FGS - Electronic Theses and Practica

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http://hdl.handle.net/1993/6

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This collection contains University of Manitoba electronic theses and practica.

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The Faculty of Graduate Studies requires that all graduate students submit a copy of their thesis or practicum to this collection. Consult FGS Submitting your thesis or practicum to MSpace and Thesis/Practicum Deposit Step-by-Step for instructions and/or more information. Go to My MSpace to begin the submission process and, when prompted, choose the FGS - Electronic Theses and Practica collection. Unfinished or rejected submissions can be restarted by accessing My MSpace.

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Now showing 1 - 5 of 26813

Open Access
Seabird personality and individual behavioural consistency in the Canadian North Atlantic
(2025-04-25) Legard, Matthew; Fraser, Kevin (Biological Sciences); Kelly, Debbie (Psychology); Daunt, Francis (UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology); Davoren, Gail
Animal personality (i.e., consistent individual behaviour over time/across contexts) is made up of distinct trait continuums (e.g., docile-aggressive; docility) that can play an important role in shaping the behavioural responses of animals, and therefore, can influence fitness. Understanding personality in animal populations can be a useful tool to aid conservation decisions. To date, limited research on personality has been carried out in seabirds, especially species from the family Alcidae. This family, which includes the razorbill (Alca torda), is characterised by a stout body which facilitates diving but results in high energetic costs of flight. In comparison to personality, individual consistency in seabird behaviour (e.g., migratory route) is well studied, but studies rarely compare across species. If individuals within a population behave consistently (e.g., migratory site fidelity), but differences are present among individuals (i.e., behavioural diversity), this variation may expose components of populations to varying threats (e.g., offshore wind development). Therefore, understanding this behavioural variation across and within species will aid in the protection of populations with lower diversity, which are more likely to experience population declines. The aims of this thesis were to: 1. Determine the best method for quantifying the docile-aggressive trait in razorbills (Ch.1). 2. Investigate relationships between docility and razorbill behaviour during the breeding (Ch.2) and non-breeding (Ch.3) periods. 4. Explore behavioural diversity in migratory routes of seabird species that breed in Atlantic Canada (Ch.4). In Chapter 1, I found that different behavioural tests had varying suitability for identifying docility in razorbills. Of the tests, standardized observer ratings were the best test for quantifying docility in razorbills and potentially other hard to observe species. In Chapter 2, I found that razorbills exhibit consistent behaviour during the breeding period, but this consistency is context dependent (i.e., varying prey availability periods) and not related to docility. Additionally, I found no relationship between fledging success and docility. In Chapter 3, I found individual consistency in razorbill non-breeding behaviours but no relationships between any observed non-breeding behaviours and docility. Finally, in Chapter 4, I found varying levels of behavioural diversity both within and across seabird families (Alcidae, Laridae and Sulidae).
Embargo
Evaluating the impact of subsurface drainage and subirrigation on wheat production in heavy clay soils
(2025-05-08) Dasinija, Karikalan; Jian, Fuji (Biosystems Engineering); Mante, Afua (Soil Science); Sri Ranjan, Ramanathan
Effective water management is crucial for optimizing crop productivity. This study investigated the effectiveness of subsurface drainage and subirrigation in managing soil water for wheat production in heavy clay soils at Arborg, Manitoba. Field experiments were conducted at the Prairie East Sustainable Agriculture Initiative (PESAI) farm at Arborg, Manitoba. Different subsurface drainage designs (30-ft (9.1 m) and 45-ft (13.7 m) spacing) were used for subirrigation during the 2022 and 2023 growing seasons. Soil moisture response under these systems was assessed at 0.2, 0.6, and 0.9 m depths using soil moisture sensors for continuous monitoring throughout the growing season. In 2022, with above-average rainfall, controlled drainage removed adequate amount of water and resulted in significantly higher yield (p < 0.05) midway-between-tiles in the 30-ft spacing plot compared to the non-tiled control. In contrast, during the dry year of 2023, despite subirrigation, yield from the 30-ft plot was lower than the average yield in the Interlake region due to insufficient water. However, the on-tile treatment in the 45-ft plot and control (non-tile) plot produced significantly (p < 0.05) above-average yields in 2023 due to less water being drained from the field compared to the 30-ft plot. The data from this research was used to calibrate and validate the DRAINMOD model to assess the influence of tile drain spacing and subirrigation on relative yield in 2021, 2022 and 2023. Simulation results indicated that in 2022, relative yields in the 30-ft and 45-ft plots were 97.2% and 97.0%, respectively. Subirrigation reduced drought stress in the 15-ft plot during 2021, a dry year. A six-day planting delay caused a 5.2% yield loss in 2023. These findings demonstrated the importance of optimally managing controlled drainage systems to enhance wheat yield in heavy clay soils.
Open Access
Influence of Pathogen Strain, Barley Cultivar, and HYD5 Protein on Fusarium Head Blight Progression and Fusarium-Barley Interactions During Malting
(2025-05-07) Jayathissa, Anuradha; Badea, Ana (Department of Plant Science, University of Manitoba); Yin, Xiang (Department of Microbiology, University of Manitoba); Zhong, Shaobin (North Dakota State University); Bakker, Matthew G.; Fernando, W.G. Dilantha
Fusarium head blight (FHB) is a devastating disease in barley, primarily caused by Fusarium graminearum, leading to significant yield loss and mycotoxin contamination, with major economic impacts on the malting and brewing industries. This study hypothesized that variation in Fusarium-related issues during malting may be partially due to differences among F. graminearum strains. Field trials conducted from 2019–2021 used barley cultivars with varying levels of FHB resistance (Newdale and AAC Goldman) inoculated with seven F. graminearum isolates. Disease severity, pathogen density, and deoxynivalenol (DON) content were assessed across years, cultivars, and pathogen strains. Results showed that pathogen strain identity significantly influenced F. graminearum density and DON levels in barley and malt, with Newdale showing higher susceptibility than AAC Goldman. The study also focused on the role of the hydrophobin protein HYD5 from F. graminearum, a surface-active protein associated with fungal pathogenesis and beer gushing. Using a CRISPR-Cas9 system, a ΔHyd5 knockout strain of F. graminearum was generated. The knockout strain showed no significant effect on visual disease severity but resulted in reduced gushing in F. graminearum infected malt. Hyd5 gene expression was elevated during steeping and germination stages of malting, suggesting production of the protein during these phases. Purified HYD5 protein from F. graminearum was sufficient to induce beer gushing, highlighting its potential role in this malting defect. Sequence analysis of HYD5 across Fusarium species revealed interspecies variability, although no intraspecies variation was observed. The findings suggest that managing Fusarium-related malting issues, including beer gushing, requires a deeper understanding of the role of hydrophobins like HYD5 across F. graminearum strains and other Fusarium species that are active in malting environments.
Embargo
Manipulation and utilization of electron-accepting character in π-extended compounds
(2025-03-24) Nemez, Dion; Davis, Rebecca (Chemistry); Kuss, Sabine (Chemistry); Liu, Song (Biosystems Engineering); Zysman-Colman, Eli (University of St. Andrews); Herbert, David
As the zeitgeist that inhabits a society evolves, the role of the scientist follows close behind. In the current era the modern chemist is charged with many responsibilities, almost all of which require an interdisciplinary approach; from teaming up with biologists to undertake the development of new therapeutic drugs to collaborating with physicists and engineers for the design of functional materials. One responsibility entrusted to the modern chemist is the development of methods and materials that adhere to the principles of sustainability, energy efficiency, and minimized environmental or ecological harm, while maintaining industrial viability. This thesis explores the concepts of environmental consideration and energetic efficiency within the field of chemistry with a focus on the role of unsaturated organic (hetero)cyclic materials, and their ability to accept electrons or electron density. Chapter 2 will outline the development of a sustainable electrochemical method capable of hydrogenating unsaturated organic materials using a glassy carbon electrode, graphite counter electrode, and a mild concentration of acetic acid under an applied mild reductive potential. Highlighting the potential underutilization of electrosynthetic chemistry, an analogue of the industrially relevant molecule cyclandelate is able to be formed using these mild electrochemical conditions with a yield and mass recovery of >99 %. Chapters 3 and 4 will detail the preparation of two highly benzannulated analogues of 2,2'-bipyridine called biphe (Chapter 3) and p-biphe (Chapter 4) and the subsequent investigation into their charge accepting ability for potential use in the development of energy efficient solar harvesting and deep-red emitting devices. For example, the prepared novel heteroleptic complexes Ru(bpy)2(biphe)2+ and Ir(ppy)2(p-biphe)+ showcase deep-red, room temperature phosphorescence, measured at 752 nm and 813 nm respectively. The 3d metal containing complex Cu(xantphos)(p-biphe)+ showcases very deep-red phosphorescence at 77 K containing a long charge transfer lifetime (40 µs), with an emission maximum measured at 811 nm. Chapter 5 continues the study of materials capable of efficient solar harvest but approaches the problem from another angle - utilizing a different organic chromophore framework colloquially referred to as BODIPY, which exhibits highly tunable optoelectronic properties and a very strong molar absorptivity.
Open Access
Niche partitioning between sympatrically breeding razorbills and Atlantic puffins during the pre-laying period in coastal Newfoundland
(2025-03-25) McOmber, Kristina; Fraser, Kevin (Biological Sciences); Yurkowski, David (Fisheries and Oceans Canada); Davoren, Gail
Technological advances in Global Location Sensor (GLS) dataloggers have enabled year-round tracking of seabird location and behavior, providing new insights into their ecology. My thesis used archived GLS datasets from Atlantic puffins (Fratercula arctica, n = 22) and razorbills (Alca torda, n = 28) breeding on the northeast Newfoundland coast (James Island) from 2020-2023. In Chapter 1, I developed a workflow to integrate light and immersion sensor data from these tags to categorize behaviours, including time spent at sea (wet), in burrows/crevices (dry, dark), and at the colony (dry, light). This study highlighted ways to use archived GLS datasets to investigate seabird behavior and phenology during under-studied periods with minimal disturbance. In Chapter 2, I used this workflow to investigate the phenology and time activity budgets of both species during the pre-laying period, when high energy demands for egg formation coincides with low prey availability and, thus, may represent a period of competition. I hypothesized that puffins and razorbills would partition their niches along multiple axes, including diet and breeding phenology, and that time activity budgets would differ. Razorbills arrived at the colony earlier than puffins but laid later, resulting in a longer pre-laying period. Although arrival was similar among years, both species adjusted lay dates (and hatch dates) among years. Females of both species spent more time at sea in most years, while males spent more time in burrows. Puffins spent more time at sea and in their burrows, but razorbills spent more time at the colony outside their rock crevices. Stable isotope ratios of carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) in eggshell membranes (2022- 2023, n ~30 /species/year) indicated no isotopic niche overlap between the two species during pre-laying, with razorbills foraging at a higher trophic level (higher δ15N values) and exploiting a wider range of prey types (greater variation in δ13C values). These findings support the hypothesis that razorbills and puffins partition their niches during pre-laying, suggesting that differences in diet and activity timing may aid coexistence when high abundances of multiple species aggregate nearby breeding colonies. Niche adjustments among years, however, suggest phenotypic plasticity to varying conditions.

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