Lake and round whitefish are cold-adapted freshwater species with similar life histories and spawning behaviours. There have been several studies on the embryonic development of both species (particularly for lake whitefish), most utilizing constant temperatures. However, temperatures fluctuate in the field due to natural (e.g. seasonal changes) and anthropogenic (e.g. water discharged from once-through cooling processes) effects. Releases from once-through cooling processes may contain low levels of chemicals (e.g. morpholine) and radiation (e.g. tritium). This thesis examined and compared the impacts of thermal, morpholine, and radiation stressors on lake and round whitefish embryogenesis. To examine the effects of fluctuating incubation temperatures, lake and round whitefish were reared at constant temperatures, with seasonal temperature declines/inclines, transient temperature spikes, or seasonal temperature changes combined with temperature spikes. Round whitefish embryos had significantly higher mortality when reared at 8°C compared to lake whitefish, and seasonal temperature changes impacted development rate, growth, and hatch dynamics for both species. Temperature spikes had relatively little effect on development. The effects on embryonic development of chronic morpholine and low-dose radiation exposures were examined in round whitefish to compare with existing data in lake whitefish. Round whitefish embryos were more impacted by morpholine than lake whitefish (larger effects on growth and mortality at relatively lower concentrations) and v less impacted by low-dose radiation (little effect on growth or hatch dynamics). Post hatch, round whitefish embryos reared at 8°C, with rapid seasonal inclines, or with 500 mg L-1 morpholine had elevated mortality. All irradiated embryos had decreased mortality post-hatch compared to non-irradiated embryos. Thus, embryonic exposure to all stressors examined appears to alter post-hatch survival. This thesis better defines the effects of fluctuating incubation temperatures, chronic morpholine, and chronic radiation exposures on the embryonic development of lake and round whitefish. It also suggests that embryonic incubation conditions are important beyond hatching. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc) / Lake and round whitefish are cold-adapted freshwater species. Both species play important ecological roles, with lake whitefish generally perceived as more economically and culturally important. Many studies have detailed lake whitefish embryonic development under constant stressors (e.g. temperature) but there are relatively few studies on round whitefish embryonic development. Both species experience seasonal temperature fluctuations in nature and may experience additional anthropogenic temperature, chemical, and radiation stress due to discharge from once-through cooling processes at thermal power plants, which may contain low levels of morpholine and radiation. Our study suggests that round whitefish embryos are more sensitive to elevated temperature and morpholine levels, but less impacted by chronic low-dose irradiation relative to lake whitefish embryos. The growth and development of both species are significantly affected by seasonal temperature changes.

Drosophila suzukii est une drosophile invasive en Europe, Amérique du Nord et Amérique du Sud. Contrairement aux autres espèces de drosophiles, les femelles parasitent les fruits mûrs que les larves consomment, engendrant d’importants dégâts sur les cultures fruitières. Les stratégies mises en place par cette espèce pour tolérer les températures hivernales sous nos latitudes sont encore peu comprises. Par conséquent, l’objectif de ma thèse était d’acquérir des connaissances fondamentales sur la thermotolérance de cette espèce, en m’intéressant notamment à la plasticité de la tolérance au froid et aux mécanismes physiologiques sous-jacents à l’acclimatation. J’ai évalué la thermotolérance basale de D. suzukii en soumettant des adultes et des pupes à un large panel de températures (froides et chaudes). Ces expérimentations ont permis de confirmer que cette espèce était intolérante au froid et que des températures supérieures à 32°C impactaient grandement sa survie. Par la suite, j’ai évalué la plasticité de sa tolérance au froid. Mes travaux ont permis de confirmer que sa thermotolérance était effectivement plastique, puisque l’utilisation de températures fluctuantes ou l’acclimatation permettaient de réduire sa mortalité lors d’expositions aux basses températures. L’acclimatation chez D. suzukii était corrélée à de nombreuses modifications physiologiques, telles que l’accumulation de cryoprotecteurs, un réajustement de la composition des phospholipides membranaires et des réserves lipidiques, une régulation des gènes liés à l’activité des transporteurs ioniques ainsi qu’un maintien de l’homéostasie métabolique. Ces modifications, également observées chez d’autres espèces d’insectes, pourraient être liées à l’augmentation de la tolérance au froid de D. suzukii, jouant probablement un rôle important dans sa survie hivernale et donc dans le succès de son invasion. Ces connaissances acquises sur sa thermobiologie contribueront sans doute à mieux cerner les limites physiologiques de cette espèce et prédire l’évolution de son invasion, ainsi que sa phénologie et les variations de populations au cours des saisons dans les zones déjà envahies. Mes résultats ouvrent également des perspectives intéressantes pour la mise en place de techniques de lutte intégrée contre D. suzukii. / Drosophila suzukii is an invasive pest in Europe, North and South America. Unlike other drosophilids, females oviposit in ripe fruits that larvae consume, provoking important damages on fruit productions. The overwintering strategies of this fly are yet poorly understood. Therefore, the aim of my thesis was to acquire new fundamental knowledge about the thermal biology of this fly, and more specifically the plasticity of its thermal tolerance and the physiological mechanisms underpinning cold acclimation. In order to define its basal thermal tolerance, adults and pupae were subjected to a large set of high and low temperatures. My data confirmed that this pest was chill susceptible, and showed that survival was greatly compromised during exposures above 32°C. Next, I evaluated its thermal tolerance plasticity. My data confirmed the high plasticity of its cold tolerance, as fluctuating thermal regimes and acclimation were able to decrease the mortality due to cold exposures. Acclimation in this species was correlate with several physiological adjustments, such as: cryoprotectant accumulation, remodeling of membrane phospholipids and lipidic reserves, upregulation of genes linked with activity of ionic transporters and maintenance of metabolic homeostasis. Those modifications (which are shared among temperate insect species) are likely linked with cold tolerance increase provoked by acclimation. Therefore, these physiological adjustments could play an important role in its overwintering success in Europe and Canada, which can facilitate its invasion in these regions. These new data will participate to a better understanding of its physiological limits, and are thus of importance for predicting the evolution of its invasion front and its phenology and demographic variations in invaded areas. My results are also of interest regarding the set-up of integrated pest management strategies against this fly.