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Isabelle Lavoie

Areas of expertise

Biomonitoring of freshwater ecosystems , Biofilms , Diatoms , Ecotoxicology , Paleolimnology , Urban limnology

  • Associate Professor

Eau Terre Environnement Research Centre

490 de la Couronne Street
Québec City, Quebec  G1K 9A9
CANADA

See the research centre

Research interests

Professor Lavoie’s work focuses on the use of biological descriptors to monitor the health of aquatic ecosystems. She is particularly interested in river biofilm responses to human disturbances (e.g., urbanization, agriculture, mining).

The Eastern Canada Diatom Index, a water biological integrity assessment tool developed with colleagues in 2005, is now part of the water quality indicators used by numerous water management organizations (Quebec and Ontario environment ministries, Government of Canada, watershed organizations, private companies).

Her research objectives are to develop stress bioindicators and biomarkers by studying the effects of human disturbances on the nutritional quality of biofilms (e.g., fatty acids) and the consequences for the food chain.

Publications

Malbezin, Laura, Bedoiseau, Maya, Wilson, Jessica, Argerich, Alba, Fortin, Claude & Lavoie, Isabelle (2025). Metal bioaccumulation in biofilms and diatom teratologies reflect legacy mining in an urban stream: the case of Lone Elm Creek (Missouri, USA). Journal of Applied Phycology, online.
DOI: 10.1007/s10811-024-03412-w

Malbezin, Laura, Mazzella, Nicolas, Boutry, Sébastien, Lavoie, Isabelle & Morin, Soizic (2025). Interspecific differences in the response of autotrophic microorganisms to atrazine and S-metolachlor exposure. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 289: art. 117616.
DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.117616

Chaguaceda, Fernando, Lau, Danny Chun Pong, Goedkoop, Willem, Fadhlaoui, Mariem, Lavoie, Isabelle & Vrede, Tobias (2024). Zooplankton in northern lakes show taxon-specific responses in fatty acids across climate-productivity and ecosystem size gradients. Limnology and Oceanography, 69 (4): 947-960.
DOI: 10.1002/lno.12539

Corelli, Vincenzo, Boerder, Kristina, Hunter, Karen L., Lavoie, Isabelle & Tittensor, Derek P. (2024). The biodiversity adaptation gap: Management actions for marine protected areas in the face of climate change. Conservation Letters, 17 (2): Art. e13003.
DOI: 10.1111/conl.13003

Fadhlaoui, Mariem, Pearce, Nolan J. T., Lavoie, Isabelle & Fortin, Claude (2024). Interactive effects of bismuth exposure (water and diet) and temperature on snail fatty acid composition, antioxidant enzymes and lipid peroxidation. Frontiers in Environmental Chemistry, 5: Art. 1332967.
DOI: 10.3389/fenvc.2024.1332967

Malbezin, Laura, Morin, Soizic & Lavoie, Isabelle (2024). Effects of atrazine and S-metolachlor on stream periphyton taxonomic and fatty acid composition. Ecotoxicology, 33: 190-204.
DOI: 10.1007/s10646-024-02738-y

Petit-Prost, Matisse, Poulin, Monique, Desrochers, André & Lavoie, Isabelle (2024). Water availability and proximity to natural areas influence plant and terrestrial invertebrate communities in urban stormwater basins and ponds. Urban Ecosystems, online.
DOI: 10.1007/s11252-024-01564-8

Vrba, Romain, Lavoie, Isabelle, Creusot, Nicolas, Eon, Mélissa, Millán Navaro, Débora, Feurtet-Mazel, Agnès, Mazzella, Nicolas, Moreira, Aurélie, Planas, Dolors & Morin, Soizic (2024). Experimental testing of two urban stressors on freshwater biofilms. Aquatic Toxicology, 272: Art. 106972.
DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2024.106972

Banks, L.K., Lavoie, I., Boreux, M.P., Kroeze, S.L., Gotkowski, N., Robinson, C.E., Roy, J.W. & Yates, A.G. (2023). Intra-annual patterns in biofilm communities and cellulose decomposition in a headwater stream network with spatially variable groundwater inputs. Aquatic Ecology, 57: 681-700.
DOI: 10.1007/s10452-023-10038-6

Banks, L. K., Lavoie, Isabelle, Robinson, C. E., Roy, James W. & Yates, Adam G. (2023). Effects of groundwater inputs on algal assemblages and cellulose decomposition differ based on habitat type in an agricultural stream. Hydrobiologia, 10: 3517-3537.
DOI: 10.1007/s10750-023-05251-1

Mazzella, Nicolas, Vrba, Romain, Moreira, Aurélie, Creusot, Nicolas, Eon, Mélissa, Millán Navaro, Débora, Lavoie, Isabelle & Morin, Soizic (2023). Mixed light photoperiod and biocide pollution affect lipid profiles of periphyton communities in freshwater ecosystems. Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances, 12: Art. 100378.
DOI: 10.1016/j.hazadv.2023.100378

Guasch, Helena, Bernal, Susana, Bruno, Daniel, Carney Almroth, Bethanie, Cochero, Joaquin, Corcoll, Natàlia, Cornejo, Delfina, Gacia, Esperança, Kroll, Alexandra, Lavoie, Isabelle, Ledesma, José L. J., Lupon, Anna, Margenat, Henar, Morin, Soizic, Navarro, Enrique, Ribot, Miquel, Riis, Tenna, Schmitt-Jansen, Mechthild, Tlili, Ahmed & Martí, Eugènia (2022). Interactions between microplastics and benthic biofilms in fluvial ecosystems: Knowledge gaps and future trends. Freshwater Science, 41 (3): 442-458.
DOI: 10.1086/721472

Khalert, Maria, Rühland, Kathleen M., Lavoie, Isabelle, Keck, François, Saulnier-Talbot, Émilie, Bogan, Daniel, Brua, Robert B., Campeau, Stéphane, Christoffersen, Kirsten S., Culp, Joseph M., Karjalainen, Satu Maaria, Lento, Jennifer, Schneider, Susanne C., Shaftel, Rebecca & Smol, John P. (2022). Biodiversity patterns of Arctic diatom assemblages in lakes and streams: Current reference conditions and historical context for biomonitoring. Freshwater Biology, 67 (1): 116-140.
DOI: 10.1111/fwb.13490

Proteau, Kelly, Binesh, Negin, Duchesne, Sophie, Pelletier, Geneviève & Lavoie, Isabelle (2022). Urban runoff quality and quantity control: a functional comparison of various types of detention basins. Urban Water Journal, 19 (10): 1080-1092.
DOI: 10.1080/1573062X.2022.2117633

Fadhlaoui, Mariem & Lavoie, Isabelle (2021). Effects of temperature and glyphosate on fatty acid composition, antioxidant capacity, and lipid peroxidation in the Gastropod Lymneae sp.. Water, 13 (8): Art. 1309.
DOI: 10.3390/w13081039

Pearce, Nolan J. T., Lavoie, Isabelle, Thomas, Kathryn E., Chambers, Patricia A. & Yates, Adam G. (2021). Nutrient enrichment effects are conditional on upstream nutrient concentrations: Implications for bioassessment in multi-use catchments. Ecological Indicators, 124: Art. 107440.
DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolind.2021.107440

Fadhlaoui, Mariem; Laderriere, Vincent; Lavoie, Isabelle & Fortin, Claude (2020). Influence of temperature and nickel on algal biofilm fatty acid composition. Environ. Toxicol. Chem., 39 (8): 1566-1577.
DOI: 10.1002/etc.4741

Khalert, Maria; Rühland, Kathleen M.; Lavoie, Isabelle; Keck, François; Saulnier-Talbot, Émilie; Bogan, Daniel; Brua, Robert B.; Campeau, Stéphane; Christoffersen, Kirsten S.; Culp, Joseph M.; Karjalainen, Satu Maaria; Lento, Jennifer; Schneider, Susanne C.; Shaftel, Rebecca & Smol, John P. (2020). Biodiversity patterns of Arctic diatom assemblages in lakes and streams: Current reference conditions and historical context for biomonitoring. Freshwater Biol., ONLINE.
DOI: 10.1111/fwb.13490

Lento, Jennifer; Laske, Sarah M.; Lavoie, Isabelle; Bogan, Daniel; Brua, Robert B.; Campeau, Stéphane; Chin, Krista; Culp, Joseph M.; Levenstein, Brianna; Power, Michael; Saulnier-Talbot, Émilie; Shaftel, Rebecca; Swanson, Heidi; Whitman, Matthew & Zimmermann, Christian E. (2020). Diversity of diatoms, benthic macroinvertebrates, and fish varies in response to different environmental correlates in Arctic rivers across North America. Freshwater Biol., ONLINE.
DOI: 10.1111/fwb.13600

Pearce, Nolan J. T.; Thomas, Kathryn E.; Lavoie, Isabelle; Chambers, Patricia A. & Yates, Adam G. (2020). Episodic loadings of phosphorus influence growth and composition of benthic algae communities in artificial stream mesocosms. Water Res., 185: Art. 116139.
DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2020.116139

Budnick, William R.; Leboucher, Thibault; Beilard, Jerome; Soininen, Janne; Lavoie, Isabelle; Pound, Katrina; Jamoneau, Aurélien; Tison-Rosebery, Juliette; Tales, Evelyne; Pajunen, Virpi; Campeau, Stephane & Passy, Sophia I. (2019). Local and regional drivers of taxonomic homogenization in stream communities along a land use gradientGlobal Ecol. Biogeogr., 28 (11): 1597-1609.
DOI: 10.1111/geb.12976

Cerisier, Angelique; Vedrenne, Jacky; Lavoie, Isabelle & Morin, Soizic (2019). Assessing the severity of diatom deformities using geometric morphometryBotany Letters, 166 (1): 32-40.
DOI: 10.1080/23818107.2018.1474800

Lavoie, Isabelle; Morin, Soizic; Laderriere, Vincent; Paris, Louise-Emmanuelle & Fortin, Claude (2019). Assessment of diatom assemblages in close proximity to mining activities in Nunavik, Northern Quebec (Canada)Environments, 6 (6): Art. 74.
DOI: 10.3390/environments6060074

Pandey, Lalit K.; Lavoie, Isabelle; Morin, Soizic; Depuydt, Stephen; Lyu, Jie; Lee, Hojun; Jung, Jinho; Yeom, Dong-Hyuk; Han, Taejun & Park, Jihae (2019). Towards a multi-bioassay-based index for toxicity assessment of fluvial watersEnviron. Monit. Assess., 19 (2): Art. 112.
DOI: 10.1007/s10661-019-7234-5

See previous publications on GoogleScholar