Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue
Ph.D. candidate
Supervisor: Steven Kembel
Nicole Fenton, UQAT
Start: 2017-06-13
End: 2021-06-13
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Project

Effects of tree dominance of black spruce and trembling aspen on the understory vegetation and microbial composition in the Canadian boreal forest
In a context of climate change, Canadian boreal forests significantly contribute to the global carbon cycle along with providing other ecosystem services. Considering that boreal forests are being affected by these global changes, it is essential to further understand the ecological dynamics of boreal forest to be able to maintain the ecosystem productivity and conserve species diversity. Canopy composition influences habitat conditions for other plants in the understory and consequently affects ecosystem processes. Therefore, in order to have a systemic view of ecological dynamics, it is essential to analyze interactions as a whole. This project will contribute to our understanding of the ecological dynamics of Picea mariana (black spruce) and Populus tremuloides (trembling aspen) dominated stands in the boreal forest. The first objective seeks to analyze the effects of canopy composition on vascular and non vascular plants in the understory vegetation. The second objective will help us to improve the knowledge of microbial dynamics in the boreal forest, in order to see at a different scale, the effects of tree dominance on the composition of bacterial communities in both canopy types. Finally, the last objective will contribute to the knowledge of poorly understood associations between bryophytes and microorganisms, since both of them play fundamental roles in the forest, especially in relation to nutrients cycling. Understanding the dynamics at different scales of two common and economically important trees of boreal ecosystems, will help us to make better decisions for a sustainable forest management.

Publications

1- EVALUATION OF THE ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF FOUR ETHANOLIC EXTRACTS OF BRYOPHYTES AND TEN FRUIT JUICES OF COMMERCIAL INTEREST IN COLOMBIA AGAINST FOUR PATHOGENIC BACTERIA
Rodríguez-Rodríguez, J.C., I.J.P. Samudio-Echeverry, L.G. Sequeda-Castañeda
2012 Acta Horticulturae

2- Relationship between vitamin intake and total antioxidant capacity in elderly adults
Ojeda Arredondo, Miriam Lucia, Magda Catalina Pinilla Betancourt, Martha Lucia Borrero Yoshida, Gonzalo Sequeda, Vivian Maritza Castro Herrera, Angela Sofia Garcia Vega, Juanita Carolina Rodríguez Rodríguez, Ofelia Diez, Paolo Lucci
2016 Universitas Scientiarum

3- Effects of the Fruit Ripening Stage on Antioxidant Capacity, Total Phenolics, and Polyphenolic Composition of Crude Palm Oil from Interspecific Hybrid Elaeis oleifera × Elaeis guineensis
Rodríguez, Juanita C., Daniela Gómez, Deborah Pacetti, Oscar Núñez, Riccardo Gagliardi, Natale G. Frega, Myriam L. Ojeda, Monica R. Loizzo, Rosa Tundis, Paolo Lucci
2016 Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry