Volume 1 - Main Report

24 attempts, eight refusals were encountered. A field technician immediately
proceeded to sift the samples with a 0.5 mm mesh sieve. Stored in a formaldehyde
solution buffered with seawater, the 16 samples then were sent to the benthic
ecology laboratory of the Institut des Sciences de la mer de Rimouski (ISMER) to
identify the collected organisms and estimate their density. The identification was
performed with the greatest possible taxonomic precision.
Data Entry and Analysis
At the end of each work day, the divers entered the results regarding the grass beds
and the epibenthic fauna directly in a database. Once validated, this database
allowed production of Table 6.19 (subparagraph 6.2.1.2), which presents the grass
bed coverage percentages.
A similar method was performed for the epibenthic fauna. The divers thus entered
the data as they observed it in order to produce Table 6.20 (subparagraph 6.2.1.2).
Note that only occurrence data (presence or absence) is presented for this section.
Concerning the endobenthic fauna, the ISMER laboratory was able to supply a
database indicating all the species found and their respective densities. This data
was converted into number of individuals /m 2 (Table 6.21; subparagraph 6.2.1.2).
Diversity indices then were calculated on this database, via use of PRIMER 5
statistical software (Primer-e-Ltd).
5.2.2 Terrestrial Environment
5.2.2.1 Special-Status Plant Species
The plant inventories were conducted from July 20 to 25 and concerned site Q1,
site Q2 and the terrestrial deposit sites 4 (including the route of the access road and
of the drainage water outfall) and B (Map 1, Appendix 13), as well as Bombardier
Beach from the existing camp site to the abandoned landing strip.
All the sites listed above were inventoried, but the inventory effort mainly focused on
site 4, the route of the access road and the route of the outfall. A total of 95 habitats
distributed over 80 sites were inventoried. The main vegetation types were also
characterized by 28 vegetation surveys.
Canadian Royalties Inc.
GENIVAR
101-53046-02 November 2012
44