Dominique Fauteux

Profile

Dominique Fauteux's research aims to better understand the workings of terrestrial ecosystems using micro-mammals. Animals in this group of species have often been identified as key players because of their central role in food webs and terrestrial food chains.

Trophic interactions and the workings of northern ecosystems are greatly affected by the abundance cycles of lemmings and northern voles. Dominique's work consists mainly in following the changes in the abundances of micro-mammals and in determining the causes and consequences of these fluctuations. By combining work in the Arctic tundra and the thousands of specimens available in museum collections, Dominique will be able to provide insight into the mechanisms leading to various population dynamics in the Arctic and develop osteological tools to quantify the exchange of biomass between prey and predators (e.g., bones in the regurgitation pellets of prey birds). He will also be able to facilitate the identification of morphologically simian micromammals, and to understand if and how small mammals will adapt to a rapidly warming Arctic.

Professional Services

• Collaborating member of the Centre for Northern Studies, Université Laval, 2017–present.
• Member of the ArcticWEB international group, 2015–present.

Students

• David Bolduc, M.Sc. student, Laval University (2020–2022).
• Marianne Valcourt, M.Sc. student, Laval University (2018–2020).

Links

ORCID
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5373-8701

Google Scholar
https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=WtQN5x4AAAAJ&hl=fr&oi=ao

Member profile at the Centre for Northern Studies, Université Laval
http://www.cen.ulaval.ca/membre.php?id=3983352&cat=12&membre=dfauteux (website available in French)

ResearchGate profile
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Dominique_Fauteux

ArcticWEB International Network
http://arcticweb-project.org

Ecological Studies and Environmental Monitoring at Bylot Island, Sirmilik National Park, Nunavut
http://www.cen.ulaval.ca/bylot

Lemmings—The Arctic Tundra's "Lunch Box" (3 min. 48 sec.)

Selected Media Coverage

Klassen, C. 2019. Science in the city—lemmings researcher
https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/1593119811792

De Ciccio, M. 2019. Comprendre les lemmings, le « garde-manger » de l'Arctique. Radio-Canada Grand Nord.
https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/1245322/lemming-arctique-canada-recherche-cambridge-bay

Thompson, J. 2018. The cuddly cause behind Nunavut's boom in foxes and owls. Nunatsiaq News. http://www.nunatsiaqonline.ca/stories/article/65674the_cuddly_cause_behind_nunavuts_boom_in_foxes_and_owls

Publications

Refereed Journal Papers

Hutchison, C., F. Guichard, P. Legagneux, G. Gauthier, J. Bêty, D. Berteaux, D. Fauteux and D. Gravel. Seasonal food webs with migrations: multi-season models reveal indirect species interactions in the Canadian Arctic tundra. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsta.2019.0354

Khidas, K., E.A. Schmidt and D. Fauteux. 2020. Comparative 2D-shape analyses of collared lemmings in the zone of possible sympatry between Dicrostonyx groenlandicus and Dicrostonyx richardsoni (Rodentia, Arvicolinae). Arctic Science. https://doi.org/10.1139/as-2019-0023 

Schmidt, E., D. Fauteux, J.-F. Therrien, G. Gauthier and Y. Seyer. 2020. Improving diet assessment of Arctic terrestrial predators with the size of rodent mandibles. Journal of Zoology 311: 23–32. https://doi.org/10.1111/jzo.12756

Domine, F., G. Gauthier, V. Vionnet, D. Fauteux, M. Dumont and M. Barrère. 2018. Snow physical properties may be a significant determinant of lemming population dynamics in the high Arctic. Arctic Science 4: 813–826. https://doi.org/10.1139/as-2018-0008

Fauteux, D., G. Gauthier, D. Berteaux, R. Palme and R. Boonstra. 2018. High Arctic lemmings remain reproductively active under predator-induced elevated stress. Oecologia 187: 657–666. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-018-4140-4

Fauteux, D., G. Gauthier, M.J. Mazerolle, N. Coallier, J. Bêty, D. Berteaux. 2018. Evaluation of invasive and non-invasive methods to monitor rodent abundance in the Arctic. Ecosphere 9: e02124. https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.2124

Fauteux, D., G. Slevan-Tremblay, G. Gauthier, D. Berteaux. 2018. Life in the fast lane: learning from the rare multi-year recaptures of brown lemmings in the High Arctic. Arctic Science 4(0):146–151. https://doi.org/10.1139/AS-2017-0017

Fauteux, D., G. Gauthier, D. Berteaux, C. Bosson, R. Palme, R. Boonstra. 2017. Assessing stress in arctic lemmings: fecal metabolite levels reflect plasma free corticosterone levels. Physiological and Biochemical Zoology 90(3):370–382. https://doi.org/10.1086/691337

Fauteux, D., G. Slevan-Tremblay, G. Gauthier, D. Berteaux. 2017. Feeding preference of brown lemmings (Lemmus trimucronatus) for plant parts of Arctic willow (Salix arctica). Polar Biology 40(11):2329–2334. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-017-2147-7

Fauteux, D., G. Gauthier, D. Berteaux. 2016. Top-down limitation of lemmings revealed by experimental reduction of predators. Ecology 97(11):3231–3241. https://doi.org/10.1002/ecy.1570

Fauteux, D., M. Cheveau, L. Imbeau, P. Drapeau. 2015. Cyclic dynamics of a boreal southern red-backed vole population in northwestern Quebec. Journal of Mammalogy 96(3):573–578. https://doi.org/10.1093/jmammal/gyv062

Fauteux, D., G. Gauthier, D. Berteaux. 2015. Seasonal demography of a cyclic lemming population in the canadian Arctic. Journal of Animal Ecology 84(5):1412–1422. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2656.12385

Bilodeau, F., G. Gauthier, D. Fauteux, D. Berteaux. 2014. Does lemming winter grazing impact vegetation in the Canadian Arctic? Polar Biology 37(6):845–857. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-014-1486-x

Fauteux, D., G. Lupien, F. Fabianek, M. Séguy, J. Gagnon, L. Imbeau. 2014. An illustrated key to the mandibles of small mammals of Eastern Canada. The Canadian Field-Naturalist 128(1):25–37.

Fauteux, D., M.J. Mazerolle, L. Imbeau, P. Drapeau. 2013. Site occupancy and spatial co-occurrence of boreal small mammals are favoured by late-decay woody debris. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 43(1):419–427. https://doi.org/10.1139/cjfr-2012-0397

Fauteux, D., L. Imbeau, P. Drapeau, M. Mazerolle. 2012. Small mammal responses to coarse woody debris distribution at different spatial scales in managed and unmanaged boreal forests. Forest Ecology and Management 266:194–205. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2011.11.020

Non-Refereed Publications

Fontaine-Topaloff, J., D. Fauteux and K. Khidas. 2020. Clé d'identification des poils des musaraignes du Québec. Rapport remis au Ministère des Forêts, Faune et Parcs du Québec. Gatineau, Québec, 23 p.

Fauteux, D. 2016. Les micromammifères: les lutins boréaux. Nature Sauvage, Summer issue.

Fauteux, D. 2011. La souris et le dodu: une histoire pour le bois mort. Le Couvert Boréal, 7, 20–21.

Other Contributions

Fauteux, D., G. Gauthier, M.-C. Cadieux. 2018. Estimating small mammal and winter nest densities using capture-recapture and distance sampling with R – version 1. Centre for Northern Studies, Université Laval, Québec, 39 pp. http://www.cen.ulaval.ca/bylot/files/Small_Mammal_Analysis_R_v1.pdf

Cadieux, M.-C., D. Fauteux, G. Gauthier. 2015. Technical manual for sampling small mammals in the Arctic – version 1. Centre for Northern Studies, Université Laval, Québec, 55 pp. http://www.cen.ulaval.ca/bylot/files/Small_Mammal_Sampling_v1.pdf

Fauteux, D. 2016. Doctoral thesis. Effets directs et indirects de la prédation sur les lemmings dans l'Arctique canadien. Université Laval, Québec, 207 pp. (Distinction: Honours list). Supervisors: Gilles Gauthier, Dominique Berteaux and Rudy Boonstra.

Fauteux, D. 2011. Master's thesis. Effets des débris ligneux grossiers sur les micromammifères à différentes échelles spatiales en pessières à mousses aménagées du Nord du Québec. Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Rouyn-Noranda, 115 pp. (Distinction: Excellence of memory). Supervisors: Louis Imbeau, Marc J. Mazerolle and Pierre Drapeau.