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Research projects

Teaching and research are essential activities at the Gault Nature Reserve. The special nature of the mountain, its rich scientific history, its proximity to Montreal, its accommodations and its teaching and research facilities make it an exceptional venue for academic and scientific activities.

Plan a research project

Planning your fieldwork

You must submit an online application to the Gault Nature Reserve before starting your fieldwork. Your application will be reviewed by the Executive Committee of the Reserve for approval.

To apply:

  1. Fill out the Research Application form. This form is also used for all housing, equipment, or support requests.
  2. If you wish to stay overnight, please also fill the Lodging Form to get a quote.
  3. The form will be forwarded to the Reserve staff, and you will be notified by email when your project is approved.

Note: The Research Application Form is used to keep records of all research activity on the Reserve. These data are important to support future research projects.

A researchers holds a clear box filled with numbered vials.

Once your project is approved

Please submit a signed Research Agreement to the Reserve staff and familiarize yourself with the Research Guide before your first visit.

Access to data

Bibliography of past research

Consult the list of publications to know more about past research taking place at Gault Nature Reserve.

Gault Research Awards

Gault Nature Reserve takes pride in supporting research endeavors. Research projects offer a rewarding experience and serve as a significant stepping stone for the academic and professional growth of students.

The Gault Research Awards program funds projects at Gault Nature Reserve (Mont-Saint-Hilaire, QC) or at the Wilder and Helen Penfield Nature Conservation (Lac Memphrémagog, QC).

We are currently taking applications for 2024. Learn more about the application process.

Due date: April 5, 2024

For more information regarding application deadlines, project development, or to confirm eligibility and relevance, please reach out to us at: science@reservegault.ca.

Quantifying the form and function of aquatic plants in Southern Quebec

Lindsay Trottier, Ph.D.

Supervisors: Prof. Lars Iversen
Affiliation: McGill University
Start date: 2023
Research area: Lake Hertel (Gault Nature Reserve) and Lake Memphrémagog (Wilder and Helen Penfield Nature Conservancy)

Projects funded by the Gault Research Awards

Recent research projects

Impacts of white-tailed deer browsing on white trillium

Long-term project of the Gault Nature Reserve

Affiliation: McGill University
Start date: 2006
Research area: Gault Nature Reserve

Quantifying the form and function of aquatic plants in Southern Quebec

Lindsay Trottier, Ph.D.

Supervisors: Prof. Lars Iversen
Affiliation: McGill University
Start date: 2023
Research area: Lake Hertel (Gault Nature Reserve) and Lake Memphrémagog (Wilder and Helen Penfield Nature Conservancy)

Factors to predict spongy moth reservoirs between outbreaks: Historic outbreak severity and forest composition

Noa Davidai, Ph.D.

Supervisors: Prof. Emma Despland and Prof. Carly Ziter
Affiliation: Concordia University
Start date: 2023
Research area: Gault Nature Reserve and surrounding area

Adaptation to Multiple Simultaneous Stressors in Freshwater Bacterioplankton

Akhil Sanjay Kholwadwala, Ph.D.

Supervisors: Prof. Rowan Barrett and Prof. Jesse Shapiro
Affiliation: McGill University
Start date: 2023
Research area: Large Experimental Array of Ponds

Monitoring the Effects of Herbicides on Bacterioplankton

Emma Derrick, M.Sc.

Supervisor: Prof. Jesse Shapiro
Affiliation: McGill University
Start date: 2022
Research area: LEAP

Assessing the Impact of Surrounding Microbial Community Interactions on Rhizobium Following Herbicide Stress

Maxime Guglielmetti, B.Sc.

Supervisor: Prof. Rowan Barrett
Affiliation: McGill University
Start date: 2022
Research area: LEAP

WINTRE-MIX

Researchers: Prof. John Gyakum and colleagues

Affiliation: McGill University, Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM), University of Albany, University of Colorado, University of Wyoming, National Research Council Canada
Start date: 2022
Research area: Gault Nature Reserve and surrounding areas

Using Drones and Thermal Imagery to Estimate White-Tailed Deer Overpopulation on Mont Saint-Hilaire

Savannah Bissegger O'Connor, B.Sc.

Supervisors: Dr. Tim Elrick and Prof. Jeffrey Cardille
Affiliation: McGill University
Start date: 2021
Research area: Gault Nature Reserve

The Effect of Contaminants on Mercury Buildup in Aquatic Food Webs

Maude Lachapelle, Ph.D.

Supervisors: Prof. Irene Gregory-Eaves et Dr. Zofia Taranu
Affiliation: McGill University and Environment and Climate Change Canada
Start date: 2021
Research area: Lac Hertel

A Case Study on Ticks and Lyme Disease: Exploring the Impacts of Humans on Wildlife, Ecosystem Health and Disease Risk.

Kari Hollett, M.Sc.

Supervisor: Prof. Virginie Millien
Affiliation: McGill University
Start date: 2021
Research area: Gault Nature Reserve

Finding Common Ground: How Hikers Influence White-Tailed Deer Space-Use Patterns in a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve

Frédérique Truchon, M.Sc.

Supervisors: Prof. Virginie Millien and Prof. Martin-Hugues Saint-Laurent
Affiliation: McGill University and Université du Québec à Rimouski
Start date: 2018
Research area: Gault Nature Reserve

A basic community dynamics experiment: Disentangling deterministic and stochastic processes in structuring ecological communities

Mark Jewell, Ph.D.

Supervisors: Prof. Graham Bell
Affiliation: McGill University
Start date: 2018
Research area: Gault Nature Reserve

Interactive impacts of global change on freshwater plankton: implications for lake food web structure and function

Marie-Pier Hébert, Ph.D.

Supervisor: Professor Gregor Fussmann
Affiliation: McGill University
Start date: 2016
Research area: Lac Hertel

Invasive Species: A Study of Tench and Their Invasion Potential

Sunci Avlijaš, Ph.D.

Supervisors: Prof. Anthony Ricciardi
Affiliation: McGill University
Start date: 2018
Research area: Large Experimental Array of Ponds (LEAP)

LEAP (Large Experimental Array of Ponds)

Supervisor: Prof. Andrew Gonzalez
Affiliation: McGill University
Start date: 2016
Research area: Gault Nature Reserve

Ecological and evolutionary response of phytoplankton to rising CO2

Étienne Low-Decarie, Ph.D.

Supervisor: Gregor Fussmann (Ph.D.) Affiliation: McGill University
Start date: 2012
Research area: Gault Nature Reserve and surrounding area

Flora evolution at Gault Nature Reserve

Robin Beauséjour, M.Sc.

Supervisor: Prof. Marc Vellend
Affiliation: Sherbrooke University
Start date: 2011
Research area: Gault Nature Reserve

The effects of landscape structure and biodiversity on ecosystem services

Matthew Mitchell, Ph.D.

Supervisor: Prof. Elena Bennett
Affiliation: McGill University
Start date: 2011
Research area: Gault Nature Reserve and surrounding area

Pollination services are mediated by bee functional diversity and landscape context

Kyle Texeira-Martins, M.Sc.

Supervisor: Prof. Martin Lechowicz
Affiliation: McGill University
Start date: 2010
Research area: Gault Nature Reserve and surrounding area

As climate warms, mice morph

Researcher: Prof. Virginie Millien

Affiliation: McGill University
Start date: 2007
Research area: Gault Nature Reserve

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