Christian Messier

Scientific Director of ISFORT
Professor in Forest Management and Biodiversity

Member of the Centre d’étude de la forêt
Canada Chair in Forest Resilience to Global Change
NSERC / Hydro-Québec Chair in Tree Growth Control
Professor UQO, UQAM

christian.messier@uqo.ca mail_outline
819-595-3900 poste 2903

Research themes

Forest management, urban forestry, adaptive complex system, biodiversity-functional ecology relationship, multi-species planting, adaptive silviculture

Education

  • 1991-1992 : Postdoctoral Fellowship in Forest Ecology – University of Helsinki
  • 1987-1991 : PhD in Forest Sciences – University of British Colombia
  • 1985-1986 : Master of Science in Forestry – Université Laval
  • 1980-1984 : Bachelor of Science in Forestry – Université Laval

Description of research

My research is divided into two main areas. The first axis focuses on the complex functioning of natural forest systems in order to develop management approaches that promote their resilience to global change. My research touches both the stand scale and the forest landscape regarding both the science of complex networks and functional diversity. We use field-collected data and simulation models to test our hypotheses and propose solutions to current problems that affect our forest ecosystems.

The second axis focuses on the study of urban trees and forests to reconcile the need to minimize the negative impacts of trees on the human construct and to maximize the many services they provide to people. Our studies aim to develop new approaches and tools to improve i) pruning interventions that are done regularly on trees and ii) tree planting strategies in urban and peri-urban areas.

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  • add removeKey publications
  • add removeProjects

    NSERC / Hydro-Québec Research Chair in Tree Growth Control:

    The Chair’s mission is to obtain rigorous scientific information on the biophysical factors affecting the growth and development of the tree in urban and peri-urban areas in order to optimize the methods of intervention and create a more harmonious cohabitation between the trees and the infrastructures of Hydro-Québec.

    The research projects of the Chair are grouped according to 4 main areas of complementary research:

    1. Understand the growth dynamics of the tree and its crown in relation to its physiology, morphology, architecture and environment
    2. Study the dynamics of the biomechanical stability of trees according to structural and biophysical conditions
    3. Develop models and algorithms for monitoring and prediction of tree growth based on biophysical conditions found throughout Quebec
    4. Understand how tree architecture influences biodiversity in urban and peri-urban settings

    For more information, visit the NSERC / Hydro-Québec Research Chair website : http://www.arbresurbains.uqam.ca/index.php

    IDENT / TreeDivNet: International Network of Biodiversity Plantations

    These experimental plantations aim to test different hypotheses about the role of biodiversity in the functioning of ecosystems. To do this, the choice of species planted in each plot varies according to species diversity, provenance of species (North America and Europe) and their functional traits.

    The experiments address the following questions: (1) How do the different components of diversity, namely species richness and functional diversity, contribute to the functioning of the ecosystem? (2) Which species and traits should be chosen to create the desired functional diversity gradient? (3) Is complementarity the driving force of overproduction in young tree communities? (4) How does neighbouring diversity influence the values of functional diversity and traits? (5) At what spatial and temporal scales do complementarity effects occur? (6) How do environmental conditions influence interactions between species?

    In 2015, IDENT also invested in an educational platform for the general public on the importance of trees for biodiversity by creating IDENT-Cité, based in Montreal. IDENT-Cité is a museum-type installation where trees, more and more diversified, have been planted to form a plant labyrinth in the form of a double spiral.

    For more information, you can visit the web page : http://www.treedivnet.ugent.be/ExpIDENT.html

    Canada Research Chair in Forest Resilience in the Face of Global Change (Website to come)

    This Research Chair aims to improve our ability to manage forests to effectively increase their resilience. New multi-species tree experiments will be established to study the mechanisms of interaction between tree species and the underlying role of these mechanisms in the functioning and resilience of forest ecosystems. By using 1) spatially explicit dynamic stand and landscape models and 2) network theory and functional diversity approaches, effective silvicultural methods can be developed to promote forest resilience in fragmented forests in Canada and around the world.

    Kenauk Project: Assessing Ecological and Forest Impacts of Uneven- and Even-aged Management in Temperate Deciduous Forest

    Kenauk Forest provides a unique opportunity to study the impacts of two silvicultural approaches (even- and uneven-aged) since both have been used in this forest over the last 40 years. In this study, we will evaluate the effects of an even-aged silvicultural approach (clearcutting in alternating bands) versus those of an uneven-aged silvicultural approach (single-tree felling between 20-35% of the canopy) practiced since the 1980s, on a) the important mechanisms occurring below and above the ground and the biodiversity and ecology of vernal ponds, b) on the hydrology of vernal ponds, c) on the dynamics and productivity of the forest, and d) the resistance, resilience and adaptability of the forest to the threats of global change. We will also develop and test innovative new tools for foresters to help them monitor biodiversity and productivity. State-of-the-art simulation models will also be used to propose a set of silvicultural practices to be implemented, both at the stand and landscape scale, to mitigate increasing environmental threats due to global changes.

    Project PILE: Urban Forest Immunization Kit for Global Change: iFORurb

    This project involves the development of a web-based application that will enable urban forest managers to select the best tree species to plant in different parts of the city to maximize the economic and social benefits as well as resilience of tree cover to global change. Basically, we will develop a Beta version of a web application that will gather information on climatic, entomological and pathological risks, the geographical distribution of trees on each street, the value of the services that each species of tree produces, and the diversity of ecological characteristics of trees that could be planted. This will quickly and easily generate a list of the best species of trees to plant for a specific street, park or neighbourhood location, based on the trees already there, to IMMUNIZE the tree cover against any future disasters.

    For more information, refer to this article : https://unpointcinq.ca/techno/bon-arbre-au-bon-endroit/

  • add removeStudents and postdoctoral fellows

    Étudiants actuels

    Stagiaires postdoctoraux

    Doctorat

    Maîtrise

     

    Étudiants diplômés

    Stagiaires postdoctoraux

    • 1993-1994 Eero Nikinmaa, Leena Finér
    • 1994-1996 Jürgen Bauhus
    • 1998-1999 Whang Ming (codirection avec M. Lechowicz de McGill), Daniel Kneeshaw
    • 1997-2000 Ernest Lo (codirection avec M. Lechowicz de McGill)
    • 1999-2001 David Coates
    • 2000-2003 Stephen Yamasaki
    • 2001-2005 Marilou Beaudet
    • 2003-2005 Lluís Coll
    • 2004-2005 Delagrange Sylvain
    • 2004-2005 Patrick Carrier
    • 2004-2008 Papaik Michael
    • 2006-2007 Juan Paseda, Héloise Rheault
    • 2006-2011 Alain Paquette
    • 2010-2011 Jari Perttunen
    • 2011-2012 Virginie-Arielle Angers
    • 2008-2015 Rebecca Tittler
    • 2010-2014 Charles Nock
    • 2012-2013 David Rivest
    • 2012-2013 François Girard, Dylan Craven
    • 2012-2015 Dominic Cyr
    • 2012-2014 Olivier Taugourdeau, Mahbubul Alam
    • 2013-2013 Yadav Uprety
    • 2013-2015 Aitor Ameztegui
    • 2014-2016 Virginie Angers
    • 2016-2016 Bonnie Waring

    Doctorat

    • 1995-2001 Marilou Beaudet
    • 1995-2002 Fidji Gendron
    • 1996-2002 Yves Claveau
    • 1999-2004 Sylvain Delagrange
    • 1999-2005 Dodick Gasser
    • 2002-2007 Charles Ronnie Drever
    • 2003-2007 Dominique Gravel
    • 2003-2008 Hartmann Henrik
    • 2007-2012 Isabelle Witté
    • 2007-arrêt Anil Ediriweera
    • 2008-2013 Cynthia Patry
    • 2008-2014 Cornelia Tobner
    • 2009-2016 Annick St-Denis
    • 2010-2017 Jorge Ramirez
    • 2011-2016 Melanie McCavour
    • 2012-2017 Kevin Solarik
    • 2013-2018 Nuria Aquilué

    Doctorat (Codirection)

    • 1997-2001 Sylvain Parent
    • 1999-2005 Song Wang
    • 2001-2008 Isabelle Aubin
    • 2004-2009 Berninger Kati
    • 2006-2012 Simon Bilodeau-Gauthier
    • 2012-2017 Isabelle Laforest-Lapointe
    • 2012-2017 Alexandre Collin
    • 2012-2018 Jean-François Sénécal

    Maîtrise

    • 1992-1995 Jean-Pierre Ricard, Marilou Beaudet, Sylvain Parent
    • 1994-1996 Harry Williams, Mohamed Chengaou
    • 1995-1997 Johanne Campbell, Marc-André Côté
    • 1995-1998 Janie Larivière, Julie Goulet, Isabelle Aubin
    • 1997-2000 Marc-Olivier D’Astous
    • 1999-2002 Paula Bertumucci
    • 2000-2003 Laurence Bourgeois
    • 2001-2004 Virginie-A. Angers
    • 2002-2004 Annie Morin
    • 2003-2006 Lionel Humbert
    • 2003-2006 Marilou Lefrançois
    • 2004-2007 Pascal Côté
    • 2004-2007 Amélie Poitras-Larivière
    • 2005-2008 Sara Bastien-Henri
    • 2005-2006 Julien Fortier
    • 2006-2009 Catherine Malo
    • 2007-2010 Frédéric Boivin
    • 2007-2010 Ian Seiferling
    • 2011-2011 Tim Steinkraus
    • 2009-2012 Jean-Bastien Lambert
    • 2010-2013 Mario Buitrago
    • 2012-2015 Sophie Carpentier
    • 2011-2016 Matthew Follett

    Maîtrise (Codirection)

    • 1999-2001 Maari Sari
    • 1999-2002 Catherine Calogeropoulus
    • 2000-2002 Myriame Tremblay
    • 2000-2003 Dominic Sénécal
    • 2004-2006 Susy Domenicano
    • 2004-2006 Simon Bilodeau-Gauthier
    • 2009-2012 Sandrine Gautier-Éthier
    • 2008-2012 Kim Bannon
    • 2010-2013 Bastien Lecigne
    • 2011-2013 Nathaly Guerrero
    • 2012-2015 Chelsea Archambault
    • 2012-2012 Philippe-Alexandre Maltais-Lajoie
    • 2014-2017 Marc-Olivier Martin-Guay
    • 2016-2018 Simon Côté-Bourgoin
  • add removeAvailable projects  (coming soon)

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