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This thesis presents an interdisciplinary study of the significance of contemporary film in our understandings of gender, race, and sexuality in Georgian England. I argue that while films set in this period may lack the subtleties and depth of the realities that make up the Georgian era, they are still valuable in informing current discussions concerning race, gender, and sexuality. By examining such films, we learn not only more about the Georgian period and how it is presented and understood by contemporary audiences, but these films tell us much about our own biases, attitudes, and society.

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Previously throughout history, the norm regarding the proper conduct of war began with aformal declaration of war, however since the end of the Second World War the usage of wardeclarations have decreased, and in its place the legitimacy of countries' actions have garneredmore attention. The study of legitimacy within the larger field of peace- and war studies haverecently evolved from the previous theory dominating the field, classical legitimacy theory,and today new perspectives regarding legitimacy are emerging. This study makes use of onesaid perspective, with its three areas of development in regards to classical legitimacy theory:audiences for legitimacy, legitimacy sources and legitimation. These areas of development areanalyzed in combination with political discourse analysis on one statement and two addressesby the President of the Russian Federation. The study’s findings concur in some respect withthe conclusions presented by von Billerbeck and Gippert; which stipulate that there are moreaudiences for legitimation than previously believed; the use of procedural legitimacy is morein use than out-put legitimacy; and the use of force with regards to the three empirical cases oflegitimation demonstrate the dual nature of force within the context of conflict. The findingsin this study does not constitute a complete understanding of legitimacy, but rather illustratesthe way countries use legitimacy in order to fortify their own actions.

Concern over recent declines in many wetland-dependent bird species has led to a need to monitor marsh bird populations in response to anthropogenic activities. I conducted point counts and vegetation surveys at 26 coastal wetlands in the Laurentian Great Lakes Region of Canada from 2006-2008 to determine 1) effective methods to monitor marsh birds, and 2) the impacts of land use surrounding coastal wetlands on marsh bird communities. The first part of this dissertation showed that call-broadcasts are effective tools for monitoring marsh birds and that point counts for marsh birds should be conducted from both the shoreline and from the interior of large marshes. Because of the species-area relationship for wetland birds in southern Ontario, sampling effort should increase proportionally with wetland area to attempt the detection of all species present. In the second part of this thesis, I showed that marsh obligate-nesters preferred wetlands in rural areas as opposed to urban areas, while generalist marsh-nesting species showed no apparent difference in use. The Index of Marsh Bird Community Integrity (IMBCI), a biological index used to indicate wetland health, was significantly higher in rural than in urban marshes. Marsh isolation was also an important factor in predicting the marsh bird community, with more isolated wetlands containing fewer obligate species and associated with a lower IMBCI value. Wetlands of Georgian Bay were found to have quite different bird and plant communities than wetlands of Lake Ontario. Even though wetlands of Lake Ontario were considerably more degraded than those in Georgian Bay (according to land use alteration and degree of water quality impairment), these two regions produced similar IMBCI scores, and this draws into question the applicability of some indicators on a basin-wide scale. The results of this thesis indicate how survey protocols in existing wetland bird monitoring programs should be modified and support current literature that urbanization negatively affects the marsh bird community. </p> / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

<p> This report is the only detailed study concerning the fresh water cobble beaches of the Georgian Bay Islands. It includes extensive studies on the morphological characteristics, especially the platform development and profile configuration, and the sedimentary provenance of the cobbles. </p> <p> It was found that the platform configuration (step topography) acts as a substrate control for the cobble beaches. The presence of two cobble generations, angular and well-rounded, indicate that t he shore platform is the source for these cobble beaches. </p> <p> The roundness values of these cobble generations depends on t heir mode of transport. Evidence indicates that longshore movement of cobbles increases their roundness values, but their angular shape i s indicative of their lack of transport. </p> <p> Very little proof was found within this study to correlate relict cobble beaches with any specific stage of the Lake Huron Basin, although it was possible to generalize and state that the relict cobble beaches were generated by high-energy wave events during the transition from the Algoma stage to Lake Huron. </p> <p> Clast analysis determines the relationship between the length of the wave fetch and its related energy environment. It was found that high-energy coastal environments have oblate cobbles with a high roundness and low sphericity. In each case, the samples were associated with a large fetch. Those cobbles of a low-energy coastal environment have a high sphericity, low roundness, and are associated with smaller fetches. </p> <p> The steepness of the beach profile results from the increase in wave height, generated by an increase in shallowness. It also depends upon the volume of backwash. The backwash is reduced by the increased percolation rates through the cobbles, thus reducing the combing down effect of the backwash. </p> <p> This study also provides a discussion on the minor morphological features such as sinkholes and imbrication. </p> / Thesis / Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Though the water in eastern Georgian Bay is oligotrophic, some of the coastal embayments and wetlands have begun to show signs of water quality impairment that is thought to be related to human development along the shoreline. The primary objective of my thesis is to provide environmental agencies with the resources to effectively manage water quality in the coastal zone of eastern Georgian Bay. First, I evaluate the ability of the Lakeshore Capacity Model (LCM), developed for inland Precambrian Shield lakes, to predict the trophic status of coastal embayments. Finding that the LCM does not accurately predict trophic status, I develop the Anthro-geomorphic Model (AGM), which uses the level of human development and the degree of mixing between the embayment and open waters of Georgian Bay to predict embayment trophic status. Second, I explore the spatial association between densities of building, dock and road development and Water Quality Index (WQI) scores, an index designed to evaluate wetland condition, for wetlands in the Township of Georgian Bay. I found an inverse relationship between WQI scores and the density of these stressor variables inside wetland catchments, which indicates that these stressors have a negative impact on wetland water quality. I then created a series of mapping products that present building, dock and road densities, along with WQI scores for 61 wetlands in the Township of Georgian Bay, to determine how wetland water quality is spatially associated with densities of these stressor variables. I found that regions with high densities of building, dock and road development were associated with wetlands of lower quality, whereas wetlands in areas that had low densities of development were of higher quality. I used this information to identify areas of conservation priority for management in the Township of Georgian Bay. The results from this thesis will provide environmental managers with resources to protect the valuable coastal waters of eastern Georgian Bay. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc) / A number of coastal embayments and wetlands of eastern Georgian Bay show signs of water quality impairment thought to be caused by cottage development. The objective of my thesis is to develop and evaluate models designed to measure the impact of human development on water quality in these coastal zones. First, finding that the Ontario Lakeshore Capacity Model, developed for Muskoka lakes, does not accurately predict trophic status in embayments, I develop the Anthro-geomorphic Model, which uses building density and basin morphometry to predict embayment trophic status. Second, I explore the appropriateness of using development densities (building, dock and road) to quantify anthropogenic stress in coastal wetlands. This thesis provides the scientific basis for choosing management practices to protect the coastal waters of Georgian Bay.

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Monitoring and maintaining the health of coastal wetlands is a global concern. The greatest threat to coastal wetlands in the Great Lakes Basin are anthropogenic removal and enrichment. The coastal wetlands in Georgian Bay are relatively undisturbed by humans, but face disturbance caused by reduced annual water-level fluctuations. Since these wetlands are critical habitat for many fish, bird, amphibian, and reptile species, many efforts to accurately monitor and maintain their health have been put into place. Recently, these wetlands have been experiencing an abrupt (~1 m) transition to higher water levels, following 14 years of sustained lows, which allowed trees and shrubs to invade the meadow vegetation zone. This sustained water-level pattern has never occurred in this region before, offering the unique opportunity to study wetlands undergoing a transition, where areas of 10+ years of upland plant species growth was inundated and became part of the wetland habitat. This thesis first investigates how this change in water level affects the distribution of meadow, emergent, floating, and submerged vegetation both in physical space and area. The second chapter of this thesis presents long-term water quality, macrophyte, and fish community monitoring using ecological indices. Water quality and macrophyte indices are robust enough to monitor wetlands undergoing a transition; however, issues arise in the calculation of the wetland fish index, as the changes in macrophyte distribution described in Chapter 1 impact the ability to replicate community sampling using fyke nets. The research done throughout this thesis is highly beneficial in adding to the limited knowledge of key factors impacting macrophyte community shifting. This work also identifies water-level scenarios where managers must adjust sampling protocols to succeed in effectively sampling wetland fish communities. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc) / The coastal wetlands in the Georgian Bay area are primarily threatened by human development and the removal of annual water-level fluctuations. From 1999-2013, the water level decreased and remained low. In 2014, the water level rose about 1 m, causing flooding of grass and trees that had grown in the meadow zone during the 14 years when the water level was low. The first goal of this thesis is to explain how and why all wetland plants are relocating during this period. The second goal is to make sure that common indicators of wetland health (water quality, plants, and fish) can still be used during a time when flooding of grasses and trees was occurring in wetlands. The findings in this thesis contribute to the ability to predict and understand how the plants will shift within a wetland during a time of flooding, as well as informing managers on appropriate sampling protocols.

Reptiles are the vertebrate taxon with the highest percentage of at-risk species in Canada, many of which exist at the northern limit of their species’ home range in Ontario. Numerous reptiles are found in the Georgian Bay area; however, factors limiting their distribution in Ontario are poorly understood. It is likely that the thermal and hydrological conditions of a reptile’s critical habitat are contributing factors. Specifically, peatlands serve as ideal hibernacula for the threatened Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake (Sistrurus catenatus) while moss cushions may provide freshwater turtles, including the threatened Blanding’s Turtle (Emydoidea blandingii) and endangered Spotted Turtle (Clemmys guttata), with nesting opportunities on open rock barrens. Although different in their functional purpose at opposite life stages for two separate orders of reptiles, these ecosystems provide suitable conditions to meet the physiological needs of the reptiles utilizing them. This analysis characterizes the thermal and hydrological conditions of moss-dominated ecosystems from a reptile species-at-risk perspective. The interaction between the water table and the frost line is important when assessing the winter survival of Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnakes hibernating in peatland hummocks. Larger hummocks are more ideal as they have a lower chance of becoming flooded in the winter while still providing protection from the advancing frost line. Ideally, hummocks that are 30-35 cm tall provide the greatest chance of survival when snakes hibernate 20-25 cm below the surface. Subsurface temperatures in relation to snow depth, as it is influenced by tree stand characteristics, was also assessed. This resulted in the conclusion that the presence, absence, timing, and frequency of freeze and thaw events is likely more important than snow depth when it comes to winter survival. Similar to rattlesnake hibernacula, turtle nests can be inundated for extended periods of time or exposed to extreme temperatures which reduces their chance of survival. The water storage dynamics of 22 hillslope and 12 hilltop moss cushions along with the temperature dynamics at nine locations were characterized. Although it was determined hilltop locations had greater water storage capabilities, continuously monitored moss cushions responded very quickly to rainfall events whereby sites were inundated for less than 12 hours. Average subsurface temperatures decreased with depth as did temperature fluctuations, both of which were positively correlated but not significantly affected by canopy openness. However, due to their tendency to grow on flat surfaces, not all moss cushions are suitable nesting sites. Moreover, temperatures that ensure proper development and equal ratios of male-to-female turtles were not achieved suggesting that this is a potential factor limiting the northern distribution of turtles in Ontario. In order to properly asses the vulnerability of these populations to threats including habitat loss and climate change, the habitat requirements of different species at critical life stages needs to be understood. Therefore, conservationists can use this study to implement mitigation strategies that consider impacts on the thermal and hydrological dynamics within reptile habitat. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)