HIGHER EDUCATION

1963 – 1967 B.Sc. Forestry, Laval University

1967 – 1969 M.Sc. Forest pedology, Laval University

1969 – 1975 Ph.D. Behavioural ecology, University of Calgary

Full Professor, Biology, Laval University

Field of Research

Functional osteology of mammals

Courses given

BIO-10041 Evolution of vertebrates. Course and laboratory work

BIO-19904 Mammalogy. Course and laboratory work

BIO-20989 Exotic conservation and biodiversity (including a one-month trip to Asia, Africa...)

BIO-19912 Documentary research

BIO-19903 Biology: scientific and professional sectors.

Research Program

Mechanics of mastication amongst carnivores

Other responsibility

Conservator of mammalogy collection: 5000 skulls from 150 species, more especially North-American carnivores (black bear, polar bear, wolf, coyote, fox, lynx, marten, fisher...)

Recently published book

Le Miroir du monde (Mirror on the world)
Evolution through natural selection and mystery of human nature.

Is there any meaning to the world? Why are we here? What is a human being? Evolutionary biology can make a significant contribution to elucidating these existential questions that are usually left to philosophers, theologians or, more and more, to the esotericists. But we are treading on dangerous ground, where simplistic answers abound and where we need to beware as much of the excessive reductionism that characterizes current science as of reason’s most dangerous foe: the wish to believe. In this work, the author offers avenues of reflection based on modern Darwinian biology.

This mirror on the world is for those men and women who are eager to understand, who place their trust in their reasoning powers and, therefore, mistrust superstition and refuse to chase moonbeams, and who wish to ponder on the light Darwinian biology might throw on the mystery of our existence.

Some other recent publications

Goulet, A.M., M.O. Hammill, C. Barrette. 2001. Movements and diving of grey seal females (Halichoerus grypus) in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Canada. Polar Biology, 24: 432-439.

Duchesne, M., S.D. Côté, C. Barrette. 2000. Responses of woodland caribou to winter

ecotourism in the Charlevoix Biosphere Reserve, Canada. Biological Conservation, 96: 311-317.

Grenier, D., C. Barrette, M. Crête. 1999. Food access by white-tailed deer Odocoileus

virginianus at winter feeding sites in Eastern Quebec. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 63: 323-337.

Goulet, A.M., M.O. Hammill, C. Barrette. 1999. Quality of satellite telemetry locations of gray seal Halichoerus grypus. Marine Mammal Science, 15: 589-594.

Lesage, V., C. Barrette, M.C.S. Kingsley, B. Sjare. 1999. The effect of vessel noise on the vocal behavior of belugas in the St.Lawrence river estuary, Canada. Marine Mammal Science, 15: 65-84.

Fontaine, P.-M., C. Barrette. 1997. Megatestes: anatomical evidence for sperm competition in the harbor porpoise. Mammalia, 61: 65-71.

Paré, P., C. Barrette and J. Prescott. 1996. Seasonal reproduction of captive Himalayan Tahr (Hemitragus jamlahicus) in relation to latitude. Journal of Mammalogy, 77: 826-832.

Gagnon, L. and C. Barrette. 1995. Caribous du Nouveau-Québec : inventaire terrestre à la saison des mises bas. Cahiers d’Éthologie, 14: 313-318.

Baker, S.R., C. Barrette and M.O. Hammill. 1995. Mass transfer during lactation of an ice breeding pinniped, the grey seal Halichoerus grypus, in Nova Scotia, Canada. Journal of Zoology (London), 236: 531-542.

Fontaine, P.M., C. Barrette, M.O. Hammill and M.C.S. Kingsley. 1994. Incidental catches of Harbour Porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the St. Lawrence river estuary, Québec, Canada. Report International Whaling Commission (special issue 15): 159-163.