Ecological analysis of disturbed riverbanks in the Montréal area of Québec

In revegetation trials on disturbed riverbank sites in the Montréal region (Québec, Canada), an analysis of their structure by means of their biotic and abiotic components was undertaken. Vegetation sampling and physical surveys, together with soil analyses of 62 stands, grouped in 20 sectors, were carried out in the summer of 1986. The statistical analyses of biotic and abiotic data were executed in parallel by a hierarchical agglomerative cluster analysis (arithmetic average clustering) and by an ordination in reduced space (principal coordinate analysis). The species colonizing these riverbanks are, for the most part, ruderals from the Montréal region, of which more than 50% are introduced species. The pioneering communities characterizing these artificial habitats have had very little impact on the physical conditions of their environment; therefore, the ordination on the plant communities proves to be strongly correlated to the ordination stemming from the abiotic components. The statistical analysis retains the original sectors, underlining the fact that each human intervention generally results in the creation of a particular ecological situation.     

Evaluation of uptake of the cytostatic methotrexate in Elliptio complanata mussels by LC–MS/MS

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Aquatic organisms are continuously exposed to emerging contaminants coming from urban effluents of wastewater treatment plants. The contamination of...     

Children's appreciation of outdoor places in a poor neighborhood

Children 7–12 years of age, living in a poor neighborhood, photographed outdoor places where they liked to go in their neighborhood. In individual interviews, they discussed their photos, selected their favorite place, and discussed the places they disliked. Children identified parks and playgrounds most often both as liked and disliked places, and spaces near an acquaintance's home as their favorite place. Liked places varied according to children's age and degree of vegetation. Children's negative perceptions of places were centered on safety threats. Children distinguish favorite places from liked places only by the greater number of positive characteristics and activities they offer children. The study highlights how positive and negative features coexist in places of importance to these children.