NRMT Graduate Student Association Mini-Seminar Series

The university community is invited to attend the NRMT Graduate Student Association mini-seminar series on Monday, March 9 starting at 11:30 a.m.

1. The Effects of Climate Change on Traditional Activities, Food Security, and Health of a Northern Ontario First Nation

Riley Belanger, MSc in Forestry

Riley’s research focuses on enquiring if members of a First Nation are experiencing changes in their environment due to climate change and determining how these changes are affecting people’s ability to participate in traditional activities. Furthermore, this research also looks at how they are affecting food security and health of individuals and communities. Data was collected from fifteen members (fourteen elders and one adult) of a Northern Ontario First Nation through semi-structured interviews. Interviews were audio recorded and will later be transcribed verbatim. Transcriptions will then be coded and analysed using the qualitative analysis software NVivo to identify recurring themes, observations, impacts, and experiences

2. Soil Enzyme Function Under Global Drought and Plant Community Influence

Connor Jones, MSc in Forestry

President of Graduate Students Association

In recent years, particular attention has been made to climate change and what this will mean to humanity. Following a report created by an intergovernmental committee, it has become widely accepted that we are to expect temperatures to increase and an increased frequency in severe weather conditions such as drought. The impacts of these climate changes on our terrestrial ecosystems continue to be studied. Connor will discuss the findings of researchers worldwide and will introduce his own research on terrestrial nutrient cycling.

3. Native bee composition and biodiversity in managed and unmanaged sites in Thunder Bay, Ontario

Amber Fredenburg, MSc in Forestry

The description is Pollinator communities, although extremely important to functioning and productive natural and agricultural ecosystems, are now reported to be declining. Northwestern Ontario is highly understudied and needs a study to obtain baseline data on bee species diversity. Amber’s study will be to obtain an inventory of native bee species and the flowers they are collected on, as well as examine and compare native bee populations from an agricultural site and two natural sites in Thunder Bay, Ontario. The broader impacts of this study will assess the state of insect biodiversity and provide an opportunity for future surveys to compare bee species range extensions or shrinkages that will further conservation effort.