My
research interests focus on factors structuring biological communities. During
my MSc studies, I examined the effect of different top predators on
invertebrate and amphibian assemblages by comparing communities in lakes with
fishes and naturally fishless lakes. With this research, I gained a greater
knowledge of cascading effects caused by changes in trophic structure and
developed skills in statistical analysis of community data. For my dissertation
I continued my work on biotic factors influencing invertebrate community
structure by studying changes in macrophyte assemblages following the invasion
of eelgrass (Zostera marina) beds by the
green alga Codium fragile. During this
project, I developed expertise on habitat-forming species how biological and physical
process influence community structure. As a biologist, I participated in several
projects on the impacts of aquaculture and invasive species on benthic communities.
I acquired valuable training on how to do in
situ observational and manipulative experiments. I also developed the
skills to lead impact studies in a way to detect real impacts (i.e. not related
to natural variability) and study processes involved in environmental changes.
Publications
Drouin A., McKindsey C.W. and Johnson L.E. 2012. Detecting the impacts of notorious invaders: experiments vs. observations in the invasion of eelgrass meadows by the green seaweed Codium fragile. Oecologia, 168: 491-502
Drouin A., McKindsey C.W. and Johnson L.E. 2011. Higher abundance and diversity in faunal assemblages due to the invasion of Codium fragile ssp. fragile in eelgrass meadows. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 424:105-117
Drouin A., Archambault, P. and Sirois P. 2011. Distinction of nektonic and benthic communities between fish-present (Salvelinus fontinalis) and natural fishless lakes. Boreal Environment Research, 16: 101-114
Drouin A., Sirois P. and Archambault P. 2009. Discriminating zooplankton communities in lakes with brook trout Salvelinus fontinalis and in fishless lakes. Ecoscience, 16: 271-281
Drouin A. and McKindsey C.W. 2007. QBRAT assessment: Codium fragile ssp. tomentosoides case study. Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat (CSAS).Research document 2007/007. iv +30p
Drouin A. 2006. Comparaison des communautés d’invertébrés entre les lacs avec et sans omble de fontaine (Salvelinus fontinalis). M.Sc. thesis. x +95p
Drouin A., Sirois P. and Archambault P. 2006. Ensemencement des lacs sans poissons : Effet de l’omble de fontaine (Salvelinus fontinalis) sur la structure des communautés d’invertébrés et d’amphibiens en forêt boréale. Rapport technique canadien des sciences halieutiques et aquatiques 2628 : vii + 41p
Drouin A., Sirois P. and Archambault P. 2005. Contribution des lacs sans poissons à la biodiversité. Rapport pour la Fondation de la faune du Québec. 38p
