Graduate students

Ph.D.

M.Sc.

Students of related projects

Ph.D.

Mattis Pelletier

Ph.D. student, 2025-

Université Laval, Department of Biology (QC, Canada)

mattis.pelletier.1@ulaval.ca

Research project:

Director: Sandra Hamel, co-director: Steeve Côté

Title: Population dynamics of different caribou ecotypes.

Objectives: Combine datasets of varying quality to assess demographic trends of 17 caribou populations. Identify the factors that limit population size, and evaluate whether these factors vary across caribou ecotypes and populations. Predict the future abundance and extinction probability of at-risk populations.

Louis-Philippe Beauchamp

Ph.D. student, 2025-

Université Laval, Department of Biology (QC, Canada)

louis-philippe.beauchamp.1@ulaval.ca

Research project:

Director: Jean-Pierre Tremblay, co-director: Steeve Côté

Title: Effects of rain-on-snow events on the ecology of migratory caribou.

Objectives: Assess the influence of ‘rain-on-snow’ events on the nutritional resources, the movements and ultimately the population dynamics of migratory caribou.

Alexandra Scheubel

Ph.D. student, 2024-

Université Laval, Department of Biology & Institute of integrative biology and systems (IBIS) (QC, Canada)

alexandra.scheubel.1@ulaval.ca

Research project:

Director: Nicolas Derome, co-director: Claude Robert

Title: Microbiote, nemabiote and health of caribou and other nordic ungulates.

Objectives: Quantify the impact of environmental factors (such as diet) and internal factors (including microbiota, genotype, and physical condition) on changes in the microbiota of caribou and muskox populations.

M.Sc.

Kelly-Ann Rousseau

M.Sc. student, 2025-

Université Laval, Department of Biology (QC, Canada)

kelly-ann.rousseau.1@ulaval.ca

Research project:

Director: Steeve Côté, co-director: Mathieu Leblond

Title: Effects of linear features on the behaviour of migratory caribou.

Objectives: Characterize the movement corridors and connectivity zones used by the Rivière-aux-Feuilles and Rivière-George migratory caribou herds during their spring and autumn migrations, and evaluate the impacts of linear infrastructures (e.g., roads, railways, power lines) on their migratory movements.

Zachary Aronson-Paxton

M.Sc. student, 2025-

Université Laval, Department of Biology (QC, Canada)

zachary.aronson-paxton.1@ulaval.ca

Research project:

Director: Steeve Côté, co-director: Joëlle Taillon

Title: Interactions between black bears and migratory caribou in Nunavik.

Objectives: Examine the spatial relationships between the Rivière-aux-Feuilles migratory caribou herd and black bears on the Ungava Peninsula. Quantify how predation and scavenging vary seasonally in relation to individual bear characteristics, and evaluate black bear habitat selection at diffrent spatial scales.

Caroline Deslongchamps

M.Sc. student, 2023-

Université Laval, Department of Biology (QC, Canada)

caroline.deslongchamps.2@ulaval.ca

Research project:

Director: Steeve Côté, co-director: Martin-Hugues St-Laurent

Title: Impact of linear structures on the behavior of migratory caribou.

Objective: Quantify the effects of mining transport on caribou behaviour. Identify measures to mitigate these effects.

Anthony Asselin

M.Sc. student, 2022-

Université Laval, Department of Biology (QC, Canada)

anthony.asselin.1@ulaval.ca

Research project:

Director: Steeve Côté, co-director: Sandra Hamel

Title: Fine-scale use, temporal changes and fidelity of winter range use in migratory caribou

Objective: Delineate the wintering areas of the Rivière-aux-Feuilles and Rivière-George herds from 1991 to the present. Test the influence of weather conditions and population size on spatiotemporal patterns of winter range use and selection (population and individual scale). Determine wintering area fidelity and assess the existence of social cohesion.

Mattis Pelletier

M.Sc. student, 2023-2025

Université Laval, Department of Biology (QC, Canada)

mattis.pelletier.1@ulaval.ca

Research project:

Director: Sandra Hamel, co-director: Steeve Côté

Title: Impact of cohort effects on life-history traits of migratory caribou.

Objective: Identify the environmental conditions experienced in the first year of life leading to cohort effects reflected in body size and mass at 1 year. Assess short-term consequences on the recruitment rate of the different cohorts and, long-term consequences on annual survival and longevity of females.

Adèle Michaud

M.Sc. student, 2022-2025

Université Laval, Department of Biology (QC, Canada)

adele.michaud.1@ulaval.ca

Research project:

Director: Steeve Côté, co-director: Mathieu Leblond

Title: Definition of critical habitat for eastern migratory caribou.

Objective: Identify the critical habitat of the migratory caribou of the Rivière-aux-Feuilles and Rivière-George herds and map the areas of intensive use for each period of its life cycle (calving areas, summer areas, migratory corridors, wintering areas).