The laboratory and greenhouse are available all year round. They are available to researchers from all sources (university, college, government and private) who have research interests in the sector. Small group scientific and educational workshops can also be held at the station. CEN has been collecting climate data in the region since 1995 and has three SILA weather stations in the western basin of the lake, one of which, in operation since 1986, is located on a small island directly in the centre of the basin, and two others that are located on the periphery of the lake.
Mickaël Lemay
Pavillon Abitibi Price, 2405, rue de la Terrasse, local 1204, Université Laval
418.656.2131 poste 402503
mickael.lemay@cen.ulaval.ca
Radiocarbon dating is based on the principle of degradation of the radioactive isotope of carbon, 14C. Every organism lives in equilibrium with the concentration of ambient 14C throughout its life. Upon his death, the body stops ingesting carbon and the remaining 14C in its tissues disintegrates at a known rate. The laboratory is one of only two major producers of 14C dates in Canada, making approximately 800 14C dates per AMS per year. In addition to CEN researchers, it provides a service to the Canadian and international scientific community, governments and the private sector. Sample preparation for 14C dating by AMS (Accelerator Mass Spectrometry). The samples are chemically cleaned, burned, transformed with CEN into CO2, the purified CO2 is transformed into graphite, which is sent to a laboratory with an AMS. We also now offer bone dating. The lab uses the Keck Carbon Cycle AMS Laboratory at the U. of California in Irvine and also the CAIS at the U. of Georgia. The lab also includes 2 HPGe counting systems for Pb-210 and Cs-237 dating and a Leco CHN628 elemental analyzer.
Guillaume Labrecque
Pavillon Abitibi-Price, 2405, rue de la Terrasse, Local 1202, Université Laval
418.656.2131 poste 404486
guillaume.labrecque@cen.ulaval.ca
This laboratory is used to study terrestrial paleoecology, palynology and anthracology. Macrofossil (plants and insects) and microfossil (pollen grains and spores) analyses of peat or lake sediments are carried out, as well as studies based on charcoal. It is the only laboratory in Quebec dedicated to the post-glacial history of vegetation and ecosystems using pollen and macrofossil analysis. It is also the only laboratory with an infrastructure in soil micromorphology and expertise in the identification of fossil cephalic capsules of defoliating insects. It also has the most elaborate reference collection of macrofossil pieces in Quebec. Various equipment for field coring of sediments and sample preparation for pollen and macrofossil analysis; optical microscopes; photomicrographic system for microscope; digital camera system for microscopy; stereoscopic magnifiers; oven; reference collections.
Martin Lavoie
Pavillon Abitibi-Price, Université Laval, 2405 rue de la Terrasse, local 3107
(418) 656-2131 poste 2230
martin.lavoie@cen.ulaval.ca
Marine diatom fossils are used to trace oceanic paleo-currents along Canada’s west coast and sea-level fluctuations in the Beaufort Sea and coastal areas of the Atlantic provinces. Diatoms are used as bioindicators of agricultural pollution in rivers and as indicators of water quality in lakes and drinking water reservoirs. On site: sediment coring equipment; optical microscopes with magnification up to 1000 x; digital camera systems for microscopy; stereoscopic magnifiers; oven; freeze-dryer; analytical balance, reference collection; reference library.
Reinhard Pienitz
Pavillon Abitibi-Price, Université Laval, Québec, Canada 2405 rue de la Terrasse, local 1232
(418) 656-2131 poste 7006
reinhard.pienitz@cen.ulaval.ca