After the quiet revolution: Quebec anthropology and the study of Quebec

The Ahaggar Twareg are herders of camels and small‐stock who live in the desert of southern Algeria. Their society is divided into categories of noblemen, tributaries and slaves. This article, which deals with the colonial and pre‐colonial period, demonstrates how among the two first mentioned classes, male supremacy over women builds upon men's control over the process that create exchange‐value rather than use‐value. The author also describes how the gender‐based and class‐based forms of labour division interlock.     

Tree-line dynamics in Ungava peninsula,northern Quebec

The characteristics of the present tree-line in continental Northern Quebec appear to be related to modern and past ecological conditions. ¹⁴C dating of fossil trees and charcoal, and age structure of tree populations are used as evidence of tree-line dynamics over the last 400 yr. As inferred from the reproductive strategies of the two tree species, black spruce Picea mariana (Mill.) BSP, and Tamarack Larix laricina (DuRoi) K. Koch, forming the present tree-line populations, major changes during postglacial time in Northern Quebec are not only concerned with tree-line position, but also with tree-line composition. The present tree-line is made by larch (or tamarack) and corresponds to its natural seed regeneration limit. Black spruce probably reached its northernmost holocene latitudes during a warmer period and it then formed the tree-line. During the Little Ice Age, fires destroyed large tracks of forest and black spruce krummholz (400, and 250–200 yr ago); afterwards, tree species reestablished only in protected sites, and exposed sites were not reseeded. At some places, fires did not burn completely the forest cover, and preserved isolated trees and small groves probably became locus of reafforestation. Differential forest regeneration and tree age structure suggest that fire and climate are intimately associated in controlling tree population dynamics. Favourable and less favourable forest regeneration periods are inferred from these data and it is suggested that tree-line displacements in Northern Quebec during the last 400 yr were less important than in the Northwest Territories.     

Life Cycle of the Golden Cyst Nematode,Globodera rostochiensis,in Quebec,Canada

In 2006, the golden cyst nematode, Globodera rostochiensis, was discovered in the province of Quebec, Canada. We report here the life cycle of G. rostochiensis under the climatic conditions of southwestern Quebec. Only one full generation was completed per year under these latitudes. On susceptible potato cv. Snowden, G. rostochiensis needed a minimum of 579 growing degree units (GDU) (base 5.9°C) to complete its life cycle and the first mature cysts were observed 42 to 63 days after planting (DAP). In soil, second-stage juveniles (J2) were first observed 14 to 21 DAP, whereas both white females on roots and males in soil appeared synchronously after 35 to 42 days. The duration of the life cycle was affected by temperature but not by soil type. A second wave of hatching systematically occurred later in the season and a second generation of males was observed during the 2011 growth season. No complete second cycle was observed before plant senescence. Climate change and later maturing cultivars/crops could allow the development of a full second generation in the future.     

In the Eastern Townships,Province of Quebec: Occurrence of Pneumocystosis

Three cases of pneumocystosis which occurred in the Quebec Eastern Townships are reported. It seems that in Canada such cases are concentrated in that province. The number of infections caused by this micro-organism is steadily rising and at the present time more cases are reported from Canada and the United States than from Europe. In most cases these patients, children as well as adults, are suffering from an immunologic defect. The authors review morphology, epidemiology and the relationship between host and infecting micro-organism. Clinical diagnosis is possible. Identification of asymptomatic carriers is important, particularly among hospital staff working in nurseries, transplant units and with patients whose condition lowers their immunologic resistance.     

Phytoplankton and Primary Production of Lakes in the Matamek Watershed,Quebec

The productivity of three Shield lakes on Quebec's North Shore was found to be comparable with that of the most oligotrophic lakes known. Factors contributing to this condition may be that the moderately sized lakes of this study are deep relative to their surface areas, highly stained by humic substances, of very low conductivity, and contain little dissolved CO₂. Standing crops of phytoplankton are very low, never exceeding 600 mg/m³. Chrysophyceae are dominant over all other classes of algae in both biomass and numbers, comprising approximately 50% of the fresh weight throughout the season. The abundance of micro-flagellates implies a large surface area to volume ratio and the ability to move are an advantage in a nutrient poor environment. Much of the phytoplankton present may grow heterotrophically and energy additions from the terrestrial environment may be extremely important to the productivity of northern lakes when photosynthetic production is not significant.