Vernal pools are small, seasonally filling wetlands found throughout forests of north eastern North America. Vernal pools have been proposed as potential 'hot spots' of carbon cycling. A key component of the carbon cycle within vernal pools is the decomposition of leaf litter. I tested the hypothesis that leaf litter decomposition is more rapid within vernal pools than the adjacent upland. Leaf litter mass losses from litterbags incubated in situ within vernal pools and adjacent upland habitat were measured periodically over one year and then again after two years. The experiment was carried out at 24 separate vernal pools, over two replicate years. This is a novel degree of replication in studies of decomposition in temporary wetlands. Factors influencing decomposition, such as duration of flooding, water depth, pH, temperature, and dissolved oxygen were measured. Mass loss was greater within pools than adjacent upland after 6 months, equal after 12 months, and lower within pools than adjacent upland after 24 months. This evidence suggests that vernal pools of Central Ontario are 'hot spots' of decomposition up to 6 months, but not after 12 and 24 months. In the long term, vernal pools may reduce decomposition rates, compared to adjacent uplands.

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Introduction: Le principal objectif de cette étude est de mesurer l’effet du GDF-5 sur l’homéostasie du cartilage. Le GDF-5 est un gène de susceptibilité de l’OA faisant partie de la famille des BMPs et qui favorise la synthèse du cartilage. Le but de notre étude a été de déterminer l’effet du GDF-5 sur le métabolisme catabolique ainsi que sur l’équilibre global des chondrocytes, principalement au niveau de l’Aggrécan. Méthode : Des chondrocytes arthrosiques canins et humains OA ont été exposés au GDF-5. L’expression des ARNm et des protéines a été analysée afin d’évaluer la production de l’Aggrécan et le ratio Col-II/Col-I au niveau des facteurs anaboliques et du phénotype. Pour le catabolisme, l’expression et l’activité des aggrécanases ADAMTS-4 et ADAMTS-5 ont été mesurées. Les épitopes NITEGE et CTX-II ont aussi été quantifiés dans le liquide synovial canin après des injections intraarticulaires de GDF-5. Résultats : Le GDF-5 provoque une augmentation de l’activité cellulaire des chondrocytes canins et humains. Pour les ARNm et l’expression protéique, le GDF-5 augmente l’expression de l’Aggrécan alors que les facteurs cataboliques le diminuent. Le phénotype reste inchangé en présence du produit, sauf à haute dose où on augmente le ColI. L’activité des aggrécanases diminue puisque l’épitope NITEGE diminue alors que le CTX-II augmente dans l’articulation. Conclusion : En somme, les facteurs anaboliques du cartilage sont favorisés, alors que les facteurs cataboliques sont diminués par le GDF-5. Cette action double permet d’illustrer l’effet du GDF-5, le classant comme un potentiel médicament modifiant la maladie de l’OA qui mérite d’être étudiée. / Purpose: The objective of this study is to assess the effect of GDF-5 on cartilage homeostasis. GDF-5 is a susceptibility gene for OA and member of the BMP super family. Studies have shown that it can increase expression of anabolic factors in chondrocytes. Therefore, our study indentifies how GDF-5 influences this metabolism and the global homeostasis of chondrocytes, aiming mainly towards Aggrecan. Methods : Osteoarthritic (OA) chondrocytes from canine and human models were exposed to GDF-5. Protein expressions, along with mRNA expression were assessed in order to investigate Aggrecan production and the ratio of Col-II/Col-I, for the anabolic phenotype markers. The aggrecanases ADAMTS-4 and ADAMTS-5 and their global activity were assed for the catabolic factors. The NITEGE and CTX-II epitope were also measured in synovial fluid of Pond-Nuki dogs that received intraarticular GDF-5 injections. Results : GDF-5 increases chondrocyte cellular activity, in our canine and human models. Both mRNA and protein expression of the chondrocytes Aggrecan were increased and the aggrecanases expression and activity were decreased. Collagen ratio did not show a phenotype, except et high dosage where the Col-I production is induced. Aggrecanase activity was lowered while CTX-II was increased. Conclusion : In conclusion, the anabolic cellular activity of OA chondrocytes increases while the catabolic factors decrease in presence of GDF-5. This double action illustrates the global effect of GDF-5, identifying it as a potential disease modifying factor of OA that should be further investigated.

In urban areas, stormwater management ponds (SWPs) are built to mitigate polluted runoff. Although these ponds are increasing in numbers, their ecology is not well understood. Physical and chemical characteristics of 17 SWPs in the City of Ottawa were measured to determine the drivers of phytoplankton biomass (Chl. a) and primary production (PP). While total phosphorus was the best predictor of algal biomass in the ponds (as in lakes), the imperviousness of the catchment could also predict Chl. a. Planktonic PP in two ponds measured seasonally was more closely related to water residence time than to nutrient concentrations with rates approaching at times the theoretical maximum for aquatic systems. In one pond, whole ecosystem metabolism, estimated using diel changes in dissolved oxygen and δ18O-O2, suggested that these hypereutrophic systems were net sinks for carbon in the summer but likely sources to the atmosphere at other times of the year.

The aims of this study were to identify Chloroviruses in two different Ontario freshwaters and to determine if the seasonal abundance patterns of Chloroviruses in different environments are similar. Gene fragments nearly identical to cultivated Chloroviruses were obtained from Lake Ontario and a nearby pond at the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) and novel Chlorovirus gene fragments were obtained from Lake Ontario. Quantification of these two Chlorovirus genes over several seasons revealed the presence of persistent viruses with different seasonal dynamics suggesting that different Chloroviruses replicate by infecting different hosts. Additionally, patterns of seasonal abundance and timings of peak abundances for individual viruses differed between Lake Ontario and the UTM pond, demonstrating the critical role of the environment in Chlorovirus dynamics. The observation of different Chloroviruses with different seasonal dynamics allows speculation that these viruses and their hosts stably coexist in Ontario freshwater environments.

The aims of this study were to identify Chloroviruses in two different Ontario freshwaters and to determine if the seasonal abundance patterns of Chloroviruses in different environments are similar. Gene fragments nearly identical to cultivated Chloroviruses were obtained from Lake Ontario and a nearby pond at the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) and novel Chlorovirus gene fragments were obtained from Lake Ontario. Quantification of these two Chlorovirus genes over several seasons revealed the presence of persistent viruses with different seasonal dynamics suggesting that different Chloroviruses replicate by infecting different hosts. Additionally, patterns of seasonal abundance and timings of peak abundances for individual viruses differed between Lake Ontario and the UTM pond, demonstrating the critical role of the environment in Chlorovirus dynamics. The observation of different Chloroviruses with different seasonal dynamics allows speculation that these viruses and their hosts stably coexist in Ontario freshwater environments.

[Truncated abstract] I have evaluated the effects of different types of ephemeral pools on the evolutionary dynamics of two large branchiopods in Australia, the clam shrimp Lynceus and the fairy shrimp Branchinella longirostris. Both shrimps are passive dispersers, relying on their sexually produced resting eggs for continuity of populations in time and space, although their actual dispersal ability remains speculative. The two currently recognised species of the genus Lynceus (L. tatei and L. macleyanus) are widespread across Australia, and they occupy a wide range of ephemeral fresh water habitats, while the fairy shrimp Branchinella longirostris is endemic to rock pools on granite outcrops in south-western Australia. Samples of populations were collected from a total of 96 ephemeral pools at 80 locations in New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia . . . This highlighted the contrast between the two species and their microhabitats, and implied that these microhabitats offered different opportunities for dispersal. These were identified as frequent disturbances of the clam shrimp’s egg-banks due to ‘wash-out’ effects during heavy rains and animal and human vectors attracted by the water stored in the deep pools. My comparative study shows that the difference in evolutionary dynamics observed between the two species was a consequence of their environmental interactions rather than of the microhabitats themselves. Similar to patterns detected in other passive dispersers with disjunct population distribution, evolutionary dynamics in Lynceus and B. longirostris seem to be a result of complex interactions among gene flow, population histories and ecology of their habitat. The results contribute to the emerging evidence that branchiopod crustaceans are poor dispersers and highlight the importance of local context in determining evolutionary processes within species.

This research studies the performance of a salinity gradient solar pond driving an absorption cooling system, as an alternative to a conventional electrically powered cooling system, to provide cool air for a modern single family house in the hot dry climate of Baghdad, Iraq. The system comprises a salinity gradient solar pond, a hot-water-fired absorption water chiller, a chilled-water cooling coil which cools the air in the house, and a cooling tower which rejects heat to the ambient air. Hot brine from the pond circulates through a heat exchanger, where it heats water that is then pumped to the chiller. This arrangement protects the chiller from the corrosive brine. The system is controlled on-off by a room thermostat in the house. The system performance is modelled by dynamic thermal simulation using TMY2 hourly typical weather data. TRNSYS software is used for the main simulation, coupled to a MATLAB model of heat and mass transfer in the pond and the ground beneath it. The model of the pond and the ground is one-dimensional (only vertical transfers are considered). Radiation, convection, conduction, evaporation and diffusion are considered; the ground water at some depth below the pond is treated as being at a fixed temperature. All input data and parameter values in the simulation are based on published, standard or manufacturer's data. Temperature profiles in the pond were calculated and found to be in good agreement with published experimental results. It was found that a pond area of approximately 400 m2 was required to provide satisfactory cooling for a non-insulated house of approximately 125 m2 floor area. It was found that varying the pond area, ground conditions and pond layer thicknesses affected the system performance. The optimum site is one that has soil with low thermal conductivity, low moisture content and a deep water table. It is concluded that Iraq's climate has a potential for solar-pond-powered thermal cooling systems. It is feasible to use a solar-pond-powered cooling system to meet the space cooling load for a single family house in the summer season. Improving the thermal performance of the house by insulation could reduce the required solar pond area.

The topic of the thesis is determination of concentration of dissolved solids in water and seasonal changes in surface water chemistry for specific affluents of Orlík water reservoir. Water samples were collected on regular basis and analysed in a laboratory during one season (November 2014 - November 2015). The thesis is focused on monitoring of changes in phosphate and nitrate concentrations, in particular. The results of analysis indicate that measured concentrations of substances at monitored locations reflect generally measured data within the region. Concentrations of NO3-N peak in winter to early spring seasons, therefore seasonal changes do occur; differences between locations have not been proven statistically. As for the parameter PO4-P within locations downstream pond systems no significant statistic differences were identified. Values of PO4-P concentration are not primarily associated with agricultural activities but rather with local sources existing within the catch basin. It has been concluded from testing water quality upstream and downstream fish ponds that pond management had no impact on quality of water within the monitored locations in 2015; respectively no additional phosphor and nitrogen load was imposed on Orlík water reservoir

The purpose of this thesis is to develop a comprehensive educational program involving student activities related to the biotope of the garden pond. The theoretical part deals with general issues of inquiry-based education and the utilization of school gardens. The main contribution of the thesis is the creation of a concrete educational program, comprising seven activities which employ the environment of a garden pond. It is designated for biology and geography classes at middle/secondary schools. Each activity portfolio consists of a methodological sheet for teachers and a work sheet for students. Most activities can be carried in the environment of any water tank; some activities can be also done in the school building. The training program was pilot tested with elementary school teachers and subsequently with sixth and seventh grade students. Concurrently, an evaluation of the program's effectiveness was implemented in the form of written tests. The thesis discusses the findings from this evaluation as well as the practical verification of the suggested program that was carried out on teachers and on students.