The true cost of partial fencing: evaluating strategies to reduce reptile road mortality
One of the deadliest roads in North America for species at risk fragments a marsh-lakeecosystem. To reduce road mortality, stakeholders installed >5 km of exclusion fencing along a southwestern Ontario, Canada, causeway in 2008–2009. Between 2012 and 2014, 7 culverts were… Read More
Use of ecological indicators to assess the quality of Great Lakes coastal wetlands
Over 2000 coastal wetland complexes have been identified in the Laurentian Great Lakes watershed, each providing critical habitat for numerous aquatic and terrestrial species. Research has shown there is a direct link between anthropogenic activities (urbanization and… Read More
Non-random sampling and its role in habitat conservation: a comparison of three wetland macrophyte sampling protocols
Aquatic macrophytes provide essential spawning and nursery habitat for fish, valuable food source for waterfowl, migratory birds and mammals, and contribute greatly to overall biodiversity of coastal marshes of the Laurentian Great Lakes. Two approaches have been used to survey… Read More
The relative importance of road density and physical watershed features in determining coastal marsh water quality in Georgian Bay
We used a GIS-based approach to examine the influence of road density and physical watershed features (watershed size, wetland cover, and bedrock type) on water quality in coastal marshes of Georgian Bay, Ontario. We created a GIS that included landscape information and water… Read More
Factors Affecting Macrophyte and Fish Distribution in Coastal Wetlands of Georgian Bay
The three studies in this thesis are dedicated to improving knowledge on coastal wetlands of the Great Lakes, particularly those located in Lake Huron, Georgian Bay. The overall goal is to promote the health and conservation of these ecologically threatened ecosystems, which have… Read More