Browsing Electronic Theses and Dissertations from 2009 by Subject "Aquatic ecosystem"
Now showing items 1-14 of 14
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Abundance, transportation, and preservation of Mysis diluviana eDNA in freshwater ecosystems
(2021)Environmental DNA (eDNA) has proven to be a valuable tool in detecting rare or invasive species, particularly within the Great Lakes and surrounding aquatic ecosystems. Recent work has shown that sedimentary eDNA (sedDNA) ... -
Are the fish safe to eat? An examination of Lake Nipigon fish consumption guidelines through the perspective of Biinjitiwaabik Zaaging Anishinaabek
(2024)Mercury (Hg) is a contaminant of concern when consuming fish from freshwater lakes. It is known to persist in high concentrations in piscivorous fishes such as Walleye which are commonly consumed by people. The people ... -
The association between watershed characteristics and mercury concentrations in fish of Northern Ontario lakes
(2014-01-22)Many landscape, limnological, and ecological factors synergistically affect the mercury cycle and subsequently influence total mercury (THg) concentrations in fish. In Chapter 1, the associations between watershed and lake ... -
The effect of cottage development on aquatic macroinvertebrate communities and water quality in central Ontario lakes
(2023)In Canada, over 3 million freshwater lakes provide a wide range of ecological, financial, aesthetic, and public health services for their citizens, communities, and tourists. This is especially true for regions like ... -
The effects of climate change on the growth and spawning phenology of fishes in aquatic boreal environments
(2022)Global climate change is occurring and observed warming patterns have had significant impacts on aquatic environments as trends in water temperature are closely related to trends in air temperature. In ectothermic organisms ... -
Effects of macrophyte cutting on a whole lake ecosystem
(2023)Macrophytes are of significant importance to aquatic ecosystems, generating primary production in nearshore environments and providing physical structure and habitat for organisms in the littoral zone of lakes. Macrophyte ... -
Evaluating the utility of a point of care device to assess physiological differences among wild boreal fishes
(2022)With the increasing risk of anthropogenic impacts in boreal ecosystems there is a need for tools to rapidly assess impacts on organisms and properly inform resource managers. Though well-researched, the i-STAT a portable ... -
Impacts of Mysis diluviana extirpation on a whole lake ecosystem
(2020)Understanding species interactions is critical to predicting the ecosystem-level impacts of anthropogenically-caused species extirpations. In particular, the loss of keystone species - those that have exceptionally large ... -
Invasive spiny water flea (Bythotrephes cederströmii) and their impacts on young-of-year walleye (Sander vitreus) growth
(2022)Invasive species are a major threat to aquatic ecosystems, costing an estimated $3.6 billion in impacts across Ontario. In particular, the predatory cladoceran Bythotrephes cederströmii (Bythotrephes hereafter) has had ... -
A physical and spatial assessment of remediated submerged habitats within the Thunder Bay area of concern
(2020)The designation of Thunder Bay’s Harbour as an Area of Concern (AOC) by the International Joint Commission prompted the need for Remedial Action Plans to improve historically significant habitats (RAP, 1991; RAP 2004). In ... -
Physical habitat associations of fish species in the Kivalliq region of Nunavut, Canada
(2020)The Canadian arctic and subarctic (areas north of 60° latitude) support distinct aquatic environments governed by the unique geomorphology and climate of the region. Historically, fish and fish habitat impacted by ... -
Salmonid thermal habitats in Lake Superior tributaries
(2020)For some potamodromous salmonid species, such as the Brook Trout, streams are a critical spawning habitat but also habitat for juveniles and stream residents to grow. Salmonids are coldwater fishes and cooler stream water ... -
Understanding drivers and correlates of fish productivity: Finding optimal indicators in freshwater fishes
(2024)Canadian freshwater commercial and recreational fisheries contribute $8.8 billion in revenue to the economy annually and are a significant subsistence food source for Indigenous communities. Fish production is recognized ... -
Utilization of hydrodynamic modeling in predicting water quality and Brook Trout habitat: reclamation of a mine impacted Boreal Shield Lake
(2020)Mining operations in Ontario are subject to regulatory limits on effluent release into surrounding waterbodies designed to preserve aquatic life. However, said guidelines may not always be enough to prevent damage to the ...