Spring
2001 
Spring
2001
The Gault Nature Reserve is a 1200-hectare remnant
of the primeval forests of the St. Lawrence River Valley at the northern edge
of the deciduous forest biome. It is owned by McGill University and managed
in collaboration with local communities. The reserve forms the core of the Mont
St. Hilaire Biosphere Reserve, which includes the surrounding landscape of farms
and villages. The reserve is located on the upper elevations of Mont St. Hilaire
near Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Mont St. Hilaire, which rises abruptly above the
valley floor, has seven peaks surrounding a 34-hectare lake. The mountain is
covered by northern hardwood forest with some trees in excess of 450 years old.
Biotic diversity is exceptionally high with both the flora and fauna including
a mix of northern and southern elements. The best nesting cliff for peregrine
falcons in Quebec is protected within the reserve. Ongoing research includes
work on the spatial heterogeneity of local hydrology and biogeochemistry, the
population ecology of herps, the behavioral and physiological ecology of chipmunks,
the palynological record of vegetation at the site, the comparative ecology
of trees, and the evolutionary ecology of forest herbs. There are a number of
long-term biodiversity monitoring plots, including an extensive array established
to monitor the aftermath of forest recovery from the ice storm of January 1998.
A bibliography of about 400 publications based
on past work at the site provides a solid foundation on which to plan new projects.
There are typically 15-20 researchers resident in the Research Centre from April
through November, and winter lodging is available as well. Dry lab and rudimentary
wet lab space are available. Chalets set in the forest provide additional housing
and classroom space for groups up to 32 people; catering can be provided for
classes. Three summer field courses are available every year.
The site is well-situated and well-equipped to serve as a northern study site
for research and teaching along a latitudinal gradient in eastern North America.
The site is also a convenient home base for work throughout the St. Lawrence
Valley, the Lake Champlain drainage, the Laurentian Mountains at the southern
edge of the Canadian Shield, the northern Appalachian Mountains and the Adirondack
Mountains. There are some interesting cultural and legal contrasts between this
region, the rest of Canada, and the USA that offer opportunities for comparative
studies in land use history, conservation and public policy. The working language
of the reserve is English, but some French is an asset for people working in
the surrounding countryside. Ancillary support facilities are available on the
McGill campus, where there are also various opportunities for collaborative
research. Researchers and teachers interested in visiting or working at the
reserve are invited to explore the possibilities by consulting our web page:
http:/www.mcgill.ca/gault.
–Martin J. Lechowicz
Gault Nature Reserve
McGill University