Identifying wetland ecosystems and plants of Eeyou Istchee James Bay that are vulnerable to climate change

The results of this project will enable decision-makers, ecological planners and mining companies to develop adaptation strategies and industrial development and biodiversity conservation measures based on robust scientific data that takes into account the effects of climate change on the wetlands of Eeyou Istchee James Bay.

Project details

Scientific program

2014-2019 programming

Theme(s) and priority(s)

Ecosystems and Biodiversity

Start and duration

Mars 2018 • 3 ans

Project Status

Completed

Principal(s) investigator(s)

Nicole Fenton

Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue

Context

Wetlands house a great diversity of plant species but compared to western Canada, our knowledge of the plant biodiversity in Québec's boreal wetlands is fragmented. However, indigenous peoples possess a profound ecological knowledge of these ecosystems.

While it has been demonstrated that wetland conditions and functions are affected by climate-related factors such as precipitation and fire regimes, the link to biodiversity and rare species presence has not yet been investigated at the landscape level and vulnerability to climate change in northern Quebec remains unknown. The elements of diversity (ecosystems or species) most at risk due to climate change can be determined using a combined analysis. This evaluation can be included in a map or GIS layer.

These kinds of tools can be used by communities and industries for regional planning purposes to improve the way biodiversity values are considered. This project is part of the scientific program developed within the NSERC-UQAT Industrial Chair on biodiversity in mining context.

Objectifs

To develop a directory dedicated to a single ecosystem type (wetlands), including several types of values (plant/animal biodiversity and Indigenous priorities) and their vulnerability to climate change
To explore the changes in and eventually the possible states of the Eeyou Istchee James Bay peatlands by 2100 and identify the tipping points of the peatland system using knowledge on the ecological and hydrological functioning of James Bay area peatlands.

Méthodologie

Gather current knowledge on the ecological functioning of peatlands in the region, based on botanical and hydrological data and the chemical composition of the peat and water.
Improve and calibrate the one-dimensional version of the DigiBog model.
Produce climate simulations of temperature and precipitation using the models from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project 5.
Simulate a prototype peatland according to the different regionalized climate simulations and identify the mechanisms leading to system tipping.
Establish the risks of changes in the peatlands of Eeyou Istchee James Bay.

Results

A map of the vulnerability of the Eeyou Istchee James Bay wetlands to climate change
An updated database of wetlands of Eeyou Istchee James Bay
A model describing the biological diversity of the wetlands of Eeyou Istchee James Bay

Benefits for adaptation

The project will encourage ecological planners and mining companies to include climate change adaptation strategies in their operations while strengthening local expertise on climate change and wetlands.

It will contribute to maintaining the ecological integrity and natural and socio-cultural heritage of Eeyou Istchee James Bay by helping decision-makers design industrial development and biodiversity conservation measures based on robust scientific data that takes the effects of climate change on wetlands into account.