Year: 2015, 2015
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Agricultural land application of biosolids recycles nutrients and organic matter to the soil, however the effect of treatment process on nutrient availability requires further research for better nutrient management. This study examined the bioavailability of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) in alkaline treated biosolids (TB) when amended into three different soils. Despite a 45%… more Full Text: NITROGEN AND PHOSPHORUS BIOAVAILABILITY IN SOIL AMENDED WITH ALKALINE TREATED BIOSOLIDS A Thesis Submitted to the Committee on Graduate Studies in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in the Faculty of Arts and …
Year: 2015, 2015
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Road mortality is one of the leading causes of global population declines in reptiles and amphibians. Stemming losses from reptile and amphibian road mortality is a conservation priority and mitigation is a key recovery measure. I developed a model of road mortalities relative to non-‐mortalities, based on predictors varying across space (road surface type, traffic volume, speed limit,… more Full Text: FACTORS AFFECTING ROAD MORTALITY OF REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS ON THE BRUCE PENINSULA A Thesis Submitted to the Committee on Graduate Studies in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of …
Year: 2015, 2015
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Name(s): Creator (cre): Cuss, Chad Warren, Thesis advisor (ths): Gueguen, Celine, Degree committee member (dgc): Watmough, Shaun, Degree committee member (dgc): McConnell, Sabine, Degree committee member (dgc): Dillon, Peter, Degree granting institution (dgg): Trent University Abstract: <p>Dissolved organic matter (DOM) is a mixture of molecules with dynamic structure and composition that are ubiquitous in aquatic systems. DOM has several important functions in both natural and engineered systems, such as supporting microorganisms, governing the toxicity of metals and other pollutants, and controlling the fate of dissolved carbon. The structure and composition of DOM… more Full Text: Size and fluorescence properties of allochthonous dissolved organic matter: characterization, transformations, and reactivity A dissertation to the Committee on Graduate Studies in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of Doctor of …
Year: 2015, 2015
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Aquatic consumers frequently face nutritional limitation, caused in part, by imbalances between the nutrients supplied by primary producers and the metabolic demands of the consumers. These nutritional imbalances alter many ecological processes including consumer life-history traits, population dynamics, and food web properties. Given the important ecological role of organismal nutrition… more Full Text: NUTRIENT METABOLISM OF AN AQUATIC INVERTEBRATE AND ITS IMPORTANCE TO ECOLOGY A Thesis Submitted to the Committee on Graduate Studies in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Faculty of Arts and Science Trent …
Year: 2015, 2015
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Ustilago maydis is a basidiomycete smut fungus and the causal agent of common smut of corn. Disease progression and fungal development in this pathogen occur in planta, terminating in the production of dormant teliospores. Dormant spores of many fungi are characterized by reduced metabolic activity, which is restored during spore germination. The transition out of dormancy requires the… more Full Text: NATURAL ANTISENSE TRANSCRIPTS TO NUCLEUS-ENCODED MITOCHONDRIAL GENES ARE LINKED TO Ustilago maydis TELIOSPORE DORMANCY A Thesis Submitted to the Committee on Graduate Studies in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science …
Year: 2015, 2015
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Livestock predation by wild predators is a frequent and complicated issue, often cited as a significant factor in the decline of livestock production and justification for killing predators. Coyotes (Canis latrans) are the primary predators of sheep in Ontario. Some farms appear to be more susceptible to predation than others, despite the use of mitigation techniques. I explored land… more Full Text: CANID PREDATION OF DOMESTIC SHEEP (OVIS ARIES) ON ONTARIO FARMS: LAND COVER ASSOCIATIONS AND DISRUPTIVE DETERRENT TESTING A Thesis Submitted to the Committee on Graduate Studies in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of …
Year: 2015, 2015
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Decreasing lake calcium (Ca) concentration, in lakes located in base poor</p><p>catchments of the Muskoka River Watershed (MRW) in south-central Ontario, is a well- established acid-rain driven legacy effect threatening the health and integrity of aquatic ecosystems that can be compounded by additional Ca removals through forest harvesting. The objectives of this thesis were… more Full Text: Calcium in the Muskoka River Watershed – Patterns, trends, the potential impact of forest harvesting on lake Ca levels and steps toward an ecosystem approach to mitigation A Thesis Submitted to the Committee on Graduate Studies in Partial Fulfilment of …
Year: 2015, 2015
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Groundwater recharge was estimated and compared in two open grasslands, three mixed deciduous forest stands (100+ years in age), three young red pine plantations (27 ¨C 29 years in age) and two old red pine plantations (62 ¨C 63 years in age) on the Oak Ridges Moraine, southern Ontario, Canada. Recharge was estimated using a 1-d water balance with measured precipitation, throughfall,… more Full Text: GROUNDWATER RECHARGE IN A MANAGED FOREST ON THE OAK RIDGES MORAINE, SOUTHERN ONTARIO A Thesis Submitted to the Committee on Graduate Studies in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirement for the Degree of Master of Science in the Faculty of Arts and Science …
Year: 2015, 2015
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Giardia lamblia is an intestinal parasite found globally in freshwater systems that is responsible for endemic outbreaks of infectious diarrhea. As a unicellular parasite that lacks mitochondria, a respiratory chain and lives in the anaerobic environment of its host's intestine, Giardia was assumed for decades to lack heme proteins. However, its genome encodes several putative heme… more Full Text: i Expression and characterization of cytochrome b5 from Giardia lamblia A thesis submitted to the Committee of Graduate Studies in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in the Faculty of Arts and Science Trent …
Year: 2015, 2015
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Around the world, many populations of migratory shorebirds appear to be declining. Conservation strategies to reverse declining trends rely on, among other information, a firm understanding of breeding ground population dynamics. From 2010 to 2014, I studied a breeding population of Dunlin (Calidris alpina hudsonia) near Churchill, Manitoba using mark-recapture methods. I found that… more Full Text: SEXUAL DIMORPHISM AND POPULATION DYNAMICS OF SUB-ARCTIC BREEDING DUNLIN (Calidris alpina hudsonia) NEAR CHURCHILL, MANITOBA, CANADA A Thesis submitted to the Committee on Graduate Studies in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master …
Year: 2015, 2015
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>The endangered North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis) has been internationally protected from whaling since 1935 but recovery has been slow compared to the southern right whale (Eubalaena australis) due to anthropogenic mortalities and poor reproduction. Prey availability, genetic variability, and alleles of genes associated with reproductive dysfunction have been hypothesized… more Full Text: Development of Genetic Profiles for Paternity Assignment and Individual Identification of the North Atlantic Right Whale (Eubalaena glacialis) A thesis submitted to the committee of Graduate Studies in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the …
Year: 2015, 2015
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>My objective was to understand how individual variation, in conjunction with variation in habitat, can affect individual and population-level variation in animal space use. I used coyotes (Canis latrans) as a model species to investigate the roles of hybridization, an inherited intrinsic factor, and spatial memory, a learned intrinsic factor, on space use. I used a diversity of methods… more Full Text: BEYOND HABITAT: INDIVIDUAL AND POPULATIONLEVEL DRIVERS OF COYOTE SPACE USE A dissertation submitted to the Committee on Graduate Studies in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Faculty of Arts and Science …
Year: 2015, 2015
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Iridoviruses are large (120-200nm) double stranded DNA viruses that contain an icosahedral capsid. The iridoviridae family is composed of five genera that infect a wide range of poikilothermic vertebrates (Lymphocystivirus, Ranavirus and Megalocyivirus) and invertebrate hosts (Iridovirus, Chloriridovirus). Frog virus 3 (FV3) is a member of the Ranavirus genus, and is commonly used as a… more Full Text: Characterization of frog virus 3 75L and its binding partner LITAF A thesis submitted to the Committee on Graduate Studies In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy TRENT UNIVERSITY Peterborough, ON, Canada …
Year: 2015, 2015
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Maintaining functional connectivity among wildlife populations is important to ensure genetic diversity and evolutionary potential of declining populations, particularly when managing species at risk. The Boreal Designatable Unit (DU) of woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) in Ontario, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan has declined in southern portions of the range because of increased… more Full Text: CONSERVATION GENETICS OF WOODLAND CARIBOU IN THE CENTRAL BOREAL FOREST OF CANADA A dissertation submitted to the Committee on Graduate Studies in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Faculty of Arts and …
Year: 2015, 2015
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Identifying the population origin of aquaculture-reared caviar is crucial for both conservation and management strategies of farmed fish but could also facilitate international trade of a CITES regulated product. Shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum) is the main source of caviar production in Atlantic Canada, from Breviro Caviar Inc. aquaculture facility. Shortnose sturgeon are… more Full Text: MITOGENOME CHARACTERIZATION OF THE SHORTNOSE STURGEON (Acipenser brevirostrum) FOR INTERNATIONAL TRADE VALIDATION OF AQUACULTURE-REARED CAVIAR A Thesis Submitted to the Committee on Graduate Studies in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the …
Year: 2015, 2015
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>I determined the direct influence of single-tree selection harvesting on the daily nest survival rates and nest success of 5 focal bird species within a monotypic red pine (Pinus resinosa) plantation on the western edge of the Oak Ridges Moraine in southern Ontario, Canada. I located and monitored 290 nests during the 2012 and 2013 breeding season. I used the logistic-exposure method to… more Full Text: INCIDENTAL TAKE AND POPULATION DYNAMICS OF NESTING BIRDS IN A RED PINE (Pinus resinosa) PLANTATION IN SOUTHERN ONTARIO UNDER SINGLE-TREE SELECTION HARVESTING A Thesis Submitted to the Committee on Graduate Studies in Partial Fulfillment of the …
Year: 2015, 2015
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>The reliability and performance of four passive sampler membrane coatings specific to nitrogen dioxide (NO2) were evaluated through co-exposure at multiple Ontario Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (OMOECC) active monitoring stations. All four coatings performed relatively similar under a wide range of meteorological conditions, notably showing exposure-specific atmospheric… more Full Text: Passive sampling of indoor and outdoor atmospheric nitrogen dioxide in the greater Toronto area A Thesis Submitted to the Committee of Graduate Studies in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Faculty of Arts and …
Year: 2015, 2015
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>In this thesis, a methodological framework for the assessment and monitoring of forest degradation based on remote sensing techniques and field data, as part of the REDD+ programme, is presented. The framework intends to support the implementation of a national Monitoring, Verification and Report (MRV) system in developing countries. The framework proposed an operational definition of… more Full Text: A methodological framework for the assessment and monitoring of forest degradation under the REDD+ programme based on remote sensing techniques and field data. A Thesis submitted to the Committee on Graduate Studies in Partial Fulfillment of the …
Year: 2015, 2015
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Soil mineralizable nitrogen (N) is the main component of soil N supply in humid temperate regions and should be considered in N fertilizer recommendations. The objectives of this study were to determine the potentially mineralizable N parameters, and improve N fertilizer recommendations by evaluating a suite of soil N tests in southwestern Ontario. The study was conducted over the 2013… more Full Text: Soil mineralizable nitrogen as an indicator of soil nitrogen supply for grain corn in southwestern Ontario A Thesis submitted to the Committee of Graduate Studies in Partial Fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in the …
Year: 2015, 2015
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>(MRC) in central Ontario was carried out to determine the range and spatial distribution of soil Ca weathering rates, and investigate the relationships between lake Ca and soil and catchment attributes. The MRC is acid-sensitive, and has a long history of impacts from industrial emission sources in Ontario and the United States. Small headwater catchments were sampled for soil and… more Full Text: A Regional Assessment of Soil Calcium Weathering Rates and the Factors that Influence Lake Calcium in the Muskoka River Catchment, Central Ontario A Thesis Submitted to the Committee on Graduate Studies in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the …
