Year: 2023, 2023
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive loss in function of motor neurons. Elevated levels of biologically important metal ions, such as copper (II) (Cu(II)), zinc (II) (Zn(II)) or iron (III) (Fe(III)), may contribute to the disease. Moreover, Cu(II) interactions with other proteins associated with ALS have been investigated;… more Full Text: ELECTROCHEMICAL AND SURFACE ANALYSIS OF METAL IONS AND TDP-43 PROTEIN INTERACTIONS 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 …
Year: 2023, 2023
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Cytokinins (CKs) are a pervasive group of growth-promoting signaling molecules spanning every kingdom of life. Their roles are best known in plants, where they act as phytohormones controlling nearly all aspects of plant growth and development. CKs continue to be detected in new organisms, posing questions about their roles in such widespread forms of life. The research presented in this… more Full Text: CYTOKININS IN Dictyostelium discoideum: NEW INSIGHTS FOR EXPANDED ROLES DURING THE LIFE CYCLE OF THE SOCIAL AMOEBA A dissertation submitted to the Committee of Graduate Studies in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of …
Year: 2023, 2023
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Name(s): Creator (cre): Beaton, Andy, Thesis advisor (ths): Metcalfe, Robert A, Thesis advisor (ths): Buttle, James M, Degree committee member (dgc): Franklin, Steven E, Degree committee member (dgc): Tolson, Bryan A, Degree granting institution (dgg): Trent University Abstract: <p>Understanding snowpack variability is important as it plays an imperative role in environmental, hydrologic, and atmospheric systems. Research questions related to three linked areas were investigated in this thesis: 1) scaling issues in snow hydrology, 2) forest-snowpack relationships, and 3) methods of integrating snow water equivalent (SWE) into a hydrologic model for a large,… more Full Text: SNOWPACK ESTIMATION AND MODELLING ACROSS SCALES USING FIELD-BASED AND REMOTELY SENSED DATA IN A FORESTED REGION OF CENTRAL ONTARIO A Thesis Submitted to the Committee on Graduate Studies in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor …
Year: 2023, 2023
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Nurses have a vital role in counselling their patients towards healthier living. However, nurses tend to have poor metabolic health that may be influenced by lifestyle. Whether this begins during their nursing education is poorly understood. Undergraduate nursing (n=42) and biology (n=15) students had their metabolic health assessed through body measurements, fasting blood glucose and… more Full Text: Discriminating Metabolic Health Status in a Cohort of Nursing Students: A Cross-Sectional Study 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 …
Year: 2022, 2022
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>The replacement of petroleum with renewable feedstock for energy and materials has become a priority because of concerns over the environment and finite nature of petroleum. The structures of the available natural biomass feedstocks fall short in delivering key functionality required in materials such as lubricants and phase change energy storage materials (PCMs). The approach taken in… more Full Text: MOLECULAR ARCHITECTURES FOR IMPROVED BIOMATERIALS DERIVED FROM VEGETABLE OILS – APPLICATION TO ENERGY STORAGE AND LUBRICANTS A dissertation submitted to the Committee on Graduate Studies in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor …
Year: 2022, 2022
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Habitat loss and fragmentation have significantly contributed to amphibian population declines, globally. Evaluating the state of remaining habitat patches can prove to be beneficial in identifying areas to prioritize in conservation efforts. Pelee Island, Ontario is home to a complex of salamanders including small-mouthed salamanders (Ambystoma texanum), blue-spotted salamanders (A.… more Full Text: Assessing habitat suitability and connectivity for an endangered salamander complex 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 …
Year: 2022, 2022
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>AbstractDifferences and similarities in exploration and risk-taking behaviours
of two Myotis bat species.
Laura Michele Scott
Behaviours that are repeatable across circumstances and time determine an individual's personality. Personality and behavioural variation are subject to selective pressures, including risks related to the use of different habitat types. I explored the… more Full Text: Differences and similarities in exploration and risk-taking behaviours of two Myotis bat species. 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 …
Year: 2022, 2022
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Walleye (Sander vitreus) are an ecologically and economically significant fish harvestedby recreational and commercial fisheries across Ontario. Adult Walleye are piscivores, but
anecdotal evidence from anglers suggests that Walleye often target aquatic insects such as
mayfly larvae (Ephemeroptera). My research examined the diet of Walleye caught from May to
September in Lake St. Joseph… more Full Text: THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF MAYFLIES (EPHEMEROPTERA: HEXAGENIA SPP.) AND OTHER INVERTEBRATES TO THE SEASONAL DIET OF WALLEYE (PERCIDAE: SANDER VITREUS) A Thesis Submitted to the Committee on Graduate Studies in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the …
Year: 2022, 2022
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Increased plant size is expected to have negative consequences for mating by increasing pollen transfer among the same plant. However, recent theoretical studies have demonstrated that this may not be true for clonal plants. Instead, clonal expansion could enhance outcrossing opportunities without increasing selfing by reducing distances to potential mates. I investigated how the spatial… more Full Text: CLONAL STRUCTURE AND MATING PATTERNS IN A NATURAL POPULATION OF SAGITTARIA LATIFOLIA 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 Science …
Year: 2022, 2022
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Microplastics, plastic particles less than 5 mm in diameter, are ubiquitous in the environment. This study estimated the abundance of microplastics (MP) in atmospheric deposition from four background monitoring stations in Muskoka-Haliburton, south-central Ontario, Canada and quantified the fate of microplastics to three background headwater lake catchments in Muskoka-Haliburton.… more Full Text: Anthropogenic particles and microplastics in headwater lake catchments in Muskoka-Haliburton, Canada A Thesis Submitted to the Committee on Graduate Studies in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in the Faculty of …
Year: 2022, 2022
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Species are faced with a variety of challenges in the environment, including natural challenges, such as variability in ambient temperature, and anthropogenic threats, such as habitat transformation associated with urbanisation. Understanding how animals respond to these kinds of challenges can advance the field of behavioural ecology and guide management decisions for wild species. Yet… more Full Text: Behavioural ecology and population dynamics of freshwater turtles in a semi-urban landscape at their northern range limit A Dissertation Submitted to the Committee on Graduate Studies in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of …
Year: 2022, 2022
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Giardia intestinalis is a waterborne enteric parasite that lacks mitochondria and the capacity for heme biosynthesis. Despite this, Giardia encodes several heme proteins, including four cytochrome b5 isotypes (gCYTB5-I – IV) of unknown function. The aim of this thesis is to gain insight into the function of the Giardia cytochrome b5 isotype III (gCYTB5-III) that is found in the nucleus,… more Full Text: Interactome study of the Giardia intestinalis nuclear localized cytochrome b5 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 Science TRENT …
Year: 2022, 2022
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>I used the Motus Wildlife Tracking System to monitor the fall migration behaviour and assess the underlying drivers of migration strategy in a small shorebird, the Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus), breeding at two subarctic sites: Churchill, Manitoba and Burntpoint Creek, Ontario, Canada. Semipalmated Plovers from both sites departed breeding areas between mid-July and early… more Full Text: Fall Migratory Behaviour and Cross-seasonal Interactions in Semipalmated Plovers (Charadrius semipalmatus) Breeding in the Hudson Bay Lowlands, Canada A Thesis submitted to the Committee on Graduate Studies in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for …
Year: 2022, 2022
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>The following study measured dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and total mercury (THg) concentrations in acid sensitive lakes in the Republic of Ireland. Sixty-eight upland lakes and 48 lowland lakes were sampled for DOC; the upland lakes were additionally sampled for THg. Spatial variability of DOC was explained by regional precipitation and soil organic matter. A subset of lakes was… more Full Text: Organic Matter and Total Mercury in Acid-Sensitive Lakes in Ireland 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 UNIVERSITY …
Year: 2022, 2022
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Objectives/purpose: The current study examined whether attending a 1-month virtual oncology camp (VOC)
improved resilience and hope in childhood cancer patients and parental/caregiver stress.</p><p>Methods:Childhood cancer patients/survivors and their parent/caregivers enrolled for VOC,
participated in an online anonymous survey: before, after and 3-months after VOC. The… more Full Text: THE EFFECT OF ATTENDING A VIRTUAL ONCOLOGY CAMP ON CHILDHOOD CANCER PATIENT’S PYSHCOSOCIAL FUNCTIONING AND PARENTAL STRESS – A PILOT STUDY A Thesis Submitted to the Committee of Graduate Studies in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of …
Year: 2022, 2022
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Name(s): Creator (cre): Muir, Gillian, Thesis advisor (ths): Brown, Glen, Degree committee member (dgc): Nol, Erica, Degree committee member (dgc): Metcalfe, Robert, Degree committee member (dgc): Hu, Baoxin, Degree granting institution (dgg): Trent University Abstract: <p>The fine-scale controls of active layer dynamics in the subarctic at the southern edge of continuous permafrost are currently poorly understood. The goal of this thesis was to understand how environmental conditions associated with upland tundra heath, open graminoid fen, and palsas/peat plateaus affected active layer thermal regime in a subarctic peatland in northern Canada. Indices of… more Full Text: Active layer thermal regime in subarctic wetlands at the southern edge of continuous permafrost in Canada 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 …
Year: 2022, 2022
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Increased mining activity in the Canadian Arctic has resulted in significant changes to the environment that may be influencing some tundra-nesting bird populations. In this thesis I examine the direct and indirect effects of mining on birds nesting in the Canadian Arctic. I first perform a literature review of the effects that mining in the Arctic has on northern environments and… more Full Text: RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN BIRD DENSITIES AND DISTANCE TO MINES IN NORTHERN CANADA 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: 2022, 2022
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Name(s): Creator (cre): Fournier, Cory, Thesis advisor (ths): Manseau, Micheline, Thesis advisor (ths): Wilson, Paul, Degree committee member (dgc): Manseau, Micheline, Degree committee member (dgc): Wilson, Paul, Degree committee member (dgc): Simmons, Deborah, Degree granting institution (dgg): Trent University Abstract: <p>Understanding genetic structure, connectivity, and movement of a species iscritical to management and conservation. Genetic network approaches allow the analysis
of genetic information with flexibility and few prior assumptions. In chapter one, I tested
the ability of individual-based genetic networks to detect fine-scale structure and
connectivity in relation to sampling efforts. My… more Full Text: GENETIC NETWORKS TO INVESTIGATE STRUCTURE AND CONNECTIVITY OF CARIBOU AT MULTIPLE SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL SCALES A Thesis Submitted to the Committee on Graduate Studies in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in the …
Year: 2022, 2022
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Name(s): Creator (cre): DeBues, Max, Thesis advisor (ths): Eimers, Catherine, Degree committee member (dgc): Watmough, Shaun, Degree committee member (dgc): Mohamed, Mohamed, Degree committee member (dgc): Mueller, Jessica, Degree granting institution (dgg): Trent University Abstract: <p>Row crop agriculture and associated land use practices including tile drainage and conservation tillage have been cited as a probable cause of re-emerging eutrophication in the
lower Great Lakes. In this thesis, I sought to quantify and evaluate the effect of agricultural land
cover and land use changes on total phosphorus (TP) and nitrate-nitrogen (NO3-N)
concentrations and export in… more Full Text: THE EFFECTS OF AGRICULTURAL LAND USE CHANGE ON NITROGEN AND PHOSPHORUS IN NORTH SHORE LAKE ONTARIO TRIBUTARIES A Thesis Submitted to the Committee on Graduate Studies in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in the …
Year: 2022, 2022
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Amino acids make up proteins, which are the building blocks of life. A balance of amino acids is needed to maintain a healthy state. Tyrosine (Tyr) is synthesized from the metabolism of phenylalanine, which is an essential amino acid, meaning it can only be obtained from the diet. It is related to many metabolic and neurodegenerative diseases. Tyr can undergo post-translational… more Full Text: USING FLUORESCENT CARBON DOTS FOR BIOSENSING APPLICATIONS OF AMINO ACIDS A Thesis Submitted to the Committee on Graduate Studies in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master Science in the Faculty of Arts and Science TRENT …
Year: 2022, 2022
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis) recruitment has declined substantially in several regions of the Laurentian Great Lakes since the establishment of non-native dreissenid mussels in the early 1990's. In Lake Huron, the reasons for the observed recruitment declines are currently unknown and there is limited knowledge about larval life stage. In our study, we determined whether… more Full Text: Larval lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis) recruitment dynamics in Lake Huron 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 Science …
Year: 2022, 2022
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Name(s): Creator (cre): Jenkins, Deborah A., Thesis advisor (ths): Schaefer, James A, Thesis advisor (ths): Lecomte, Nicolas, Degree committee member (dgc): Conolly, James, Degree committee member (dgc): Ray, Justina, Degree granting institution (dgg): Trent University Abstract: <p>Central to wildlife conservation and management is the need for refined, spatially explicit knowledge on the diversity and distribution of species and the factors that drive those patterns. This is especially vital as anthropogenic disturbance threatens rapid large-scale change, even in the most remote areas of the planet. My dissertation examines theinfluence of land- and sea-scape… more Full Text: ISLANDS, UNGULATES, AND ICE: THE RESPONSE OF CARIBOU TO A CHANGING ENVIRONMENT 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: 2022, 2022
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Organismal nutrition lies at the interface between biotic and abiotic factors in an ecosystem, dictating the transfer of energy and nutrients across trophic levels. Our ability to detect nutritional limitation in consumers is reliant on a priori knowledge of dietary history due to our inability to differentiate nutrient stress based on body-wide responses. Molecular physiological… more Full Text: NUTRIGENOMICS OF DAPHNIA: EXAMINING EFFECTS OF NUTRIENTS ON THE DAPHNIA PULEX TRANSCRIPTOME AND IDENTIFYING NUTRITIONAL PHENOTYPES A Thesis Submitted to the Committee on Graduate Studies in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirement for the Degree of Doctor …
Year: 2022, 2022
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Name(s): Creator (cre): Katanda, Yeukai, Thesis advisor (ths): Hutchinson, Tom, Thesis advisor (ths): Thompson, Karen, Degree committee member (dgc): Sharifi, Mehdi, Degree committee member (dgc): Van Eerd, Laura, Degree committee member (dgc): Hooker, David, Degree granting institution (dgg): Trent University Abstract: <p>Ontario grain corn is highly valuable, accounting for 60% of Canada's total corn output. Grain producers are increasingly interested in including cover crops (CCs) in their cropping systems, but they have concerns regarding successful CC establishment and potential adverse competitive effects on corn yield and nutrient status. One option to improve the success of CC establishment is… more Full Text: INTERSEEDED COVER CROPS IN ONTARIO GRAIN CORN SYSTEMS: POTENTIAL IMPLICATIONS FOR CORN NITROGEN UPTAKE, SOIL HEALTH, AND RESIDUE DECOMPOSITION A thesis submitted to the Committee on Graduate Studies in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the …
Year: 2022, 2022
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>190 species of birds are known to breed in Ontario's far north making the region an important nursery for boreal birds. Digital point count data were collected using two different autonomous recording units (ARUs): one model with two standard microphones to detect birds and anurans, and one model with one standard microphone and one ultrasonic microphone for detecting bats. ARUs… more Full Text: DETERMINANTS OF BREEDING BIRD DIVERSITY IN ONTARIO’S FAR NORTH 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 Science TRENT UNIVERSITY …
Year: 2022, 2022
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Roosts offer bats protection from predators, shelter from external environmental conditions, and a space where sociality, mating, and the rearing of young can occur. However, knowledge gaps still remain for many forest roosting species, such as the little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus) surrounding what roosts are selected, and what variables are influential at differing scales of selection… more Full Text: Forest Roost Use by Little Brown Bats (Myotis lucifugus) in Ontario 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 Science TRENT UNIVERSITY …
Year: 2022, 2022
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Name(s): Creator (cre): Kennedy , Victoria, Thesis advisor (ths): Saville, Barry, Degree committee member (dgc): Emery, Neil, Degree committee member (dgc): Donaldson, Michael, Degree committee member (dgc): Farrow, Scott, Degree granting institution (dgg): Trent University Abstract: <p>Heavy metal pollution threatens human and ecosystem health. E. gracilis was investigated for its potential use in bioremediation due to its tolerance for heavy metals and ability to sequester them from the environment. E. gracilis can remove metals by producing metal binding compounds enriched in sulfur and nitrogen. In this thesis, E. gracilis cultures that were pretreated with elevated… more Full Text: The influence of sulfur and nitrogen on cadmium tolerance in Euglena gracilis: an RNA-sequencing investigation 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: 2022, 2022
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>During the COVID-19 pandemic, nucleic acid and antibody-based testing methods were heavily relied upon, but can be costly, time-consuming and exhibit high false -negative and -positive rates. Thus, alternative strategies are needed. Viral antigens such as the SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) glycoprotein are critical in the function of the virus and useful as diagnostic biomarkers for viral… more Full Text: SARS-CoV-2 PROTEIN-BASED DETECTION USING LOCALIZED SURFACE PLASMON RESONANCE 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: 2022, 2022
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Rapidly changing landscapes introduce challenges for wildlife management, particularly for large mammal populations with long generation times and extensive spatial requirements. Understanding how these populations interact with heterogeneous landscapes aids in predicting responses to further environmental change. In this thesis, I profile American black bears using microsatellite loci… more Full Text: Gene flow directionality and functional genetic variation among Ontario, Canada Ursus americanus populations. A Thesis Submitted to the Committee on Graduate Studies in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in the …
Year: 2022, 2022
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Name(s): Creator (cre): Vanderwolf, Karen J, Thesis advisor (ths): Davy, Christina, Thesis advisor (ths): Kyle, Christopher, Degree committee member (dgc): Donaldson, Michael, Degree committee member (dgc): McAlpine, Donald, Degree granting institution (dgg): Trent University Abstract: <p>White-nose syndrome (WNS) is a skin disease of bats caused by the fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd) that damages flight membranes during hibernation and can lead to death. The disease causes mortality of multiple bat species in eastern North America and is spreading into western North America. Future impacts of WNS on naïve bat populations are unknown. Variation in host… more Full Text: THE MYCOBIOME AND SKIN CHEMISTRY OF BAT WINGS IN RELATION TO WHITE-NOSE SYNDROME A dissertation submitted to the Committee of Graduate Studies in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the faculty of Arts and …
Year: 2022, 2022
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>The neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses (NCLs), commonly known as Batten disease, are a family of inherited neurodegenerative lysosomal storage disorders. CLN7 disease is a subtype of NCL that is caused by mutations in the MFSD8 gene. MFSD8 encodes a lysosomal transmembrane protein that is predicted to play a role in transporting small substrates across membranes. However, little is known… more Full Text: Mfsd8 regulates growth and multicellular development in Dictyostelium discoideum A Thesis Submitted to the Committee of Graduate Studies in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for Degree of Master of Science in the Faculty of Arts and Science TRENT …
Year: 2022, 2022
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Name(s): Creator (cre): McFarlane, Samantha Amy, Thesis advisor (ths): Wilson, Paul J, Thesis advisor (ths): Manseau, Micheline, Degree committee member (dgc): Bowman, Jeff, Degree committee member (dgc): Steenweg, Robin, Degree granting institution (dgg): Trent University Abstract: <p>Variation in habitat quality and disturbance levels can strongly influence a species' distribution, leading to spatial variation in population density and influencing population dynamics. It is therefore critical to understand how density can lead to variability in demographic responses for effective conservation and recovery of species. My dissertation illustrates how density and… more Full Text: LANDSCAPE FITNESS: INTEGRATING DENSITY, FAMILIAL NETWORKS AND POPULATION DYNAMICS FOR THE CONSERVATION OF BOREAL WOODLAND CARIBOU A dissertation submitted to the Committee on Graduate Studies in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of …
Year: 2022, 2022
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Maximum permitted SO2 emissions from an aluminum smelter in Kitimat, B.C., increased after modernization in 2015. An increase in acidic deposition can potentially acidify forest soils. Monitoring was conducted at two long-term soil monitoring plots at near (7 km) and far (41 km) sites downwind from the smelter. Change in soil properties was assessed between 2015 and 2018: for the near… more Full Text: THE SENSITIVITY OF FOREST SOILS TO ACIDIC DEPOSITION DOWNWIND OF AN ALUMINUM SMELTER, KITIMAT, B.C. 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 …
Year: 2022, 2022
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Mining and resource development are growing industries in the Arctic, resulting in increased conflict with wildlife. Best practices for mitigation require an understanding of the potential ecological effects. One such effect concerns the flooding of terrestrial bird habitat from dewatering of lakes during mining pit development. I first assessed the efficacy of bird deterrents to… more Full Text: ASSESSING AND MITIGATING THE IMPACTS OF MINING-INDUCED FLOODING ON ARCTIC-NESTING BIRDS 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: 2022, 2022
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Similar to other shorebird trends around the world, the Piping Plover population (Charadrius melodus circumcinctus) is projected to decline if concerted conservation efforts are relaxed. To date, there is insufficient understanding of the connection between habitat type, prey abundance, and chick behaviour of the Piping Plover breeding population in Ontario. The aim of my thesis was to… more Full Text: PREY ABUNDANCE AND HABITAT DURING THE BREEDING SEASON FOR PIPING PLOVERS IN THE ONTARIO GREAT LAKES REGION 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: 2022, 2022
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Line transect sampling and photographic-identification (photo-ID) are common survey techniques for estimating the abundance and distribution of cetaceans. Combining these approaches in the field ('combined LTPI' surveys) and using data from both components has the potential for generating comprehensive ecological knowledge that can be far more valuable than when these… more Full Text: COMBINING LINE TRANSECT SAMPLING AND PHOTOGRAPHICIDENTIFICATION SURVEYS TO INVESTIGATE THE ABUNDANCE AND DISTRIBUTION OF CETACEANS A Thesis Submitted to the Committee on Graduate Studies in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor …
Year: 2021, 2021
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Owen Sound Bay, which is located within the traditional territory of the Saugeen Ojibway Nation (SON), is contaminated as a result of historical industrial and shipping activity. Gross contamination of the sediments in the inner part of the Bay (i.e., Owen Sound Harbour) includes high concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and other organic compounds, as well as metals… more Full Text: A collaborative ecotoxicological risk assessment of in-place pollutants in Owen Sound Bay, Lake Huron within the Saugeen Ojibway Nation Territory A thesis submitted to the Committee on Graduate Studies in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the …
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 Full Text: Understanding Angler Dynamics in a Recreational Lake Trout (Salvelinus namaycush) Fishery in Algonquin Provincial Park Using Long-Term Access Creel Data A Thesis Submitted to the Committee on Graduate Studies in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for …
Year: 2021, 2021
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Phytohormones, Cytokinin (CK) and Abscisic acid (ABA), are best known for controlling plant growth and stress responses; but they also mediate various developmental perspectives in alga. Yet, their mode of action in algal adaptive strategies to heavy metal responses, their involvement in orchestration of phytohormone crosstalk remain largely unknown and a molecular framework of… more Full Text: Phytohormone-enhanced heavy metal responses in Euglena gracilis: Ni, Pb and Cd uptake and associated hormone and metabolome profiles A thesis submitted to the committee on Graduate Studies in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of …
Year: 2021, 2021
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Name(s): Creator (cre): McDonough, Andrew Michael, Thesis advisor (ths): Watmough, Shaun A, Degree committee member (dgc): Aherne, Julian, Degree committee member (dgc): Hutchinson, Tom, Degree committee member (dgc): Sager, Eric, Degree granting institution (dgg): Trent University Abstract: <p>In this study we seek to better understand the potential effects of short-term (5-year) N fertilization on jack pine forest biogeochemistry, vascular plant community composition and to project a temporal endpoint of nitrogen leaching below the major rooting zone. Aqueous ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3) was applied above the forest canopy across five treatment plots (20 x 80 m) four times… more Full Text: Ecosystem Response to Above Canopy Nitrogen Addition in a Jack Pine (Pinus banksiana) Forest in the Athabasca Bituminous Sands Region of Northeastern Alberta, Canada A Thesis Submitted to the Committee on Graduate Studies in the Partial Fulfilment of the …
Year: 2021, 2021
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Decades of acidic deposition have depleted base cation pools in soil over large parts of eastern north America, including the Muskoka-Haliburton region of central Ontario. This region has also experienced a shift in forest species composition over the past 200 years, favouring sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.) at the expense of species such as white pine (Pinus strobus L.) and eastern… more Full Text: The influence of tree species litterfall on soil chemistry and implications for modelling soil recovery from acidification A thesis submitted to the Committee of Graduate Studies in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of …
Year: 2021, 2021
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>In Canada, eastern flowering dogwood (Cornus florida L.) is an endangered tree that occurs only in the Carolinian forest of southern Ontario. Threats to this species include habitat fragmentation and the fungal pathogen dogwood anthracnose (Discula destructiva). I conducted a population genetic analysis using seven nuclear microsatellite markers to determine if fragmented populations are… more Full Text: THE ASSESSMENT OF POTENTIAL THREATS TO EASTERN FLOWERING DOGWOOD (CORNUS FLORIDA) IN SOUTHERN 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 Faculty of …
Year: 2021, 2021
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Lake of the Woods (LOW) is a large international waterbody which suffers from frequent and widespread algae blooms. Previous studies have highlighted the importance of the lake's largest tributary, the Rainy River (RR) and its significance in total phosphorus (TP) delivery to the LOW. Unfortunately, little is known about TP contributions from the RR and its tributaries within the… more Full Text: Phosphorus delivery in the Rainy-River Lake of the Woods Watershed A thesis submitted to the Committee on Graduate Studies in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Master of Science in the Faculty of Arts and Science Trent University …
Year: 2021, 2021
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>The length of photoperiod can alter circadian rhythms and change fat depot mass whencombined with environmental temperatures below thermoneutral. To isolate photoperiod effects, we compared the effects of long and short photoperiod exposure at thermoneutrality in photoperiod sensitive, F1 generation adult male white-footed mice (P. leucopus). Mice were housed in long-day or short-day… more Full Text: Short photoperiod lowers visceral adiposity and shifts the molecular clock in Peromyscus leucopus 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 …
Year: 2021, 2021
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Peatlands can be found widely across all latitudes and play a significant role in global cycles within the earth's biosphere. The anoxic conditions in peatlands promotes the accumulation of organic matter through decreased rates of decomposition and the storage of certain elements, which have received contaminant loading over the course of human existence, with significant increases… more Full Text: Trace Metal Geochemistry of Peatlands 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 UNIVERSITY Peterborough, Ontario, Canada …
Year: 2021, 2021
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Assessments of the adaptive potential of natural populations are essential for understanding and predicting responses to environmental stressors like climate change and infectious disease. The range of stressors species face in a human-dominated landscape, often have contrasting effects. White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus, deer) are expanding in the northern part of their range… more Full Text: Characterizing the demographic history and prion protein gene variation to infer susceptibility to chronic wasting disease in a naïve population of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) A Thesis Submitted to the Committee on Graduate Studies in …
Year: 2021, 2021
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>As wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) move farther north, informed management decisions are critical to support the sustainability of this reintroduced species. We tracked roost tree selection and patterns of the network of roost trees, for wild turkeys, over 2 years in Peterborough, ON, using GPS and VHF transmitters. Wild turkeys showed preference for taller and larger roost… more Full Text: ROOSTING SELECTION BEHAVIOUR OF THE EASTERN WILD TURKEY AT ITS NORTHERN RANGE EDGE 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 Science …
Year: 2021, 2021
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Name(s): Creator (cre): Johannessen, Cassandra, Thesis advisor (ths): Metcalfe, Chris D, Thesis advisor (ths): Parnis, J. Mark, Degree committee member (dgc): Metcalfe, Chris D, Degree committee member (dgc): Parnis, J. Mark, Degree committee member (dgc): Dang, Huy, Degree committee member (dgc): Hickie, Brendan, Degree granting institution (dgg): Trent University Abstract: <p>Road runoff is a vector for the transport of potentially toxic chemicals into receiving waters. In this study, selected tire-derived chemicals were monitored in surface waters of rivers adjacent to two high traffic highways in the Greater Toronto Area in Ontario, Canada. Composite samples were collected from the Don River and Highland Creek in the GTA during 5 hydrological events that… more Full Text: Monitoring and fate of selected tire-derived organic contaminants 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 Science TRENT UNIVERSITY …
Year: 2021, 2021
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Name(s): Creator (cre): Grich, Nourhene, Thesis advisor (ths): Emery, Neil NE, Degree committee member (dgc): Saville, Barry BS, Degree committee member (dgc): Morrison, Erin EM, Degree committee member (dgc): Donaldson, Michael MD, Degree granting institution (dgg): Trent University Abstract: <p>The oyster mushroom, Pleurotus ostreatus, is one of the most widely cultivated edible basidiomycetes. It has gained increased attention for its economic, environmental, and medicinal properties. While a lot is known about cytokinins (CKs) and their actions at the molecular and cellular levels in plants, much less is known about the function of CKs in other kingdoms. Cytokinins, which… more Full Text: BIOSYNTHESIS AND IMPACT OF CYTOKININS ON GROWTH OF THE OYSTER MUSHROOM, Pleurotus ostreatus 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 …
Year: 2021, 2021
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Euglena gracilis is an enigmatic and adaptable organism that has great bioremediationpotential and is best known for its metabolic flexibility. The research done in this
dissertation addresses (1) how growth conditions impact cellular composition, and (2)
how chemometric approaches (such as statistical design of experiments and artificial
neural networks) are viable alternatives to the… more Full Text: Using ultra high-resolution mass spectrometry to characterize the biosorbent Euglena gracilis and its application to dysprosium biosorption A dissertation submitted to the Committee of Graduate Studies in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the …
Year: 2021, 2021
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>The Hudson Bay region is a sensitive environment, where anthropogenic (e.g., dams, diversions, and/or reservoirs) impacts have increased in recent decades, potentially influencing the functioning of the ecosystem. Dissolved organic matter (DOM) entering Hudson Bay comes from both terrestrial (allochthonous) and aquatic (autochthonous) sources. The chemical composition of DOM is important… more Full Text: Composition and Transformation of Dissolved Organic Matter in Hudson Bay, Canada 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 …
Year: 2021, 2021
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Name(s): Creator (cre): Fleming, Kaitlyn Julia, Thesis advisor (ths): Beresford, David V, Thesis advisor (ths): Schaefer, James A, Degree committee member (dgc): Smith, M. Alex, Degree committee member (dgc): Abraham, Kenneth F, Degree granting institution (dgg): Trent University Abstract: <p>Basic biogeographic information is lacking for many species, such as where species are found, and how they dispersed there. Using ground beetles collected during 2008-2015 from across northern Ontario and Akimiski Island, Nunavut, I present new information on ground beetle distribution in this eastern Nearctic boreal forest, including 2 first Canadian records, 9 first provincial and 48… more Full Text: Biogeography of Carabidae (Coleoptera) in the Boreal Forest A Thesis Submitted to the Committee on Graduate Studies in Partial Fulfilment for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Faculty of Arts and Science TRENT UNIVERSITY Peterborough, Ontario, …
Year: 2021, 2021
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Opioid drugs are among the microcontaminants that are discharged with domestic wastewater into the aquatic environment with the potential to affect the development and reproductive capacity of aquatic organisms. To study the effects of exposure of fish to opioid drugs, Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes) were exposed over a full life cycle to environmentally relevant (i.e. ng/L)… more Full Text: Effects of Opioids on the Development and Reproductive Capacity of Japanese Medaka, Oryzias latipes 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 …
Year: 2021, 2021
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>The emergence of fungal hybrid pathogens threatens sustainable crop production worldwide. To investigate hybridization, the related smut fungi, Ustilago maydis and Sporisorium reilianum, were selected because they infect a common host (Zea mays), can hybridize, and tools are available for their analysis. Hybrid dikaryons exhibited filamentous growth on plates but reduced virulence and… more Full Text: Fungal pathogen emergence: an Ustilago maydis x Sporisorium reilianum model 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: 2021, 2021
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Transactive response (TAR) DNA-binding protein of 43 kDa (TDP-43) pathology, including fibrillar aggregates and mutations, develops in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and is characterized by hyperphosphorylation and aggregation patterns, a mechanism largely understudied. In addition, ALS remains without a cure. Herein, in vitro aggregation of phosphorylated TDP-43 was explored, and… more Full Text: IMMUNOTHERAPIES TARGETING THE AMYOTROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS-ASSOCIATED PROTEIN TDP-43 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 …
Year: 2021, 2021
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>The integration of genetic and environmental information can help wildlife managers better understand the factors affecting a species' population structure and their response to disturbance. This thesis uses genetic techniques to assess the broad and fine scale population structure of mountain goats in Alaska. The first chapter aims to determine the number of genetically distinct… more Full Text: THE EVOLUTIONARY ECOLOGY OF ALASKA’S MOUNTAIN GOATS WITH MANAGEMENT IMPLICATIONS 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 Science …
Year: 2021, 2021
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Genetic variation is the raw material and basis for evolutionary changes in nature. The loss of genetic diversity is a challenge many species are facing, with genomics being a potential tool to inform and prioritize decision making. Whole genome analysis can be an asset to conservation biology and the management of species through the generation of more precise and novel metrics. This… more Full Text: DEMOGRAPHIC HISTORY AND CONSERVATION GENOMICS OF CARIBOU (RANGIFER TARANDUS) IN QUÉBEC 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: 2021, 2021
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Name(s): Creator (cre): Bhargav, V Vikram, Thesis advisor (ths): Dorken, Marcel MD, Thesis advisor (ths): Freeland, Joanna JF, Degree committee member (dgc): Bowman, Jeff JB, Degree committee member (dgc): Shafer, Aaron AS, Degree granting institution (dgg): Trent University Abstract: <p>Heterosis, expressed as phenotypic superiority over parental species, typically peaks in first generation hybrids (F1s), while later generations (F2 +) exhibit lower fitness. The decrease in hybrid fitness is called hybrid breakdown. The overall incidence of hybrid breakdown in invasive hybrid zones remains poorly understood. The Laurentian Great Lakes (LGL) region contains a hybrid zone… more Full Text: EVIDENCE FOR HYBRID BREAKDOWN IN THE CATTAIL (TYPHA) HYBRID SWARM IN SOUTHERN ONTARIO 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 Science …
Year: 2021, 2021
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>The influence of stress exposure on the body temperature of vertebrates has been known for nearly two-thousand years. While the proximate mechanisms supporting this phenomenon are well described, the ultimate mechanisms remain enigmatic. In this thesis, I propose a novel hypothesis which states that changes in body surface temperature (henceforth "surface temperature")… more Full Text: SURFACE TEMPERATURE REGULATION DURING STRESS EXPOSURE: EVIDENCE OF A TRADE-OFF BETWEEN THERMOREGULATION AND THE PHYSIOLOGICAL STRESS RESPONSE IN BIRDS A Dissertation Submitted to the Committee of Graduate Studies in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements …
