The Effects of Fire in Spruce Seedling Survival and Trophic Interactions in the Hudson Bay Lowlands of Churchill, Manitoba

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dc.contributor.advisorBello, Richard
dc.creatorAntoniadis, Melissa Kay
dc.date.accessioned2015-12-16T19:09:59Z
dc.date.available2015-12-16T19:09:59Z
dc.date.copyright2015-05-13
dc.date.issued2015-12-16
dc.date.updated2015-12-16T19:09:58Z
dc.degree.disciplineGeography
dc.degree.levelMaster's
dc.degree.nameMSc - Master of Science
dc.description.abstractThis study examined how post-fire changes in abiotic and biotic conditions affect the performance and survival of spruce seedlings, and the abundance and diversity of insect and microbe communities in the subarctic of Churchill, Manitoba. This thesis also explored how varying colour of pan traps attract distinct groups of insect species, as pan trap colours mimic flower colours. In general, increased levels of all of the abiotic factors were found to positively influence the performance of spruce seedlings, except for soil organic matter. It was also found that the forest which was once dominated by white spruce shifted post-fire to mainly shrub land likely as a result of changes in abiotic conditions and plant interactions. The abundance of both arthropods and microbes was significantly greater in unburned areas compared to burned sites. Microbe concentrations were higher when measured on the ground compared to vegetative leaf surfaces, and yellow pan traps had the greatest arthropod capture rates.
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10315/30621
dc.language.isoen
dc.rightsAuthor owns copyright, except where explicitly noted. Please contact the author directly with licensing requests.
dc.subjectEnvironmental science
dc.subjectBiology
dc.subjectGeography
dc.subject.keywordsfire
dc.subject.keywordsforest fire
dc.subject.keywordsChurchill
dc.subject.keywordsManitoba
dc.subject.keywordsHudson Bay
dc.subject.keywordsspruce
dc.subject.keywordstree
dc.subject.keywordsspruce seedling
dc.subject.keywordsspruce regeneration
dc.subject.keywordsspruce survival
dc.subject.keywordsspruce performance
dc.subject.keywordstree regeneration
dc.subject.keywordsseedling regeneration
dc.subject.keywordstrophic
dc.subject.keywordstrophic interaction
dc.subject.keywordsfacilitation
dc.subject.keywordsinsect
dc.subject.keywordsarthropod
dc.subject.keywordspan trap
dc.subject.keywordsmicrobe
dc.subject.keywordstree line
dc.subject.keywordsdisturbance
dc.subject.keywordsclimate change
dc.subject.keywordssoil moisture
dc.subject.keywordssoil organic depth
dc.subject.keywordssunlight transmission
dc.subject.keywordswillow
dc.subject.keywordsdrought
dc.subject.keywordsmoisture stress
dc.titleThe Effects of Fire in Spruce Seedling Survival and Trophic Interactions in the Hudson Bay Lowlands of Churchill, Manitoba
dc.typeElectronic Thesis or Dissertation

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