To determine the relationship between the abundance and density of benthic invertebrates, and the critical shear stress of individual grain sizes, a reach along Smith Creek, was divided into ten 2m x 2m quadrants. Within each quadrant, five randomly selected clasts for each grain size ranging from 2.26 to 25.6 cm were cleaned for benthic invertebrates. Wolman pebble counts for each quadrant were also conducted and used to determine the critical Shields stress per grain size fraction from the model given by Wiberg and Smith (1987) that explicitly accounts for particle hiding/sheltering effects in mixed-bed rivers. Particle entrainment values were then compared with estimated bankfull Shields stress values to determine sediment transport potential during bankfull flow. Invertebrate abundance was strongly positively correlated with critical Shields stress up to the 18.0 cm grain size, indicating a preference for certain grain sizes; while density was positively correlated with all grain sizes present.

Whole farm nutrient budgets (WFNB) enable producers to link dairy herd management with traditional field nutrient management plans. The objective of this study was to calculate WFNBs of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (N, P, and K) at a commercial farm in New Brunswick and in Prince Edward Island. Reliable estimates of N fixation from alfalfa and red clover on the farms were obtained with adjustments to the Høgh-Jensen et al. (2004) dry matter conversion models. The farms had surpluses of N, P, and K. Both farms imported feed as well as nutrient inputs for crop production. Surpluses of all nutrients were typical in comparison to WFNBs of similar dairy farms; however, the nutrient use efficiencies were low. The imported manure and fertilizer used in the crop production components contributed to surpluses of N and P which could likely be reduced to improve overall farm nutrient use efficiency.

A number of stellar streams, moving and kinematic groups were identified in the Milky Way galaxy. Some of them are suspected to originate from accreted satellites. Can we also find such traces of ancient merger events in the solar neighbourhood? Helmi et al. (2006) identified three new coherent groups of stars in the Geneva-Copenhagen survey (Nordström et al. 2004) and suggested that those might correspond to remains of disrupted satellites. With the detailed chemical composition analysis of the newly identified kinematic group we aim to contribute to the Galactic substructure studies. The main aim of the study is to perform a high-resolution spectroscopic elemental abundance analysis in stars belonging to one of the newly identified kinematic groups and to compare the results with other stars in the Galactic disc. We performed the detailed chemical analysis of 21 stars attributed to Group 3 of the Geneva-Copenhagen survey and six comparison Galactic thin disc stars. The main atmospheric parameters and abundances of 22 chemical elements were determined. All programme stars are overabundant in oxygen and α-elements compared with the Galactic thin-disc. This abundance pattern has similar characteristics to those of the Galactic thick disc. The abundances of chemical elements produced predominantly by the r-process are overabundant in comparison with Galactic thin-disc dwarfs of the same metallicity. The abundances of iron-group elements and chemical elements produced mainly... [to full text] / Paukščių Tako galaktikoje yra identifikuota žvaigždžių srautų, judančių bei kinematinių grupių, kurių kilmė siejama su įkritusiomis galaktikomis. Aktualu ištirti, ar yra tokių senųjų substruktūrų pėdsakų mūsų Saulės aplinkoje? Helmi ir kt. (2006), panaudoję Nordström ir kt. (2004) Ženevos–Kopenhagos apžvalgos (ŽKA) katalogą, identifikavo tris naujas koherentines žvaigždžių grupes, kurios pasižymi išskirtiniais kinematiniais parametrais ir gali būti užgalaktinės kilmės. Šiuo disertacijos darbu siekiama prisidėti prie Galaktikos substruktūrų tyrimų, nustatant detalią cheminę vienos iš Helmi ir kt. identifikuotų žvaigždžių grupių sudėtį. Svarbu išsiaiškinant, ar ŽKA kinematinės grupės žvaigždžių atmosferų cheminė sudėtis skiriasi nuo Galaktikos disko žvaigždžių. Nustatėme 21 3–osios ŽKA kinematinės grupės bei 6 palyginamųjų plonojo disko žvaigždžių atmosferų pagrindinius parametrus bei 22 cheminių elementų gausas. Kinematinės žvaigždžių grupės deguonies ir α–elementų gausos yra padidėjusios lyginant su plonuoju disku ir yra panašios į storojo disko. Cheminių elementų, daugiausia pagaminamų s–procese, gausos ir geležies grupės elementų gausos yra panašios į to paties metalingumo plonojo disko nykštukių cheminių elementų gausas, o cheminių elementų, daugiausia pagaminamų r–procese, gausos yra padidėjusios lyginant su plonuoju disku. Panaši cheminė tirtos kinematinės grupės bei storojo Galaktikos disko sudėtis rodo, kad kinematinės žvaigždžių grupės ir storojo disko žvaigždžių... [toliau žr. visą tekstą]

Paukščių Tako galaktikoje yra identifikuota žvaigždžių srautų, judančių bei kinematinių grupių, kurių kilmė siejama su įkritusiomis galaktikomis. Aktualu ištirti, ar yra tokių senųjų substruktūrų pėdsakų mūsų Saulės aplinkoje? Helmi ir kt. (2006), panaudoję Nordström ir kt. (2004) Ženevos–Kopenhagos apžvalgos (ŽKA) katalogą, identifikavo tris naujas koherentines žvaigždžių grupes, kurios pasižymi išskirtiniais kinematiniais parametrais ir gali būti užgalaktinės kilmės. Šiuo disertacijos darbu siekiama prisidėti prie Galaktikos substruktūrų tyrimų, nustatant detalią cheminę vienos iš Helmi ir kt. identifikuotų žvaigždžių grupių sudėtį. Svarbu išsiaiškinant, ar ŽKA kinematinės grupės žvaigždžių atmosferų cheminė sudėtis skiriasi nuo Galaktikos disko žvaigždžių. Nustatėme 21 3–osios ŽKA kinematinės grupės bei 6 palyginamųjų plonojo disko žvaigždžių atmosferų pagrindinius parametrus bei 22 cheminių elementų gausas. Kinematinės žvaigždžių grupės deguonies ir α–elementų gausos yra padidėjusios lyginant su plonuoju disku ir yra panašios į storojo disko. Cheminių elementų, daugiausia pagaminamų s–procese, gausos ir geležies grupės elementų gausos yra panašios į to paties metalingumo plonojo disko nykštukių cheminių elementų gausas, o cheminių elementų, daugiausia pagaminamų r–procese, gausos yra padidėjusios lyginant su plonuoju disku. Panaši cheminė tirtos kinematinės grupės bei storojo Galaktikos disko sudėtis rodo, kad kinematinės žvaigždžių grupės ir storojo disko žvaigždžių... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / A number of stellar streams, moving and kinematic groups were identified in the Milky Way galaxy. Some of them are suspected to originate from accreted satellites. Can we also find such traces of ancient merger events in the solar neighbourhood? Helmi et al. (2006) identified three new coherent groups of stars in the Geneva-Copenhagen survey (Nordström et al. 2004) and suggested that those might correspond to remains of disrupted satellites. With the detailed chemical composition analysis of the newly identified kinematic group we aim to contribute to the Galactic substructure studies. The main aim of the study is to perform a high-resolution spectroscopic elemental abundance analysis in stars belonging to one of the newly identified kinematic groups and to compare the results with other stars in the Galactic disc. We performed the detailed chemical analysis of 21 stars attributed to Group 3 of the Geneva-Copenhagen survey and six comparison Galactic thin disc stars. The main atmospheric parameters and abundances of 22 chemical elements were determined. All programme stars are overabundant in oxygen and α-elements compared with the Galactic thin-disc. This abundance pattern has similar characteristics to those of the Galactic thick disc. The abundances of chemical elements produced predominantly by the r-process are overabundant in comparison with Galactic thin-disc dwarfs of the same metallicity. The abundances of iron-group elements and chemical elements produced mainly... [to full text]

Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), a perennial C4 grass species, has the capacity to not only improve the quality of the soil in which it grows but also promote soil carbon storage to offset rising atmospheric CO2. This research investigated soil organic carbon (SOC) dynamics beneath switchgrass using natural abundance 13C and soil carbon fractionation following the establishment of this crop in a native and predominantly C3 plant region in southeastern Ontario. I investigated SOC dynamics by sampling adjacent commercial switchgrass fields and appropriate paired control fields at sites where the time since switchgrass establishment varied from 4-11 years. SOC and natural 13C abundance were measured in paired fields to assess management-induced changes in the quantity, source, and turnover time of soil carbon. To better elucidate carbon cycling dynamics over a relatively short time since switchgrass establishment, multiple soil fractionation techniques were applied to better understand carbon dynamics of soil organic matter with various mean residence times. Establishment of switchgrass results in marginal increases in SOC, primarily at sites where intensive soil management (i.e. tillage) practices preceded switchgrass establishment. Changes were observed in some of the more labile SOC pools, as well as in the δ13C values of the bulk soil and soil carbon fractions, indicating that growing switchgrass was causing the incorporation of switchgrass-derived carbon into the soil. Even resistant SOC pools, with turnover times of over 100 years, incorporated significant quantities of switchgrass carbon in 11 years. Annual increases in SOC, however, were less than values reported elsewhere. The potential for soil carbon storage exists, likely due to longer mean residence times of the carbon in soils beneath switchgrass compared with other cultivation systems. Changes in SOC following switchgrass establishment related strongly to the amount of root biomass, time since establishment and prior soil management practices. The decomposition rates derived in this research should be integrated into soil carbon modeling applications intended to support the emergence of switchgrass in southeastern Ontario. The results of my research can advance soil carbon models and be used to make regional assessment of the potential impact of growing switchgrass for bioenergy in southeastern Ontario. / Thesis (Master, Geography) -- Queen's University, 2012-01-30 13:56:06.269

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This thesis investigates the influence of predator movements upon habitat selection and foraging success. It deals with two very distinct datasets one from a marine system, the snow crab (Chionoecetes opilio) fishery, and the second from a freshwater system, an experimental rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) aquaculture operation. Deriving a standardized measure of catch from logbook data is important because catch per unit effort (CPUE) is used in fisheries analysis to estimate abundance, but it some cases CPUE is a biased estimate. For the snow crab fishery, a relative abundance measure was developed using fisher movements and logbook data that reflected commercially available biomass and produced an improved relative abundance estimate. Results from the aquaculture dataset indicate that escaped farmed rainbow trout continue to use the cage site when waste feed is available, while native lake trout do not interact with the cage. Once access to waste feed is removed, both lake trout and escaped rainbow trout do not use the cage site. This thesis uses methods to identify patterns and behaviours using movement tracks to increase our understanding of predator habitat usage.

The Kaikoura area is a valuable feeding spot for sperm whales with the presence of a submarine canyon close to shore. Male sperm whales can be found there year around, close to the shore and exhibiting almost constant foraging activities. This thesis investigates the distribution and habitat use, both spatially and temporally, of sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) within the Kaikoura submarine canyon, New Zealand. The primary aim was to determine which oceanographic variables and bathymetric features influence the sperm whale distribution patterns off Kaikoura. A theodolite was used to track surfacing and movement of sperm whales from a shore-based station. The accuracy of positions recorded by the theodolite was investigated by comparing theodolite measurements of an object of known position. A calibration technique was then developed as the vertical angle was not accurately determined by the theodolite. In addition to investigating the distribution of sperm whales, the daily abundance of sperm whales within the Kaikoura submarine canyon was estimated. Distance sampling and mark-resight models showed an average of 4 (SEM = 0.13) individuals present in the study area at any given time. The mark-resight technique using photo-identification was not possible from a shore-based station so a spatio-temporal model was built in order to track the identity of individuals. The model was tested using photo-identification of sperm whales collected from a boat-based station. Results showed that 88% of the modeled identifications corresponded to the photo-identification database. Sperm whales off Kaikoura were strongly associated with depth, slope and distance from the nearest coast. They were found in waters between 500 m to 1250 m deep and preferred shallower waters in winter. In spring, sperm whales occurred further from the coast, mainly in the Hikurangi Trough, north-east of the shore-based station. Generalized Additive Models (GAM) were used to identify significant oceanographic variables predicting the presence of sperm whales off Kaikoura. Models indicated that sea surface temperature (SST), chlorophylla (Chla) and distance from sea surface temperature fronts were all important parameters in predicting sperm whales presence. Results showed that sperm whales aggregated in the section of the study area with the lowest SST and near SST fronts. This study provides a detailed insight into the use of the Kaikoura submarine canyon by male sperm whales.

Soil organic matter (SOM) is a dynamic soil property, sensitive and responsive to many factors. The possibility of increasing soil carbon (C) sequestration by changing land use and management practices has been of great interest recently due to concerns with global changes in the atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) balance. Nonetheless, as a result of the complex dynamics of SOM, there is still the need for SOM characterization procedures capable of monitoring SOM stabilization, taking into account all the factors involved. This study characterized SOM stabilization as affected by management practices in three long-term field experiments, considering physical, chemical and biological components. The field experiments are located near Lexington, Kentucky, on a Maury silt loam (fine, mixed, mesic Typic Paleudalfs). The first experiment evaluates tillage and nitrogen (N) rate effects. The second experiment studies manure and N rate effects. The third experiment evaluates the five corn components of three crop rotations [continuous (monoculture) corn, corn-wheat/double crop soybean, and hay-hay-corn-corn-corn]. Soil organic matter content, stability, and composition, for physically separated fractions, were assessed using δ13C natural abundance and diffuse reflectance Fourier transformed infrared (DRIFT) spectroscopy. In addition, management effects on microbial biomass and microbial function as indicated by phenol oxidase enzyme activity were evaluated. The results indicate that management practices affect SOM content, stability, and composition, and these effects differ by the soil aggregate fraction. No-tillage (NT), N fertilization, manure application and increased corn in crop rotations enhanced SOM levels. However, the effect of NT was observed mainly at the soil surface. Soil organic matter storage was determined by the aggregate size distribution. The proportion of recently deposited C was generally positively related to aggregate size, especially for the first and third experiments. Most of the recently deposited C was stabilized in microaggregates within macroaggregates, across the management treatments and field experiments. In addition, this fraction consistently exhibited low to medium SOM reactivity. These results suggest that SOM stabilization, as influenced by management practices, required achieving a specific composition and location within the soil matrix. This implies that soil C forms and aggregate size and stability are closely interrelated.