MSc Environment and Management Theses
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Geo-environmental engineering considerations in the investigation of an embankment founded on varved clays : New Liskeard, Ontario
This thesis explores the geotechnical and environmental engineering considerations in an embankment failure as they relate to highway projects founded on soft varved clays. The main objective of this thesis is to shed light ... -
Coastal ocean dynamics and primary productivity near traditional indigenous clam gardens in Fulford Harbour, Salt Spring Island, British Columbia
Along the Pacific coasts of British Columbia and Alaska, it has recently been recognized that Indigenous communities traditionally built and maintained clam gardens in the intertidal zone by clearing rocks, aerating ... -
Long-term native temperate grassland responses to warming, precipitation and defoliation in Central Alberta
Canada’s northern temperate grasslands are a large and valuable natural resource that provides widespread social, economic and environmental benefits to Canadians. Understanding how grassland vegetation is affected by ... -
Climate change : current and future impacts on erosive rainfall in Calgary, Alberta
Rainfall data collected every five minutes between 1988 and 2017 at the Huntington Hills rainfall gauge in Calgary Alberta and downscaled CanRCM4 climate change data for RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5 IPCC scenarios are used to ... -
Contaminant exposure history of yellowknife bay fish : a story of slimy sculpin, burbot, and lake whitefish from otolith microchemistry analysis
The thesis examined the otolith microchemistry of slimy sculpin, burbot, and lake whitefish from Yellowknife Bay, Northwest Territories, in relation to the Giant Mine Remediation Project. Trace elements analyzed included ... -
Measuring suppression : quantifying reductions in burn probability from initial attack
Rapid suppression, or initial attack (IA), is the primary method of managing new fires, with relatively low costs and high containment rates. Factors contributing to containment are well understood, but consequences for ... -
Estimation of methane potential in household food waste in the Capital Regional District
As a basis for discussing the feasibility of anaerobic digestion (AD) technology in the Capital Regional District (CRD), this research evaluated the annual methane potential in household food waste (HFW) in the CRD while ... -
Evaluation of tilling and herbicide treatment for control of wild chervil (Anthriscus sylvestris (L.) Hoffm.) in metro Vancouver regional parks
Wild chervil (Anthriscus sylvestris) is an invasive plant and a member of the Carrot family (Apiaceae). This species concerns natural resource managers because it reduces hay forage quality and adversely alters terrestrial ... -
Case study analysis on the impacts of surface water allocations for hydraulic fracturing on surface water availability of the upper Athabasca River
The Duvernay Formation of the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin underlies portions of the Upper Athabasca Watershed. To access unconventional shale resources in the Duvernay Formation, horizontal drilling and hydraulic ... -
Distribution and bioaccessibility of metals in peri-urban parks – metro Vancouver
Soil samples collected from 15 peri-urban parks in Metro Vancouver were analyzed for total metals, pH, carbon and bioaccessibility to determine the relationship between point source emission and deposition of metals in ... -
Sea surface temperatures as indicators of yearling California sea lion stranding numbers along the California coast
Marine mammal rescue centers around North America respond to calls from the public about animals that have stranded due to illness or injury. Each year financial planning must occur at these centers with little information ... -
Metal Concentrations and Bioaccessibility in Metro Vancouver Urban Parks Soils
Urbanization increases metal emissions through varying anthropogenic activities (fossil fuel combustion). With urban parks being sinks for emissions, this study attempts to determine metal concentrations and bioaccessibility ... -
An investigation into the influence of slope on trail erosion and the effects of trails on plant communities within Garry Oak and associated ecosystems in Mount Douglas Park, Vancouver Island
Urban parks provide refuge for species at risk, and maintain and preserve biodiversity in densely populated settings. Soil erosion on trails, which can have negative impacts on the surrounding plant communities, is a growing ... -
A comparison of microplastics in farmed and wild shellfish near Vancouver Island and potential implications for contaminant transfer to humans
This research compared numbers of microplastics in three species of farmed and wild shellfish collected near Vancouver Island, BC. Species included were blue mussel (Mytilus edulis), Manila clam (Venerupis philippinarum), ... -
Native and exotic tree leaves contributions to formation of different soil organic matter pools
Deforestation around the world contributes to climate change and soil quality loss. The Atlantic Forest in Brazil has been deforested by 93%. Leaf litter from 16 native trees to the Atlantic Forest and Eucalyptus was ... -
Do microplastic residuals in municipal compost bioaccumulate in plant tissue?
Conventional and biodegradable polymers present in residential and commercial organic waste have a propensity to fragment during the composting process. This research explores whether microplastic residuals present in ... -
Estimating pipeline oil spill volumes using environmental site assessment information
When a reportable oil spill occurs, stakeholders expect the responsible party to issue a release volume estimate as part of the mitigation accountability. One method of estimating a spill volume is to use environmental ... -
How does increased and reduced soil organic matter percentages influence the efficiency of controlled release fertilizers? a comparative case study near Turtleford, Saskatchewan.
Nutrient management is integral to profitable agrisystems and maximizing cropping yields, however, excess urea application results in inefficient plant uptake and losses through leaching or volatilization which threaten ... -
Using Carex aquatilis as a biological assessment tool in monitoring salt-impacted Boreal Peatlands
Saline water is produced as a result of extracting hydrocarbons from geological formations and is brought to the surface during the extraction process. Understanding salinity impacts in the Boreal peatlands in Northern ... -
Land use rifts and landscape multifunctionality in Richmond, BC
Interfaces of agricultural land reserve (ALR) and adjacent land uses in Richmond, BC were mapped in Google Earth and characterized based on their structural and multifunctional attributes using multi-criteria approach, ...
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