Expert: Invasive aquatic plants in Quebec 

With the arrival of boating season, biologists are raising alarms about the rapid spread of invasive aquatic plants in Quebec’s lakes and rivers. Species like water chestnut and Eurasian watermilfoil are threatening biodiversity around the Montreal archipelago by choking out native flora and fauna, blocking light and depleting oxygen. These aggressive plants are expanding beyond their usual habitats in the Ottawa River and could have an impact on ecosystems throughout southern Quebec. 

Morgan Botrel, a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Biology, is available to comment on this issue. Her expertise lies in limnology and aquatic plant ecology, including the ecological benefits of aquatic vegetation and the long-term dynamics of invasive species. Her current research project investigates the persistence of invasive aquatic plants using European datasets, with growing attention to cases in Quebec. 

morgan.botrel [at] mcgill.ca (French, English)