Year: 2024, 2024
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>The bringing together of Indigenous (IK) and Environmental science Knowledge (ESK) has garnered significant attention in environmental research. This intersection has been recognized for enhancing understanding of various contemporary environmental challenges. Despite its acknowledged importance, there remains a notable gap in understanding how these knowledge systems are brought… more Year: 2023, 2023
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Ecological restoration of grassland ecosystems is increasing in scope in Ontario, as a result the demand for genetically appropriate, high-quality seeds of native plants is also
increasing. This mixed methods study characterized fitness and seed quality traits using
genetic, demographic and growth trial data for a keystone tallgrass prairie species Big
bluestem (Andropogon gerardii).… more Year: 2021, 2021
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>In order to effectively manage recreational fisheries, it is important to understand how the resource is being used. In this thesis, long-term creel census data, collected on Lake Opeongo in Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada was used to assess fine-scale angler dynamics within a recreational Lake Trout (Salvelinus namaycush) fishery. The spatial distribution of angler reported… more Year: 2021, 2021
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Wetland loss in southern Ontario, escalated by development, is putting pressure on planners as they struggle to meet development needs while maintaining a balance with regional natural heritage. Wetland offsetting, coupled with strategic environmental assessment and sustainable community planning, offers a potential solution. A combined approach of literature review, interviews, focus… more Year: 2021, 2021
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>This thesis aimed to determine what factors influence individual- and community-level shoreline stewardship attitudes and behaviours. Shoreline stewardship is part of the broader literature of environmental stewardship and place-based conservation. The needs and barriers limiting stewardship action were examined, as were the opportunities for increased impact. The Love Your Lake (LYL)… more Year: 2021, 2021
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Ecological restoration helps managers of protected areas respond to challenges presented by factors that threaten ecological integrity and respond to residual effects of previous land use. Many protected areas require restoration on sections of the property, due to previous land use. The objective of this thesis is to present criteria that assist ecological restoration professionals in… more Year: 2020, 2020
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) are declining across Ontario in both numbers and distribution, prompting concern for their future. Here, conventional, emerging, and predictive tools were combined to document brook trout occupation across seasons using streams in Haliburton County, ON as model systems. By using the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry's (OMNRFs)… more Year: 2020, 2020
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Partnerships for management of public parks have a long history, but little attention has been given to the current models of partnerships during a period of municipal austerity in Ontario. Using a qualitative assessment of transcripts from representatives of 10 municipal partner groups, this research considers what some of the current models are, the impact that they may have, and how… more Year: 2020, 2020
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>The main goal of this thesis was to assess the potential impacts of discharges of treated effluent from a small facultative sewage lagoon serving approximately 300 residents of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation to freshwater mussel populations in Boston Creek, a small tributary of the lower Grand River. The current resident mussel populations inhabiting Boston Creek were… more Year: 2020, 2020
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Microcontaminants originating from wastewater effluent and run-off from agricultural lands may be present in the sources of drinking water for rural and Indigenous communities in mixed-use watersheds. In this study, a convergent parallel mixed-methods design was applied to assess measured and perceived risks of contamination in the sources of drinking water for two communities; the Six… more Year: 2019, 2019
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>The study sought to uncover the motivations influencing collectors when they buy recorded music. These motivations were analyzed through the lenses of environmental, economic, and cultural sustainability. Trent Radio Programmers were interviewed because of their frequent use of recorded music, sizable collections, and active participation in the local music scene. The study identified… more Year: 2018, 2018
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>North American freshwater fishes are declining rapidly due to habitat fragmentation, degradation, and loss. In some cases, translocations can be used to reverse local extirpations by releasing species in suitable habitats that are no longer naturally accessible. Lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) experienced historical overharvest across their distribution, leading to endangered… more Year: 2017, 2017
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Arctic Char (Salvelinus alpinus (L.)) have been, and remain, an important</p><p>subsistence resource for the Inuvialuit, the Inuit of the western Canadian Arctic. The effects</p><p>of climate variability and change (CVC) in this region have been noticeably increasing over</p><p>the past three decades. There are concerns as to how CVC will affect Arctic… more Year: 2017, 2017
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Invasive aquatic plants can create negative ecological, economic and social impacts when they displace local vegetation, interfere with shipping and navigation and inhibit water-based recreational activities. In 2008, the first North American occurrence of the invasive plant Stratiotes aloides (Water soldier) was identified in the Trent River, Ontario. This research measured offset… more Year: 2017, 2017
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>The global food system has been criticized for being environmentally, economically and socially unsustainable. As part of a local food movement, farmers' markets (FM) are undergoing a revival in response to the escalating food system globalization of the past century. Despite the prevalence of FMs as formalized organizations, there remains a significant range in their operational… more Year: 2016, 2016
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>My research explores potential motivators for social and health service providers to be more holistic and compassionate with those they serve. From previous research focused on spirituality, I identified seven additional concepts: faith, religion, community, culture, compassion, wellness, and wholeness. Using elements of Appreciative Inquiry, data was collected through a focus group and… more Year: 2016, 2016
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Urban agriculture (UA) is becoming increasingly prevalent in Canadian cities. Despite this municipal zoning by-laws often do not address UA explicitly. Using eleven interviews of urban agricultural participants a case study of the City of Peterborough's zoning by-laws and the barriers they might present to UA was conducted. Research suggests that UA can provide many benefits to… more Year: 2015, 2015
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>ABSTRACT</p><p>The Art of the Sustainable Street</p><p>Miriam L. R. Mutton</p><p>The street influences our sense of community every day. It is argued that getting the street right communicates a collective vision for action leading to sustainable community.</p><p>This investigation continues conversations for community repair and resilient… more Year: 2015, 2015
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Name(s): Creator (cre): Browning, Mark Henry, Thesis advisor (ths): Davies, Chris, Thesis advisor (ths): Buttle, Jim, Degree committee member (dgc): Lafleur, Peter, Degree committee member (dgc): Whillans, Tom, Degree granting institution (dgg): Trent University Abstract: <p>Theoretical work on community recovery, development, stability, and resistance to species invasions has outpaced experimental field research. There is also a need for better integration between ecological theory and the practice of ecological restoration. This thesis investigates the dynamics of community assembly following peat mining and subsequent restoration efforts at Canada's… more Year: 2015, 2015
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Name(s): Creator (cre): McCallum, Jenn, Thesis advisor (ths): Bocking, Stephen, Degree committee member (dgc): Nisbet, Elizabeth, Degree committee member (dgc): Whillans, Tom, Degree committee member (dgc): Bardecki, Michal, Degree granting institution (dgg): Trent University Abstract: <p>Wetlands were once widespread in southern Ontario, but many have been drained through land use changes. Using a case study of twelve landowners in the Kawartha region, I explored motivations for restoring wetlands. Psychological research suggests that people who are more connected to nature and attached to place are more likely to behave sustainably. Results showed that having land… more Year: 2015, 2015
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>While there is an emerging body of literature on the role and effectiveness of community-based research (CBR) in addressing the needs of local communities, few studies have explored its promise in areas lacking established collaborative models. The purpose of this paper is to examine the potential of CBR to meet the sustainable community development needs of the primarily urban Durham… more Year: 2015, 2015
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Conservation organizations use strategic prioritization methods to order complex environments, evaluate landscapes, and distribute efficiently resources for conservation. This study explores how strategic prioritization decisions are made, drawing on a case study of the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC). This thesis identifies the factors affecting prioritization and their influence on… more Year: 2015, 2015
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Although the concept of environmental sustainability has become increasingly popular, the literature offers little practical guidance to direct priorities or actions to support environmental sustainability in northern Indigenous communities. A case study in Hopedale, Nunatsiavut, and a systematic literature review was undertaken to understand: 1) what aspects of the local environment are… more Year: 2014, 2014
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>The world has met the target of halving the number of people without access to improved-drinking water . However, the focus in rural areas (where 83% of the people without access to improved-drinking water live) has been on the construction of infrastructure, rather than on the strengthening of existing local institutions to create a long-term sustainable solution. This research aims to… more
