McGill University
M.Sc. candidate
Supervisor: Frederic Guichard
Christian Nozais
Start: 2026-01-01
End: 2027-12-15

Project

Role and composition of microbiomes and benthic fauna in decomposition and carbon sequestration in seagrass sediments.
My research investigates how seagrass meadows influence carbon cycling by shaping sediment properties and benthic communities. Using the boreal seagrass *Zostera marina* in Rimouski, Québec, I examine how environmental stress, hydrodynamic conditions, sediment characteristics, and biodiversity interact to regulate organic matter decomposition. The project integrates experimental approaches to assess decomposition rates, sediment properties, and the abundance and biomass of benthic fauna, alongside microbial processes. By linking these interactions across multiple scales, my research aims to better understand the mechanisms driving carbon cycling and carbon burial in seagrass ecosystems, and how biodiversity and environmental stress may influence their capacity to store carbon.

Keywords

seagrass, herbier marins, Conservation, ecology, decomposition, carbon, sediment