Year: 2019, 2019
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Competition is known to impact population dynamics through both indirect and direct interactions, and direct interactions can often lead to injury in one or both parties. As such, response to injury through tissue regeneration can be important for surviving post-competitive interaction. However, the impacts of outside factors like temperature and genome size (e.g. polyploidy) are not… more Full Text: How Abiotic and Biotic Factors Can Alter the Competitive Landscape in an Aggressive Species Complex (Genus: Ambystoma) A thesis submitted to the Committee on Graduate Studies in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirement for the Degree of Master of Science in …
Year: 2019, 2019
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Public transportation systems play important role in the quality of life of citizens</p><p>in any metropolitan city. However, public transportation authorities face</p><p>criticisms from commuters due to irregularities in bus arrival times. For example,</p><p>transit bus users often complain when they miss the bus because it arrived too</p><p… more Full Text: Predicting Irregularities in Arrival Times for Toronto Transit Buses with LSTM Recurrent Neural Networks Using Vehicle Locations and Weather Data A Thesis Submitted to the Committee on Graduate Studies in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the …
Year: 2019, 2019
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Wild populations are notoriously difficult to study due to confounding stochastic variables. This thesis tackles two components of investigating wild populations. The first examines the use of niche modeling to quantify macro-scale predator-prey relationships in canid populations across eastern North America, while the second examines range-wide molecular structure in Canada lynx. The… more Full Text: ASSESSING MOLECULAR AND ECOLOGICAL DIFFERENTIATION IN WILD CARNIVORES 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: 2019, 2019
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Seizures induce long-term changes in gene expression in the hippocampus. Experimental evidence has demonstrated a significant effect of epileptic activity on the activity of neurons that participate in complex cognitive and behavioural processes. The present series of experiments involving kindling with subconvulsive doses of PTZ demonstrates a link between seizures and altered immediate… more Full Text: ALTERED HIPPOCAMPAL REGULATION OF IMMEDIATE EARLY GENES AFTER PENTYLENETETRAZOL-INDUCED SEIZURES 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: 2019, 2019
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Cognitive impairments, such as memory loss, are a frequent and devastating co-morbidity associated with epilepsy. The neurobiological mechanisms through which recurrent seizures induce cognitive impairments are not well understood. New neurons born after seizures develop abnormal morphological and functional characteristics that promote network hyperexcitability and hippocampal… more Full Text: Impaired contextual fear discrimination learning after long-term amygdala kindling 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: 2019, 2019
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Dissolved organic matter (DOM) in oceans provides nutrients and ultraviolet radiation protection to microbes. Some DOM compounds can chelate with metals, including copper, controlling their transport and bioavailability in marine systems. As copper functions as both a nutrient and toxicant, studies into the chemical structures of Cu-ligands is important, however currently limited. In… more Full Text: Fingerprinting of dissolved organic matter and copper ligands in the Canadian Arctic and North Pacific Ocean 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: 2019, 2019
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Three experiments examined whether semantics is activated automatically by testing whether Arabic digits (e.g., 4), number words (e.g., four), and non-number words (e.g., rat) activate semantics in the absence of central attention within the Psychological Refractory Period (PRP) paradigm. In all three experiments, subjects performed colour discriminations as Task 1. In Task 2, subjects… more Full Text: IS SEMANTICS ACTIVATED AUTOMATICALLY? EVIDENCE FROM THE PRP PARDIGM. 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: 2019, 2019
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Recent declines in North American shorebird populations could be linked to habitat loss on the non-breeding grounds. Sea-level rise and increased frequency of coastal storms are causing significant erosion of barrier islands, thereby threatening shorebirds who rely on shoreline habitats for foraging. I conducted shorebird surveys on Bulls Island, South Carolina in the winters of 2018 and… more Full Text: SHOREBIRD HABITAT USE AND FORAGING ECOLOGY ON BULLS ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA DURING THE NON-BREEDING SEASON 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: 2019, 2019
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Many rare and elusive species have low detection probabilities, thereby imposing unique challenges to monitoring and conservation. Here, we assess the detection probability of the Eastern Massasauga (Sistrurus catenatus) in contrast to a more common and conspicuous species, the Eastern Gartersnake (Thamnophis sirtalis). We found that patterns of detection probability differed between… more Full Text: A multi-faceted approach to evaluating the detection probability of an elusive snake (Sistrurus catenatus) 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 …
Year: 2018, 2018
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): Eimers, Catherine, Degree committee member (dgc): Whitfield, Colin, Degree granting institution (dgg): Trent University Abstract: <p>In 2012, the Rio Tinto aluminum smelter in Kitimat, British Columbia increased sulphur dioxide (SO2) emissions from 27 to 42 tonnes/day. An initial study was conducted to investigate the effect of the increased sulphur (S) deposition on forest soils. A key uncertainty of the initial study was mineral surface area estimations that were applied to critical load calculations. The current… more Full Text: Estimating mineral surface area and acid sensitivity of forest soils in, Kitimat, British Columbia 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: 2018, 2018
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Effective population size (Ne) is a foundational concept in conservation biology, in part due to its relationship to the adaptive potential of populations. Although Ne is often estimated for wild populations, it is rarely calibrated against actual population estimates (Nc) other than to produce Ne/Nc ratios. This project used demographic and genetic data for from two intensively-studied… more Full Text: Ground-truthing effective population size estimators using long-term population data from inland salmonid populations A Thesis Submitted to the Committee on Graduate Studies in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in …
Year: 2018, 2018
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>With wide applications in many fields such as engineering, physics, chemistry, biology and social sciences, semi-linear equations have attracted great interests of researchers from various areas. In the study of existence of solutions for such class of equations, a general and commonly applied method is the compression cone method for fixed-point index. The main idea is to construct a… more Full Text: The Compression Cone Method on Existence of Solutions for Semi-linear Equations 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: 2018, 2018
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>While both resource quality and predator-derived chemical cues can each have profound effects on zooplankton populations and their function in ecosystems, the strength and nature of their interactive effects remain unclear. We conducted laboratory experiments to evaluate how stoichiometric food quality (i.e., algal carbon (C):phosphorus (P) ratios) affects responses of the water flea,… more Full Text: STOICHIOMETRIC FOOD QUALITY AFFECTS RESPONSES OF DAPHNIA TO PREDATOR-DERIVED CHEMICAL CUES 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: 2018, 2018
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Stream solutes are strongly linked to hydrology, and as such, we sought to better understand how hydrology, particularly flooding, influences nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) levels. We used a long-term dataset of monthly water quality samples for many Ontario, Canada, catchments to assess the effects of landscape variables, such as land use and physiography, on the export of nutrients… more Full Text: HYDROLOGICAL AND FLOODING EFFECTS ON STREAM NUTRIENT LEVELS 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: 2018, 2018
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Name(s): Creator (cre): McClenaghan, Beverly, Thesis advisor (ths): Nol, Erica, Degree committee member (dgc): Nocera, Joseph J, Degree committee member (dgc): Beresford, David V, Degree committee member (dgc): Kerr, K, Degree granting institution (dgg): Trent University Abstract: <p>Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) populations have declined in North America over the past 40 years and they are listed as Threatened in Ontario, Canada. Changes in the food supply have been hypothesized as a potential cause of this population decline. I used DNA barcoding to investigate the diet and food supply of Barn Swallows and to determine if the food supply affects their reproductive… more Full Text: USING DNA BARCODING TO INVESTIGATE THE DIET AND FOOD SUPPLY OF A DECLINING AERIAL INSECTIVORE, THE BARN SWALLOW (Hirundo rustica) A Thesis Submitted to the Committee on Graduate Studies in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master …
Year: 2018, 2018
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Pastures and hayfields provide surrogate habitat for many declining grassland birds. Understanding agricultural land use dynamics and habitat quality can impact conservation of grassland species. I investigated 1) patterns of land use change in protected and unprotected sites in relationship to Bobolink occurrence in Carden, Ontario, Canada and 2) whether continuous grazing at low… more Full Text: THE IMPACT OF AGRICULTURAL LAND USE ON BOBOLINK OCCURRENCE, ABUNDANCE, AND REPRODUCTIVE SUCCESS IN AN ALVAR LANDSCAPE A Thesis Submitted to the Committee of Graduate Studies in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in …
Year: 2018, 2018
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Chimney swifts are listed as Threatened nationally and in many provinces within Canada due to rapid population declines. I examined large-scale spatial variation in the maximum size of chimney swift roosts at the northern edge of their range to identify where larger roosts occur. I used multi-sourced data collected across Ontario and Quebec between 1998 and 2013. I found that larger… more Full Text: HABITAT USE WITHIN AND AMONG ROOSTS OF CHIMNEY SWIFTS (Chaetura pelagica) 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: 2018, 2018
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>The strong relationship between poverty and poor health has been well-established for millennia; however, the mechanisms through which this relationship manifests are only recently becoming understood. Perceptions of relative wealth and status, chronic stress, and immunodeficiencies are implicated in recent research studying the social determinants of health. The purpose of the current… more Full Text: MONEY FOR NOTHING: PERCEPTIONS OF A BASIC INCOME AND HEALTH OUTCOMES IN CANADA 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: 2018, 2018
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Understanding the maintenance and spread of invasive diseases is critical in evaluating threats to biodiversity and how to best minimize their impact, which can by done by monitoring disease occurrences across time and space. I sought to apply existing and upcoming molecular tools to assess fluctuations in both presence and strain variation of frog virus 3 (FV3), a species of Ranavirus,… more Full Text: FROG VIRUS 3: TRACKING VIRAL SPREAD USING MOLECULAR TOOLS 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 Sciences TRENT UNIVERSITY …
Year: 2018, 2018
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Name(s): Creator (cre): Cowden, Phaedra, Thesis advisor (ths): Aherne, Julian, Degree committee member (dgc): Watmough, Shaun, Degree committee member (dgc): Sager, Eric, Degree committee member (dgc): Canners, Richard, Degree granting institution (dgg): Trent University Abstract: <p>Atmospheric pollutant deposition poses a risk to ecosystem health; therefore, monitoring the spatial and temporal trends of deposition is integral to environmental sustainability. Although moss biomonitoring is a common method to monitor various pollutants in Europe, offering a cost-effective approach compared to traditional methods of monitoring, it is rarely used in Canada. The focus… more Full Text: Moss Biomonitoring of Trace Element Deposition in Northwestern British Columbia, Canada 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 …
