Year: 2024, 2024
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Name(s): Creator (cre): Hiltz, Clinton David, Thesis advisor (ths): Aherne, Julian, Degree committee member (dgc): Helm, Paul, Degree committee member (dgc): Metcalfe, Chris, Degree committee member (dgc): Dang, Huy, Degree granting institution (dgg): Trent University Abstract: <p>This thesis determined the temporal dynamics of microplastics in the biosolid and final effluent of a WWTP for one year (October 2020–September 2021). The WWTP exported 354.1 ± 24.7 billion microplastic particles, or 296.7 ± 39.4 kg of microplastics; of this, 85.7% of counts and 86.6% of mass was exported via biosolids. As such, microplastic loads in biosolids need to be reduced before… more Year: 2024, 2024
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Animal migration is defined as the seasonal movement from one independent and non-overlapping range to another. Understanding how and why animals migrate is important not only to understand their life history processes but also for informing other important ecological processes such as the spread of wildlife disease and habitat alteration. Animal migrations have been impacted by human… more Year: 2024, 2024
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>The neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses (NCLs), commonly known as Batten disease, are a family of fatal neurodegenerative disorders that primarily affect children. Several subtypes of NCLs have been reported, each being caused by a mutation in a distinct ceroid lipofuscinosis neuronal (CLN) gene; this results in aberrant lysosome function and the accumulation of lipoprotein aggregates (known… more Year: 2024, 2024
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Name(s): Creator (cre): Taylor, Courtney Erin, Thesis advisor (ths): Dunlop, Erin S, Degree committee member (dgc): Lauzon, Ryan, Degree committee member (dgc): Raby, Graham, Degree committee member (dgc): Rennie, Michael, Degree granting institution (dgg): Trent University Abstract: <p>Lake Huron's food web has experienced drastic changes in response to multiple stressors including declines in offshore productivity, decreased trophic transfer efficiency and a transformation of the benthic food web. However, how these changes have affected the diets and isotopic niches of predatory fish is largely unexplored. My diet study analysed stomach contents from five… more Year: 2024, 2024
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Darwinian fitness is determined by the outcome of allocations of energy and nutrients to plant growth, survival, and reproduction. Allocations to reproduction differ from allocations to growth and survival because the products of reproduction (pollen, ovules, and fruits) are dispersed away from the plant and so the resources used to produce them cannot be re-allocated. As a result, and… more Year: 2024, 2024
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Fungi are a diverse group of organisms that play crucial roles in various ecological processes and have immense economic importance. Understanding the intricate mechanisms underlying fungal growth and development is fundamental to harnessing their potential and exploring their applications in different fields. Signalling molecules, such as hormones, have been identified as key regulators… more Year: 2024, 2024
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Agricultural and urban land uses have been linked to the recent resurgence of eutrophication and salinization issues in the lower Great Lakes. This thesis examined the relationship between watershed land use and stream nitrate-nitrogen (NO3-N), total phosphorus (TP), and chloride (Cl) concentrations across southern Ontario. Using a self-organizing map analysis, the watersheds were… more Year: 2024, 2024
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Due to climate change and managed care, birds may face interacting effects of novel diets and environmental temperatures. I examined how captive zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata) responded to a 6-month acclimation to either thermoneutral or cool temperatures when provided with saturated or unsaturated fatty acid enriched diets. Body mass was lower on the unsaturated fatty acid diet,… more Year: 2024, 2024
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Animals are essential to freshwater biogeochemistry and productivity. Through their excretion, aquatic consumers release bioavailable nutrients and carbon that can vary with animal taxonomic rank, trophic position, and abiotic factors such as light and nutrient supply. In fresh waters, light and nutrient supply is often modulated by dissolved organic matter (DOM), a "murky"… more Year: 2024, 2024
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Phosphorus is the growth-limiting nutrient in freshwater environments. Dissolved organic phosphorus (DOP) refers to phosphorus within dissolved organic matter (DOM). Much of DOP is bioavailable, but it is poorly understood due to its complexity. This thesis explores the export DOP to Lake Erie from its tributaries, by investigating its speciation and concentration seasonally through… more Year: 2024, 2024
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Name(s): Creator (cre): Knight, Caitlyn, Thesis advisor (ths): Kapron, Carolyn, Degree committee member (dgc): Tobin, Stephanie, Degree committee member (dgc): Huber, Robert, Degree committee member (dgc): West, Sarah, Degree granting institution (dgg): Trent University Abstract: <p>Cadmium is a toxic metal that has detrimental effects on blood vessel development and function. To examine the effect of varying concentrations of cadmium on angiogenesis, two in vitro assays were used. First, developing yolk sac blood vessels were studied in gestation day 8 mouse embryos exposed to medium alone, 1.25, or 1.75 μM cadmium chloride (CdCl2). Embryos exposed to 1.25 μM… more Year: 2024, 2024
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Giardia intestinalis is the causative agent of a diarrheal disease in mammals, but the mechanisms of disease pathogenesis are unclear. While proteins secreted by Giardia affect the host cells, the potential of hormone secretion has not been investigated to date. Cytokinins (CKs) are classified as phytohormones, but little is known about their role beyond plants. Mass spectrometry-based… more Year: 2024, 2024
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Population cycles are characterized by predictable temporal oscillations in population size and are influenced by densities of both predators and prey. These oscillations are influenced by the predator functional response, i.e. the influence of prey density on predator kill rate. The Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) is a predatory mammal with cyclic northern populations driven by snowshoe… more Year: 2024, 2024
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>We studied the physiological and molecular responses of lab-grown Daphnia pulex to shifts in dietary (carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and cyanobacteria) and growth media (calcium) nutrient supply using a set of potential biomarkers via qPCR. Each examined nutrient had a strong effect on Daphnia mass-specific growth rate, and we found significant dose-dependent effects of treatment level (… more Year: 2024, 2024
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Understanding threats to declining species at multiple stages of their annual cycle is important for determining the cause of their declines and conserving their populations. To assess potential responses to changing habitat and predators under climate change, I compared the nest site characteristics, responses to human intruders, and migratory patterns between Short-billed Dowitchers… more Year: 2024, 2024
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Name(s): Creator (cre): Schaffer, Zivi Raiden, Thesis advisor (ths): Power, Ian M, Degree committee member (dgc): Rausis, Kwon, Degree committee member (dgc): Aherne, Julian, Degree committee member (dgc): Dang, Huy, Degree granting institution (dgg): Trent University Abstract: <p>Dissolved inorganic carbon in drainage waters is a direct measurement of carbon dioxide (CO2) removal from enhanced rock weathering (ERW) in soils. In this study, square metre scale field experiments (2021–2023) were conducted in Peterborough Ontario, Canada, each amended with kimberlite residues from Gahcho Kué Diamond Mine (Northwest Territories, Canada) or olivine powder at high… more Year: 2024, 2024
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>A key knowledge gap in aeolian transport research concerns the adjustment of saltation processes to the extreme conditions found within high-latitude regions. A series of wind tunnel experiments were carried out under full climate control and over a wide range in humidity. Particle entrainment and transport within shearing flows of varied wind speed were monitored over beds of varied… more Year: 2024, 2024
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Dissolved organic matter (DOM) plays a vital role in lake ecosystems, yet its temporal and spatial variations in lakes remain poorly understood. This study investigates DOM dynamics in boreal lakes during the warm season and the Laurentian Great Lakes ice during winter. Sampling 10 boreal lakes in early and late June 2022, revealed subtle changes in DOM in the epilimnion and hypolimnion… more Year: 2023, 2023
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Name(s): Creator (cre): Orr, Amanda, Thesis advisor (ths): Stotesbury, Theresa, Thesis advisor (ths): Wilson, Paul, Degree committee member (dgc): Stotesbury, Theresa, Degree committee member (dgc): Wilson, Paul, Degree committee member (dgc): Stock, Naomi, Degree granting institution (dgg): Trent University Abstract: <p>Access to human blood for forensic research and training in bloodstain pattern analysis (BPA) can be difficult due to many ethical, safety and cost concerns. Mammalian blood alternatives can be sourced, especially from local and willing abattoirs, but some concerns remain, and the added difficulties of high variation and species-specific differences in cellular components pose other… more Full Text: The design of DNA-containing biomaterials for forensic science A Thesis Submitted to the Committee of Graduate Studies in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Faculty of Arts and Science TRENT UNIVERSITY …
Year: 2023, 2023
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Objectives/purpose: This study examined the psychosocial health (including resilience, hope, social functioning, mental wellbeing, and stress) of childhood cancer patients attending a recreational oncology camp (ROC).Methods: Childhood cancer patients enrolled for ROC participated in a survey on the first (T1) and last (T2) day of camp, and 3 months post-camp (T3). This survey included… more Full Text: THE EFFECT OF ONCOLOGY CAMP ON THE PSYCHOSOCIAL HEALTH OF CHILDHOOD CANCER PATIENTS 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: 2023, 2023
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Name(s): Creator (cre): Jermilova, Una, Thesis advisor (ths): Hintelmann, Holger, Thesis advisor (ths): Kirk, Jane L, Degree committee member (dgc): Hintelmann, Holger, Degree committee member (dgc): Kirk, Jane L, Degree committee member (dgc): Landis, Wayne, Degree committee member (dgc): Buell, Mary-Claire, Degree granting institution (dgg): Trent University Abstract: <p>A significant portion (15-20%) of mercury (Hg) in the Arctic Ocean is believed to originate from Arctic rivers, such as the Mackenzie River watershed in the NWT. Recent (2005- 2020) Hg monitoring data of freshwater and fish tissue and environmental model outputs were compiled and used to develop a Bayesian Network Relative Risk model (BN-RRM), a probabilistic model capable of analyzing… more Full Text: BAYESIAN NETWORK MODEL OF MERCURY EXPOSURE TO AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS OF THE MACKENZIE WATERSHED 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: 2023, 2023
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Mineral feedstocks, including alkaline mine wastes, can sequester CO2 as a dissolved phase (e.g., HCO3-) or a solid carbonate via enhanced rock weathering (ERW). For this thesis, the release of easily accessible Ca and Mg from non-carbonate sources was determined for kimberlite residues from several diamond mines and commonly proposed ERW rock types, including wollastonite and olivine.… more Full Text: PREDICTING AND MONITORING DRAINAGE CHEMISTRY DURING MINERAL WEATHERING FOR CO2 SEQUESTRATION A thesis submitted to Committee of Graduate Studies in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in the Faculty of Arts and …
Year: 2023, 2023
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Name(s): Creator (cre): Levasseur, Patrick, Thesis advisor (ths): Watmough, Shaun, Degree committee member (dgc): Aherne, Julian, Degree committee member (dgc): Sager, Eric, Degree committee member (dgc): Emilson, Erik, Degree granting institution (dgg): Trent University Abstract: <p>Mining and smelting degraded landscapes are characterised by heavily eroded soils that are acidic, contaminated with toxic metals, and depleted of essential nutrients. Regreening degraded landscapes has been proposed to support global carbon (C) mitigation measures and protect biodiversity. One of the world's largest regreening programs in the City of Greater Sudbury, Canada has… more Full Text: The biogeochemistry of regreened forests on a mining and smelting degraded landscape A Thesis Submitted to the Committee on Graduate Studies in the Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Faculty of Arts and …
Year: 2023, 2023
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Migratory fish can influence the rivers where they spawn by depositing nutrients and organic matter which increase primary and secondary production. Past research in the Laurentian Great Lakes has focused on individual tributaries, accordingly, the spatial extent of subsidies and how environmental factors influence subsidies are not clear. To determine which tributaries received… more Full Text: Spatial Patterns of Resource Subsidies in Great Lakes Tributaries from Migratory Fishes 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: 2023, 2023
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>This study reports on as series of laboratory wind tunnel experiments aimed at furtheringour understanding of aggregate breakdown and dust release during aeolian transport, and
thereby, has implications for air quality and the management of dust emission through water
application. Particles aggregates 500 um in diameter were formed and isolated by the
wetting, drying, and screening of… more Full Text: LABORATORY WIND TUNNEL EXPERIMENT ON DUST GENERATION DURING THE SALTATION OF AGGREGATES FORMED FROM OWENS LAKE PLAYA SEDIMENTS A Thesis Submitted to the Committee on Graduate Studies in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of …
Year: 2023, 2023
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis) are ecologically, economically, and culturally significant across their range, yet little is documented about the species' spawning behaviour. Recruitment of lake whitefish has dramatically declined over the past two decades across many regions of the Laurentian Great Lakes, most notably in lakes Huron and Michigan, prompting research efforts… more Full Text: Sex-specific spawning behaviour of lake whitefish in Lake Huron revealed by fine-scale acoustic telemetry 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: 2023, 2023
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Name(s): Creator (cre): Brown, Rachel, Thesis advisor (ths): Aherne, Julian, Degree committee member (dgc): Koprivnjak, Jean-François, Degree committee member (dgc): Sager, Eric, Degree committee member (dgc): Lafleur, Peter, Degree granting institution (dgg): Trent University Abstract: <p>In this study, twenty lake catchments surrounding Iqaluit, Baffin Island, were assessed for trace element concentrations (Al, As, Ba, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se, THg, V, Zn) in lake water, catchment soil, lake sediment, and moss (Hylocomium splendens). Additionally, the sources of each trace element were determined through the positive matrix factorization (PMF) model and… more Full Text: i Trace elements in lake catchments surrounding Iqaluit, Baffin Island, NU 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: 2023, 2023
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Name(s): Creator (cre): Annan, Melanie Joslyn, Thesis advisor (ths): Frost, Paul C, Degree committee member (dgc): Koprivnjak, Jean-François, Degree committee member (dgc): Bailey, Robert, Degree committee member (dgc): Raby, Graham, Degree granting institution (dgg): Trent University Abstract: <p>In situ chlorophyll sensors are beneficial for monitoring of long-term impacts of algal blooms and accessing water quality issues in bodies of water. However, more research is needed to validate their efficacy and understand how environmental conditions can influence sensor measurements. I assessed the performance of an in situ chlorophyll sensor under controlled environmental conditions… more Full Text: IN SITU CHLOROPHYLL MEASUREMENTS WITH FLUOROMETRY: IN-LAB VALIDATION AND USE IN LAKE VERTICAL PROFILING 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: 2023, 2023
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Understanding the spatial ecology of large carnivores in increasingly complex, multi-use landscapes is critical for effective conservation and management. Complementary to this need are robust monitoring and statistical techniques to understand the effect of bottom-up and top-down processes on wildlife population densities. However, for wide-ranging species, such knowledge is often… more Full Text: LINKING LARGE SCALE MONITORING AND SPATIALLY EXPLICIT CAPTURE– RECAPTURE MODELS TO IDENTIFY FACTORS SHAPING LARGE CARNIVORE DENSITIES: CASE STUDY OF THE AMERICAN BLACK BEAR IN ONTARIO, CANADA A Thesis Submitted to the Committee of Graduate Studies in …
Year: 2023, 2023
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Land cover change has the potential to alter the hydrologic regime from its natural state. Southern Ontario contains the largest and fastest growing urban population in Canada as well as the majority of prime (Class I) agricultural land. Expansions in urban cover at the expense of agricultural land and resultant 'agricultural intensification', including expansion of tile… more Full Text: Land Cover Effects on Hydrologic Regime within Mixed Land Use Watersheds of East-Central Ontario A Thesis Submitted to the Committee on Graduate Studies in Partial Fulfilment of the Thesis Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in the Faculty of …
Year: 2023, 2023
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Phenolic compounds are used in industry, such as agriculture and biotechnology, and inevitably end up in our environment. These compounds may serve as a phenolic precursor to produce raw materials for a wide range of applications. Chemical oxidation has been the common synthetic pathway to oxidize phenols and related compounds. However, traditional chemical approaches suffer from use of… more Full Text: Electrochemical versus Chemical Oxidation of Bulky Phenols: 2,6-diphenylphenol and 2,2dihydroxybiphenol 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: 2023, 2023
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Name(s): Creator (cre): Karl, Katrina Anna-Marie, Thesis advisor (ths): Aherne, Julian, Degree committee member (dgc): Sager, Eric, Degree committee member (dgc): Liang, Tanner, Degree committee member (dgc): Hickie, Brendan, Degree committee member (dgc): McKenna-Neuman, Cheryl, Degree granting institution (dgg): Trent University Abstract: <p>Plastic pollution is a growing concern, owing to its durability, ubiquity, and potential health impacts. The overall objective of this study was to assess the abundance and distribution of microplastics within Lake Scugog catchment, Ontario. This was fulfilled through two tasks (i) the development of a microplastic particle budget for the lake catchment, and (ii) the determination of the… more Full Text: Abundance and Distribution of Microplastics in Lake Scugog Catchment, Ontario 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 Arts and Science TRENT …
Year: 2023, 2023
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Fungal pathogens adapt to environmental changes faster than their hosts, due in part to their adaptive mechanisms exhibited in response to stress. Ustilago maydis was used to investigate potential natural antisense transcript (NAT) RNA-mediated mechanisms that enhance fungal adaptation to stress. Of the 349 NATs conserved amongst U. maydis and two related smut fungi, five NATs were… more Full Text: Exploring the Role of Natural Antisense Transcripts in the Stress Response of Ustilago maydis 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: 2023, 2023
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>In Ontario, the dominant cash crop rotations consist of soybean (SB), which is a leguminous crop grown in rotation with maize (MZ) and winter wheat (WW). In addition to these crops, some farmers integrate cover crops (CC) into crop rotation, especially during the fallow period and winter seasons, to reduce nitrogen (N) losses via nitrate (NO3-) leaching and emission of N2 and the… more Full Text: i IMPACTS OF COVER CROPS ON SOIL HEALTH, SOIL NITROGEN DYNAMICS, AND CYTOKININ PROFILES 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: 2023, 2023
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Nutrient losses from forest soils caused by decades of acid deposition and intensive tree harvesting have affected tree growth and forest health in North America and Europe. Non-industrial wood ash (NIWA), a substance rich in macronutrients, may be a potential remediation strategy to return lost nutrients to forest. However, the chemical composition of NIWA and its effects on soil and… more Full Text: Non-industrial wood ash chemistry and its biogeochemical effects on sugar maple (Acer saccharum, Marsh.) in three central Ontario sugar-bushes A Thesis Submitted to the Committee on the Graduate Studies in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the …
Year: 2023, 2023
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>The accelerated recovery of base-poor soils from the legacy effects of acidic deposition may be possible by applying industrial wood ash as a soil amendment. Wood ash may be an effective soil amendment due to its high alkalinity and concentrations of several essential nutrients, such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, and phosphorus, that are retained after the volatilization of the… more Full Text: Short-term biogeochemical response of hardwood forest soils to wood ash additions in central 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: 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: 2023, 2023
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Name(s): Creator (cre): Brown, Rachel, Thesis advisor (ths): Aherne, Julian, Degree committee member (dgc): Koprivnjak, Jean-François, Degree committee member (dgc): Sager, Eric, Degree committee member (dgc): Lafleur, Peter, Degree granting institution (dgg): Trent University Abstract: <p>In this study, twenty lake catchments surrounding Iqaluit, Baffin Island, were assessed for trace element concentrations (Al, As, Ba, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se, THg, V, Zn) in lake water, catchment soil, lake sediment, and moss (Hylocomium splendens). Additionally, the sources of each trace element were determined through the positive matrix factorization (PMF) model and… more Year: 2023, 2023
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Objectives/purpose: This study examined the psychosocial health (including resilience, hope, social functioning, mental wellbeing, and stress) of childhood cancer patients attending a recreational oncology camp (ROC).Methods: Childhood cancer patients enrolled for ROC participated in a survey on the first (T1) and last (T2) day of camp, and 3 months post-camp (T3). This survey included… more Year: 2023, 2023
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Name(s): Creator (cre): Orr, Amanda, Thesis advisor (ths): Stotesbury, Theresa, Thesis advisor (ths): Wilson, Paul, Degree committee member (dgc): Stotesbury, Theresa, Degree committee member (dgc): Wilson, Paul, Degree committee member (dgc): Stock, Naomi, Degree granting institution (dgg): Trent University Abstract: <p>Access to human blood for forensic research and training in bloodstain pattern analysis (BPA) can be difficult due to many ethical, safety and cost concerns. Mammalian blood alternatives can be sourced, especially from local and willing abattoirs, but some concerns remain, and the added difficulties of high variation and species-specific differences in cellular components pose other… more Year: 2023, 2023
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis) are ecologically, economically, and culturally significant across their range, yet little is documented about the species' spawning behaviour. Recruitment of lake whitefish has dramatically declined over the past two decades across many regions of the Laurentian Great Lakes, most notably in lakes Huron and Michigan, prompting research efforts… more Year: 2023, 2023
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Name(s): Creator (cre): Annan, Melanie Joslyn, Thesis advisor (ths): Frost, Paul C, Degree committee member (dgc): Koprivnjak, Jean-François, Degree committee member (dgc): Bailey, Robert, Degree committee member (dgc): Raby, Graham, Degree granting institution (dgg): Trent University Abstract: <p>In situ chlorophyll sensors are beneficial for monitoring of long-term impacts of algal blooms and accessing water quality issues in bodies of water. However, more research is needed to validate their efficacy and understand how environmental conditions can influence sensor measurements. I assessed the performance of an in situ chlorophyll sensor under controlled environmental conditions… more 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 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 …
