des sciences fondamentales
Université du Québec à Chicoutimi
555, boulevard de l’Université, Local P3-1070
Chicoutimi (Québec) G7H 2B1
Canada
Email: stephanie.cimon@uqac.ca
Tel: 1-418- 545-5011 ext 2336

Research (Français)

Anticipated environmental changes and increased anthropogenic pressures on coastal area could affect the functioning of ecosystems through changes in the structure and species composition of benthic communities. My Ph.D. project aims to describe the natural variability of communities dominated by macroalgae (Fucus sp.) and eelgrass (Zostera marina), and their responses following multiple disturbances. I work on benthic communities of the intertidal zone of the St. Lawrence estuary. I am looking at how grazers (top-down), resources (bottom-up) and key species are shaping these communities. To do that, I do in situ experiments that manipulate grazers, nutrients, light and density of structuring species. I measure simple and multiple effects of the factors on biodiversity variables. I am also interested by community resilience, that is to say their ability to return to a reference state after a temporary disturbance. This ability to recover is very important in the actual context of increasing anthropogenic pressures on ecosystems.

Link to the project Resilience pictures

Communications

Cimon S.*, Cusson, M. 2017. Additive and antagonistic effects of multiple disturbances and stresses on benthic eelgrass communities. Poster. 15^e Réunion Scientifique Annuelle de Québec-Océan. Rivière-du-Loup (Québec). November 13-15.

Cimon S.*, Cusson, M. 2016. Investigation of non-additive effects of multiple disturbances and stresses on a benthic eelgrass community. Poster. Québec Centre for Biodiversity Annual Symposium. Montréal (Québec). December 14-16.

Cimon S.*, Cusson, M. 2016. Effect of multiple disturbances and stresses on a benthic eelgrass community. Poster. Western Society of Naturalists Annual Meeting, Monterey (CA, USA). Novembre10-13.

Cusson M.*, Cimon S., Joseph L. 2015. Resistance and resilience of benthic intertidal communities to multiple disturbances and stresses. Oral presentation. 50^th European Marine Biology Symposium. Helgoland (Germany). September 21-25.

Cimon S. 2015. Influence des perturbations multiples sur les assemblages benthiques en milieux intertidal rocheux et zosteraies. Popularization (French only). National Final Three Minute Thesis. 83^e Congrès de l’ACFAS. Rimouski (Québec). May 27.

Cimon S.*, Cusson M. 2015. Temporal trajectories of benthic communities following multiple disturbances. Oral presentation. 44^th Edition Benthic Ecology Meeting. Québec (Québec, Canada). March 4-7.

Cimon S.*, Cusson M. 2014. Trajectoire et résilience des communautés soumises à des perturbations multiples. Poster. 13^e AGA de Québec-Océan. November 17-19.

Cimon S.*, Cusson M. 2014. Resilience of Benthic Communities to Multiple Disturbances. Poster. 43^e Édition Benthic Ecology Meeting. Jacksonville (Florida, USA). March 19-22.

Cimon S.*, Cusson M. 2013. Résilience des communautés benthiques face à des perturbations multiples. Poster. 12^e AGA de Québec-Océan. November 13-15.

Reports

Cimon, S. 2012. Effet de l’eutrophisation sur la croissance, la structure et les liens trophiques à l’intérieur d’une communauté de zostères. Rapport d’initiation à la recherche présenté au département des sciences fondamentales, programme de baccalauréat en biologie. Université du Québec à Chicoutimi, Québec. 33 p.

Cimon S. 2010. Adaptation d’un système de production de pseudo-particules virales exprimant les glycoprotéines d’enveloppe E1 et E2 du virus de l’hépatite C. Rapport scientifique présenté à la faculté de médecine, programme de sciences biomédicales. Centre de recherche du CHU Sainte-Justine, Université de Montréal, Québec. 50 p.