Publications
Anticosti: Tourism, Industry, and Nature Construction on a Nordic, Peripheral Island
Anticosti Island's recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2023 highlights the exceptional universal value of its nature and culture, particularly its nordicity and peripherality. This study reveals how these characteristics were reimagined by the tourism industry from locational impediments to attractions, making nature tourism an economic mainstay. The research draws on regional tourism histories to show that this transformation was achieved through a cultural construction process that complemented industry and urbanity. By analyzing Anticosti's unique position in the northern Gulf of St. Lawrence, the study provides insights into how peripheral locations can be leveraged for sustainable development.
Hirnantian (Late Ordovician) chemostratigraphy of Anticosti Island, eastern Canada: Comparison of stable carbon and oxygen isotope compositions from brachiopod shells and bulk carbonate
Brachiopod shells from Anticosti Island's Ellis Bay Formation preserve pristine stable carbon (C) and oxygen (O) isotope signatures, offering a more sensitive and faithful archive of ancient seawater composition than bulk carbonate. Intra-shell isotopic variations reveal consistent trends across ten species, with δ13C increasing by ~0.5–1‰ from early to late growth stages, indicating minimal diagenetic alteration. Inter-species comparisons show small differences in average δ13C and δ18O at given stratigraphic levels, supporting their comparability for chemostratigraphy. Notably, brachiopod shells exhibit significantly higher δ13C than bulk micrite during the peak Hirnantian Isotopic Carbon Excursion (HICE), reinforcing their utility as reliable proxies for paleoenvironmental reconstruction, particularly during the Hirnantian glaciation event.
Late Ordovician cornulitids from Anticosti Island, eastern Canada, and their evolutionary implications
Researchers have identified two new species of Late Ordovician cornulitids, Cornulites richmondensis and Cornulites hemistriatus, from Anticosti Island, Canada. These free-living organisms exhibit unique morphological traits, such as a thick, punctate, cross-bladed lamellar conch wall and septate juvenile parts, bridging the evolutionary gap between Cornulites and later Silurian-Devonian Tentaculites. The study suggests that these cornulitids share similarities with brachiopods in their shell microstructure but possess finer, less distinct lamellar layers. This discovery provides new insights into the evolutionary transition of these fossil groups during the Late Ordovician period.
Phylogenetic position and stratigraphic uncertainty of a new flexible crinoid from the Ordovician–Silurian boundary of Anticosti Island (Québec, Canada)
Researchers have identified a new flexible crinoid species, Anticosticrinus natiscotecensis, from the Ordovician–Silurian boundary of Anticosti Island (Québec, Canada), a region critical for studying the Late Ordovician mass extinction (LOME). Phylogenetic analysis places this species within the family Anisocrinidae, contributing to understanding crinoid faunal turnover during this pivotal period. The study also employed Bayesian methods to quantify stratigraphic age uncertainty, suggesting a late Hirnantian age, though not definitively resolving it. This discovery provides valuable data for evaluating extinction timing and diversification patterns in flexible crinoids, which became dominant in the Silurian.
A high-resolution sequence stratigraphic framework for the eastern Ellis Bay Formation, Canada: A record of Hirnantian sea-level change
A high-resolution sequence stratigraphic framework for the eastern Ellis Bay Formation on Anticosti Island, Canada, reveals six fourth-order depositional sequences bounded by subtle, regionally traceable unconformities. These sequences, marked by quartz pebble lags and depleted carbon isotopic values, provide a detailed record of Hirnantian sea-level changes during the Late Ordovician mass extinction. The framework enables the integration of paleobiological, stratigraphic, and geochemical data into a basin-wide perspective, suggesting that other coeval sections may be incomplete at the level of these fourth-order cycles.
Bridging the gap between Quebec and Newfoundland: new insights on the protracted and diachronic history of the Anticosti foreland basin
A new study reveals significant stratigraphic and tectonic variability along the Anticosti foreland basin, bridging Quebec and Newfoundland. The research identifies a thick post-Llandovery sedimentary succession (∼2 km) in two regional synclines, with youngest sediments correlating to the Upper Gaspé Sandstone Group–Red Island Road Formation (Emsian–Eifelian). Post-Eifelian deformation is characterized by folds ranging from 2–10 km in wavelength, with newly recognized northwest-striking faults exhibiting syn- to post-Middle Mississippian movements. The southern boundary of the basin is linked to an unconformity or poorly documented east-southeast to northeast-striking faults. Magnetic and seismic data were used to map rock units, distinguishing igneous dykes from sedimentary markers by their higher amplitude and geometry. This study enhances our understanding of the basin's complex history.
Chitinozoan biostratigraphy through the Aeronian–Telychian boundary interval on Anticosti Island, Canada
Researchers have refined the position of the Aeronian–Telychian boundary on Anticosti Island, Canada, using chitinozoan biostratigraphy. This study identifies two key biozones—the Ancyrochitina ramosaspina and Eisenackitina dolioliformis—which correlate with global standards, clarifying the timing of this critical interval in Earth's history. The findings also define three new chitinozoan species, providing precise markers for further geological studies. By integrating these data with existing conodont, graptolite, and brachiopod records, the study confirms limited unconformities at the boundary, contrasting with less complete coeval locations like the Baltic succession. This refined age model offers a solid foundation for investigating Llandovery biogeochemical events following the Late Ordovician mass extinction.
A new species ofHirnantia(Orthida, Brachiopoda) and its implications for the Hirnantian age of the Ellis Bay Formation, Anticosti Island, eastern Canada
Researchers have identified a new species of the brachiopod genus Hirnantia, H. notiskuani, from the lower Ellis Bay Formation on Anticosti Island, eastern Canada. This discovery, alongside the previously documented H. sagittifera in the uppermost Ellis Bay Formation, confirms that the entire formation spans the Hirnantian age, a critical period marking the Late Ordovician mass extinction. The study integrates brachiopod assemblages with palynological and chemostratigraphic data to refine the geological timeline of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. The findings highlight the unique diversity of the Hirnantia fauna in Anticosti, blending elements from both typical Hirnantian and Laurentian epeiric seas.
Genomic architecture of phenotypic extremes in a wild cervid
Research on Anticosti Island's white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) has uncovered significant genetic differences linked to extreme antler and body size traits, offering new insights for conservation efforts. By analyzing high-depth whole genome re-sequencing data from pools of individuals representing phenotypic extremes, scientists identified divergent genomic windows with mean allele frequency differences of 14% for antler and 13% for body size. Genes associated with antler morphology showed enrichment in pathways related to cell death, protein metabolism, and oncogenic processes, while body size traits exhibited a more complex genetic architecture. These findings highlight the potential of genomics in understanding evolutionary pressures and guiding management strategies for this UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The morphologic and paleobiogeographic implications of a new early Silurian echinoid from Anticosti Island, Quebec, Canada
Researchers have uncovered a new genus and species of early Silurian echinoid, Anticostiechinus petryki, from Anticosti Island, Quebec, Canada. This discovery sheds light on the initial diversification of sea urchins during the lower Paleozoic era. The morphology of A. petryki's tubercles and spines is atypical for echinoids, featuring rounded, concave indentations for spine articulation and subspherical spine bases. Belonging to the family Echinocystitidae, this find expands the known diversity and distribution of this family during the Silurian and Devonian periods, providing valuable insights into the paleobiogeography of echinocystitids.
Sulfidic anoxia in the oceans during the Late Ordovician mass extinctions – insights from molybdenum and uranium isotopic global redox proxies
A global oceanic sulfidic anoxia occurred during the Late Ordovician Mass Extinction (LOME2), significantly contributing to the 85% loss of marine animal species. This finding is supported by molybdenum and uranium isotopic proxies, with δ²³⁸U in carbonates from Anticosti Island serving as a key indicator. The study combines existing paleoredox data from four continents with new Mo isotope data, revealing that ocean anoxia was both spatially extensive and temporally linked to extinction phases. Additionally, periodic sulfidic anoxia in well-ventilated shallow oceans during warmer periods may have driven high seawater δ⁹⁸Mo values observed during LOME1. These insights suggest that oxygen loss played a causal role in both extinction phases.
Biomass Combined Heat and Power Generation for Anticosti Island: A Case Study
A biomass combined heat and power (CHP) plant could serve as a sustainable alternative to traditional electrical heating on Anticosti Island, Quebec. This study demonstrates the feasibility of such a system by designing, modeling, and simulating a CHP plant that leverages local biomass fuel to generate both electricity and district heating. The proposed design utilizes advanced steam turbine configurations—back-pressure or extraction turbines—to optimize heat recovery while maintaining efficient power generation. By integrating these technologies, the plant could meet Anticosti Island's energy demands with reduced reliance on fossil fuels, offering a scalable model for similar island communities in Canada.
Geothermal resource assessment of remote sedimentary basins with sparse data: lessons learned from Anticosti Island, Canada
A geothermal resource assessment of Anticosti Island, Canada, reveals significant potential for low-temperature geothermal electricity generation despite sparse and low-quality data. The study developed a 3D temperature model for the Ordovician/Silurian sedimentary basin and its underlying Precambrian basement, predicting temperatures up to 40 km depth with high variability (up to 70% at mantle depth) due to uncertain thermal parameters. While geothermal electricity generation from reservoirs at 120 °C or more is challenging in the current technical and economic context, low-temperature direct use of geothermal heat (inlet temperature of 70 °C) could be feasible at depths of 2–4 km, albeit with a net efficiency of 10–11%. The study highlights the need for improved thermal property data, particularly for the Precambrian basement and specific lithologies in the sedimentary basin, to enhance temperature prediction accuracy.
Terminal Ordovician carbon isotope stratigraphy and glacioeustatic sea-level change across Anticosti Island (Quebec, Canada)
A detailed carbon isotope analysis of Ordovician-Silurian boundary strata on Anticosti Island, Quebec, reveals that the Hirnantian positive carbon isotope excursion—characteristic of global records—peaks at ~4.5‰ in carbonate rocks. This excursion, coupled with glacioeustatic sea-level fluctuations, suggests that sea-level drawdown and subsequent rise were not perfectly synchronized with the isotopic shift. The study proposes that the entire Hirnantian Stage on Anticosti is confined to the Laframboise and lower Fox Point Members, supported by a combined litho- and chemostratigraphic approach. Discontinuities in the isotope curve across proximal-to-distal transects further indicate diachroneity in sedimentary deposits, with oncolite beds transgressing westward while Becscie limestones prograded eastward. The findings align with the 'weathering' hypothesis for the Hirnantian carbon isotope excursion, providing insights into terminal Ordovician climate dynamics.
Chitinozoan biostratigraphy of a new Upper Ordovician stratigraphic framework for Anticosti Island, Canada
A new Upper Ordovician stratigraphic framework for Anticosti Island, Canada, reveals significant east-west correlations between the Ellis Bay and Vauréal formations, resolving long-standing discrepancies. Chitinozoan biostratigraphy demonstrates that most strata of the Ellis Bay Formation at the eastern end correlate with the mid-upper Vauréal Formation in the west, while the Schmitt Creek and Mill Bay members of the Vauréal are older than the uppermost Vauréal eponym members. The study also identifies a Hirnantian age for the gamachiana Zone and provides insights into the timing and magnitude of the Hirnantian Isotopic Carbon Excursion (HICE), aligning with global stratigraphic data from China and Scotland. This research integrates chitinozoan, geochemical, sedimentological, and sequence stratigraphic data to refine understanding of Upper Ordovician stratigraphy.
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