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This study examines the impact of snowmelt runoff on nutrient transfer from the terrestrial to the aquatic (lake) portion of a subarctic catchment 6 km WSW from Schefferville, Quebec. / Statistically significant differences in snow chemistry were recorded among the tundra, woodland and forest snowpacks. Significant overland substantial scouring of nutrients from the organic horizons were recorded in the tundra, woodland and forest. A calculation designed to generate, on a daily basis, 70% of the meltwater from the terrestrial catchment to the lake indicates overland flow is a predominant route of meltwater during the spring. This calculation made possible the determination of daily nutrient mass transfer from land to lake. The daily nutrient mass balance of input and output to Elizabeth Lake during springmelt indicates significant retention of land source nutrients. Deuterium/hydrogen measurements aided in determining mixing of snowmelt and lake water. The data indicate snowmelt water is undistinguishable from lake water at depths greater than 1.0 m. / It is concluded that snowmelt runoff is an important event for nutrient transfer from terrestrial to aquatic systems in this environment.

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The objective of this study is to assess current distributional patterns of species within a community, while taking into account species' evolutionary histories, as reflected in their phylogenetic relationships. The hypothesis is that closely related species segregate along environmental gradients, either due to historic evolutionary divergence of their niches, or to ecological processes presently occurring within a community. Distribution along environmental gradients was compared to phylogenetic structure of the 27 sedge species (Cyperaceae) growing in the subarctic fen communities of Schefferville, northern Quebec. Field data suggest that within these fens, sedges mostly differentiate along gradients of rooting depth and pH. Species growing in similar (micro)habitats often belong to different taxonomic sedge clades, and species belonging to the same clade usually differentiate on at least one environmental gradient. Further comparison of natural distribution to responses under greenhouse experimental conditions for four selected Carex species suggests that the two relatives in section Limosae differ in their tolerance ranges to environmental conditions due to past evolutionary events, while the two members of section Paniceae differentiate along environmental gradients in nature due to ongoing ecological processes.

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The notions of risk, resilience, and acculturation were examined among a group of First Nations adolescents from a community in Northern Quebec. These adolescents are at high-risk for emotional and behavioural problems due to both their minority status and the remoteness of their locale. Accordingly, the research on risk and resilience in innercity youths was adapted to study this unique group of First Nations youths. The aims of the study were relevant to issues of adolescent wellness. The first aim was to identify the factors that help protect against the maladaptive outcomes associated with minority group status and living in a remote area. The protective factors included intelligence, ego development, and attachment. The second aim was to examine subtypes of acculturation and the differences between acculturation subtypes among these youths. The acculturation strategy of integration was expected to result in the best adaptation whereas that of marginalization was expected to lead to difficulties across the domains of social competence. The third aim was to examine competence over time, as problems in one domain tend to be related to later problems in other domains. A series of paper and pencil questionnaires were completed in classroom settings by 67 adolescents aged 11 to 19 years and their teachers. Specific patterns of resilience across domains of functioning were found. High levels of intelligence protected against diminished school performance but not against depressive symptomatology. Strong attachment relationships protected against depression and poor school performance. Acculturative strategy also protected against negative outcomes despite high stress living situation. However, positive outcome was not uniform across all domains of social competence, which is consistent with the notion of domain specificity of resilience. Not one individual who participated in this study, despite the benefit of protective factors, showed high levels of social competence across all domains. This argues for the inherent risk of living in a high stress neighbourhood. The information is relevant to furthering our understanding of First Nations youths and their families, and advances the literatures on risk and resilience in its application to a relatively unique community.

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