Hubs of Expertise

This hub offers sessions with a consultant about your research on biodiversity. These sessions can help with experimental and sampling design, the management, curation, and validation of datasets, or statistical analyses. The hub also offers support through a discussion and exchange group about the challenges faced during research on biodiversity, with monthly meetings at the department of biological sciences, UQAM and online.

This Hub of Expertise project “Pilot testing a novel method for defining genetically distinct populations across hundreds to thousands of species, leveraging publicly available genetic data,” is focused on a long standing challenge in biodiversity science - defining populations. The aim is to advance the science and practice of this challenge, with a specific purpose of informing policy, decision making, and action for conserving genetic diversity. This project will establish a hub of expertise and advance a tool for which a need has been highlighted through sustained dialogue with end user partners. The Hub will specifically provide expert knowledge, guided by policy needs, to implement the headline indicator for genetic diversity of the KM-GBF. This will require integrating knowledge from three of the QCBS research axes: Observe and monitor, Detect changes, and Support decisions. It will require integration of these different axes, and it will require communication and hand-in-hand work with the end users. This will provide a training environment for researchers, students, and end users on topics such as genetic diversity, adaptive capacity, rates of changes, design of indicators, quantifying and displaying uncertainty, spatial ecology, demographic models, spatial planning, and threatened species protection and management. Based on past experience working on tools relating to this topic, this innovative research is likely to attract promising students and postdocs keen to work on indicators to inform Quebec’s Plan Nature and Canada’s 2030 Nature Strategy. This work builds on several partnerships, including with GEO BON’s Secretariat and several members of the QCBS (Griffith et al 2025, Hoban et al 2024, Leigh et al 2021, Hoban et al 2023, Hebert et al in prep, Gonzalez et al 2023).

Human activities are increasingly influencing wildlife and natural environments. In this context, defining and describing biological interactions as a central aspect of the study of biodiversity becomes a priority. Within each species, these interactions participate in the social organization of individuals and influence many facets of their life such as their growth, reproduction and survival. They also play a fundamental role in the structure and functioning of communities, whether through predation, competition, parasitism, mutualism or symbiosis. At the center of the processes driving the observed changes in individuals, populations and communities, biological interactions have led to the structure of biodiversity as we know it today. Rapid environmental changes (REC) can disrupt biological interactions at the three levels mentioned above, with serious demographic, ecological and evolutionary consequences (eg extinction, invasion, increase, evolution), in turn affecting the structure of biodiversity. These consequences often result in changes in the mean and in the variation of traits within individuals (plasticity), populations (contemporary evolution) or communities (functional homogenization). These changes affect biological interactions and the structure of biodiversity. However, biodiversity assessments rarely manage to detect reduction in intraspecific variation. It is therefore essential to study intraspecific variation as an essential component of biodiversity; a main issue of axis 2 of QCBS 2.0 and GEOBON. IN ORDER TO IMPROVE OUR CAPABILITIES TO PREDICT THE CHALLENGES THAT BIODIVERSITY WILL FACE AND TO PRESERVE IT, WE NEED TO DEVELOP STATISTICAL TOOLS THAT ALLOW US TO STUDY THE LINKS BETWEEN RECS, BIOLOGICAL INTERACTIONS AND PROCESSES THAT AFFECT TRAITS. Our center of expertise brings together researchers who are interested in biological interactions at different levels and who have complementary expertise ranging from genomics, community ecology, through quantitative genetics, the study of selection, network analyses, biodemographic models or phylogenetic analyses.

- Extraction and purification of DNA or RNA from diverse biological samples (plants, fungi, bacteria, viruses, etc.). - Analyzes of carbon and nitrogen content on solid samples (soils, leaves, roots, etc.). - Analyzes of carbon content (organic and/or inorganic) on liquid samples. - Bench space in the molecular and biochemical laboratories with access to high performance research equipment.

The CSBQ pole of expertise in sharing and management of biodiversity data was established to offer CSBQ students and researchers a set of training workshops, standardized and customized protocols, as well as services to facilitate data publication. The proposed services include: 1) Workshops and training for students and researchers 2) Individual consultations (or for specialized groups) 3) Provide documentation and tutorials about structure, cleaning, standardization and publication of biodiversity data 4) Development of documents and forms for collection of data and metadata

The QCBS 2.0 focuses on establishing a Québec Biodiversity Observation Network and developing the science around it. Given the sheer size of Québec, and the speed at which changes in biodiversity are taking place, it is clear that remote sensing is required and that field observations will not be sufficient. The overall goal of this Hub of Expertise to share the team’s remote sensing expertise broadly across the QCBS, by offering data acquisition and processing services (e.g., drone imagery) and by providing specific training to HQP and researchers. The specific objectives of this Hub of Expertise are to: 1. offer drone data acquisition and processing services to members. 2. provide consulting services and access to tools to members for efficient field data acquisition workflows that require the integration of in-situ observations and remote sensing data (e.g. species annotations of high-resolution RGB imagery for training or validating deep learning models). 3. provide training about acquiring, accessing, processing and/or using remote sensing data for biodiversity research.

The expertise of the ArcticWATTS team and its collaborators are diverse and involve several Quebec, Canadian, and international institutions (see table). However, the key areas that bring the team members together in the context of the FRQNT project are energetics and thermoregulation. With the help of Dr. Le Pogam, we will first focus on our expertise in this field to offer technical workshops that will allow CSBQ researchers and students to develop their skills in these areas. In the longer term, we will be able to expand and diversify our offerings and also coordinate other workshops offered by our external collaborators during their visits to Quebec. Currently, there is no structured training in energetics in Quebec. For example, to take a course in respirometry, one must go to Las Vegas and spend several thousand dollars. We have already trained students, technicians, and postdocs in several techniques, and we have the expertise to develop workshops tailored to their needs. As the equipment is already in place at UQAR and relatively inexpensive to operate, we anticipate that the costs will be relatively low, which should maximize accessibility. The costs will, therefore, be evaluated in advance with the participants according to their needs. Subject to any changes, the main costs for students should be related to travel and accommodation and could potentially be covered by the CSBQ Learning and Development Awards.

1. Scientific consulting and guidance Consulting on environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling strategies. Support with experimental design and workflow optimization. Guidance for sequencing data analysis and interpretation. 2. Laboratory services Complete eDNA sample processing, including: DNA extraction; standard, quantitative, and digital PCR; quality control procedures; library preparation for sequencing; high-throughput sequencing (e.g., Oxford Nanopore MinION). Sample storage and management. 3. Access to specialized infrastructure Access to ISFORT equipment and facilities in ecological and environmental genomics. Access to highly qualified personnel (technicians, postdoctoral fellows). Technical support for instrument use and analytical tools. 4. Training programs Training on eDNA sampling and DNA extraction (1 day, including CSA/ISO standards). Training on various PCR approaches (2 days). Training on next-generation sequencing and metabarcoding, with an introduction to associated bioinformatics (2 days). Additional training modules tailored to CSBQ members' needs. 5. Networking and knowledge transfer Connecting users with eDNA and environmental genomics experts across Québec. Responding to requests from public and private organizations. Building an operational network capable of providing eDNA services and expertise.

1. Scientific consulting and guidance Consulting on environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling strategies. Support with experimental design and workflow optimization. Guidance for sequencing data analysis and interpretation. 2. Laboratory services Complete eDNA sample processing, including: DNA extraction; standard, quantitative, and digital PCR; quality control procedures; library preparation for sequencing; high-throughput sequencing (e.g., Oxford Nanopore MinION). Sample storage and management. 3. Access to specialized infrastructure Access to ISFORT equipment and facilities in ecological and environmental genomics. Access to highly qualified personnel (technicians, postdoctoral fellows). Technical support for instrument use and analytical tools. 4. Training programs Training on eDNA sampling and DNA extraction (1 day, including CSA/ISO standards). Training on various PCR approaches (2 days). Training on next-generation sequencing and metabarcoding, with an introduction to associated bioinformatics (2 days). Additional training modules tailored to CSBQ members' needs. 5. Networking and knowledge transfer Connecting users with eDNA and environmental genomics experts across Québec. Responding to requests from public and private organizations.