Researcher Normand Bergeron and his students, Alexandre Pirolley and Sophie Larrivée-Larouche, assess the impact of mining transport infrastructure (roads, railways) on the fragmentation of fish habitat. They work in collaboration with local communities and the mining industry to target areas of concern. Together, they will paint a picture of the state of culverts associated with mining infrastructure and their potential impact on the breakdown of habitat connectivity for local fish communities.
In addition, using an experimental culvert, they will study the effect of water temperature and heat stress on the ability of northern fish species to cross culverts.
They will then propose restoration solutions to mitigate the effect of these infrastructures on the connectivity and diversity of fish habitat in the northern context.