Year: 2014, 2014
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>This study presents a detailed assessment of the chemical speciation of aluminum and zinc in three streams of a small, acid-sensitive forested catchment on the southern edge of the Precambrian Shield.</p><p>Speciation analysis was achieved using an in-situ analytical technique known as Diffusive Gradient in Thin film (DGT) which measures labile metals, and a predictive… more
Year: 2014, 2014
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Glycine max (soybean) is an economically important plant species that registers a relatively low yield/seed weight compared to other food and oil seed crops due to higher rates of flower and pod abortion. Alleviation of this abortion rate can be achieved by altering the sink strength of the reproductive organs of soybeans. Cytokinin (CK) plays a fundamental role in promoting growth of… more
Year: 2014, 2014
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Name(s): Creator (cre): Kelly, Nick, Thesis advisor (ths): Burness, Gary, Thesis advisor (ths): Wilson, Chris C, Degree committee member (dgc): Ridgway, Mark S., Degree committee member (dgc): McDermid, Jenni L., Degree granting institution (dgg): Trent University Abstract: <p>In the face of climate change, the persistence of cold-adapted species and populations will depend on their capacity for evolutionary adaptation of physiological traits. As a cold-adapted Ice Age relict species, lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) are ideal for studying potential effects of climate change on coldwater fishes. I studied the thermal acclimation capacity and aerobic… more
Year: 2014, 2014
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Name(s): Creator (cre): Kallikragas, Dimitrios Theofanis, Thesis advisor (ths): Svishchev, Igor M, Degree committee member (dgc): Atkinson, Bill, Degree committee member (dgc): Tremiane, Peter, Degree committee member (dgc): Chkrebtii, Anatoli, Degree granting institution (dgg): Trent University Abstract: <p>Supercritical water (SCW) is the intended heat transfer fluid and potential neutron moderator in the proposed GEN-IV Supercritical Water Cooled Reactor (SCWR). The oxidative environment poses challenges in choosing appropriate design materials, and the</p><p>behaviour of SCW within crevices of the passivation layer is needed for developing a corrosion control strategy to… more
Year: 2014, 2014
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Caribou experience direct and indirect negative effects of harassment from biting flies, influencing behavior and activity on several spatial and temporal scales. I used systematic insect collection surveys during the summers of 2011 and 2012 to examine the spatial and temporal distributions of black flies (Simuliidae), mosquitoes (Culicidae), and deer flies and horse flies (Tabanidae)… more
Year: 2014, 2014
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Catchment soil acidification has been suggested as a possible mechanism for reducing phosphorus (P) loading to surface waters in North America and northern Europe, but much of the research that has been conducted regarding P immobilization in pH manipulated soils has been performed at high P concentrations (> 130 μM). This study investigated how soil acidity was related to P… more
Year: 2014, 2014
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Name(s): Creator (cre): Balch, Jordan, Thesis advisor (ths): Gueguen, Celine, Degree committee member (dgc): Hickey, Brendan, Degree committee member (dgc): Thompson, Matthew, Degree committee member (dgc): Aherne, Julian, Degree granting institution (dgg): Trent University Abstract: <p>The efficacy of the diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) passive samplers to provide accurate measurements of free metal ions and those complexed with dissolved organic matter (DOM) was investigated. DOM controls the diffusive properties of DOM-complexed metal species in natural systems. Knowing the diffusion coeiffiecent (D) for DOM of different molecular weights (MW) and the major… more
Year: 2014, 2014
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Name(s): Creator (cre): Barrett, Sophie Elizabeth, Thesis advisor (ths): Watmough, Shaun, Degree committee member (dgc): Sager, Eric, Degree committee member (dgc): Emery, Neil, Degree committee member (dgc): Hutchinson, Tom, Degree granting institution (dgg): Trent University Abstract: <p>Peatlands are prevalent in the Sudbury, Ontario region. Compared with the well documented devastation to the terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems in this region, relatively little work has been conducted on the peatlands. The objective of this research was to assess factors controlling peat and plant chemistry, and vegetation composition in 18 peatlands in Sudbury after over 30 years of… more
Year: 2014, 2014
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Name(s): Creator (cre): Ahee, Jordan, Thesis advisor (ths): Dorken, Marcel E, Degree committee member (dgc): Freeland, Joanna R, Degree committee member (dgc): Burness, Gary, Degree committee member (dgc): Pond, Bruce, Degree granting institution (dgg): Trent University Abstract: <p>Natural populations of flowering plants rarely have perfectly uniform distributions, so trends in pollen dispersal should affect the size of the pollination neighbourhood and influence mating opportunities. Here I used spatial analysis to determine the size of the pollination neighbourhood in a stand of the herbaceous, wind-pollinated plant (<italic>Typha latifolia</italic>;… more
Year: 2014, 2014
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Comprehending the dynamics of infectious diseases is very important in formulating public health policies to tackling their prevalence. Mathematical epidemiology (ME) has played a very vital role in achieving the above. Nevertheless, classical mathematical epidemiological models do not explicitly model the behavioural responses of individuals in the presence of prevalence of these… more
Year: 2014, 2014
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Name(s): Creator (cre): Ugray, Lisa Madeleine, Thesis advisor (ths): Shiell, Ralph C, Degree committee member (dgc): Shiell, Ralph C, Degree committee member (dgc): Slepkov, Aaron, Degree committee member (dgc): Gaspari, Franco, Degree granting institution (dgg): Trent University Abstract: <p>This thesis is divided into two parts, each of which supports constructing and using a lithium magneto-optical trap for cold collision studies:</p><p>Part I</p><p>One outgoing channel of interest from cold collisions is the production of ion pairs. We describe an effective method for calculating bound-to-continuum cross-sections for charged binary systems by… more
Year: 2013, 2013
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>My study was primarily focused on the comparison of life history traits between stocked American eel and their naturally recruited conspecifics in Lake Ontario and the upper St. Lawrence River (USLR/LO). I found that stocked eels experienced faster annual growth than their naturally recruited conspecifics and were comprised of a greater proportion of males. These findings indicate that… more
Year: 2013, 2013
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>I investigated biodiversity of birds and vegetation associations along the boreal-tundra ecotone in Ivvavik National Park, Yukon Territory, and breeding adaptations used by American Robins (Turdus migratorius) at high latitudes. Twenty bird species were detected over three years using point-count surveys. Densities of American Robin, Dark-eyed Juncos (Junco hyemalis), and Yellow-rumped… more
Year: 2013, 2013
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Name(s): Creator (cre): Bedard, K. ottO, Thesis advisor (ths): McKenna-Neuman, Cheryl, Degree committee member (dgc): Cogley, Graham, Degree committee member (dgc): Ponce-Hernandez, Raul, Degree committee member (dgc): Pond, Bruce, Degree granting institution (dgg): Trent University Abstract: <p>A wind tunnel study was conducted to investigate aeolian impact ripples in sand beds of varied texture from coarsely skewed to bimodal. Experimental data is lacking for aeolian megaripples, particularly in considering the influence of wind speed on ripple morphometrics. Additionally, the modelling community requires experimental data for model validation and calibration.</p><p… more
Year: 2013, 2013
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>In the past few years there has been increasing attention paid to the influence of the motor system on numerical cognition. A 2010 study by Domahs, Moeller, Huber, Willmes and Nuerk tested German and Chinese university students. Number processing time was influenced by cross cultural differences in finger counting habits</p><p>This thesis replicated and elaborated on the… more
Year: 2013, 2013
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Changes in climate and land-use practices are leading to higher peak flows and increased transport capacity of channel substrate. Semi-alluvial streams underlain by bedrock or clay were examined to understand the potential impacts of alluvium loss on the biological community and overall productive capacity of semi-alluvial rivers. More specifically, this research investigates the… more
Year: 2013, 2013
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>Silver nanoparticles (nAg) are the largest and fastest growing class of nanomaterials, and are a concern when released into aquatic environments even at low μg L<super>-1</super. levels. Measurement at environmental levels requires extremely sensitive instrumentation, therefore this research developed two passive samplers to track the the concentration of nAg and… more
Year: 2013, 2013
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>I implemented three hayfield management regimens in southern Ontario (a typical schedule at the farmer`s discretion, a delayed first harvest after July 14, and an early first harvest before June 1 with 65 days before second harvest), and evaluated the costs/benefits to farmers regarding hay quality and feasibility, and to Bobolinks (Dolichonyx oryzivorus) regarding reproductive activity… more
Year: 2013, 2013
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Name(s): Creator (cre): Mohseniahouei, Yasaman, Thesis advisor (ths): Abdella, Kenzu, Thesis advisor (ths): Pollanen, Marco, Degree committee member (dgc): Abdella, Kenzu, Degree committee member (dgc): Pollanen, Marco, Degree committee member (dgc): Cater, Bruce, Degree granting institution (dgg): Trent University Abstract: <p>In this thesis, we explore the application of the Sinc-Collocation method to an oceanography model. The model of interest describes a wind-driven current with depth-dependent eddy viscosity and is formulated in two different systems; a complex-velocity system and a real-value coupled system. In general, the Sinc-based methods excel over other traditional numerical methods due to their… more
Year: 2013, 2013
Member of: Trent University Graduate Thesis Collection
Abstract: <p>The Serial Discontinuity Concept describes the downstream recovery of key biophysical variables below an impoundment. With the proliferation of hydropower dams to meet increasing societal demands, further refinement and understanding of the Serial Discontinuity Concept is needed to accurately predict downstream impacts and ensure the proper management of rivers. In this study, I examine… more