A goal of the APLC is to leverage the scientific expertise of university researchers to strengthen our capacity to better understand the impacts of climate change and invasive species, and to protect the long-term health of our lakes

Context

The Université du Québec en Outaouais (UQO), located in Gatineau, plays an active role in teaching and research in the natural sciences. This role has been especially evident since the establishment of the Institut des sciences de la forêt tempérée (ISFORT) in 2012. The institute’s mandate is to advance basic and applied knowledge to guide the management and conservation of temperate ecosystems.

More recently, in 2024, the UQO established the Centre de recherche appliquée sur la biodiversité et les écosystèmes (CRABE). The centre’s goal is to bridge the gap between science and the field on issues of biodiversity and adaptation to the environmental crisis.

On their part, every year, APLC volunteers spearhead several projects aimed at maintaining, improving and preserving the water quality of the Cedar lakes watersheds. There is no doubt that collaborating with university specialists would be highly beneficial, particularly by providing access to scientific resources and up-to-date information regarding the issues that concern us and threaten the health of our lakes. This is what prompted the APLC to approach Jean-Olivier Goyette, co-director of CRABE and professor in the Département des sciences naturelles at UQO, to explore collaboration opportunities with UQO researchers.

Chronology

2025

Following the initial meeting with Professor Jean-Olivier Goyette in January 2025 — which allowed us to present a summary of our respective work and areas of intervention, and to explore potential avenues for collaboration between the APLC and researchers from UQO’s Département des sciences naturelles — three additional meetings were held to identify concrete projects.

These discussions led to the identification of two promising projects, which could be launched as early as 2026, subject to obtaining funding from major public research funding agencies.

• Spiny water flea risk mapping – This project aims to assess and map the risk associated with the spiny water flea, an invasive aquatic species that poses a growing threat to lakes across Quebec. Led by professors Katrine Turgeon and Jean-Olivier Goyette, in collaboration with APLC and regional partners in the Outaouais, the project would support prevention, early detection and awareness efforts.
• Environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis of the Cedar lakes – This non-invasive and efficient scientific approach would make it possible to identify aquatic and terrestrial species present in the Cedar lakes using water samples.

Because the Département des sciences naturelles at the UQO has laboratories equipped for eDNA analysis, the APLC reached out to Professor Yann Surget-Groba, an eDNA specialist, to explore collaboration on a first broad assessment of eDNA in the Cedar lakes. A pilot project is currently under review, and initial sampling could begin as early as spring 2026.