Department of Geography
https://hdl.handle.net/10680/1096
2024-03-19T11:10:04ZNitrogen dynamics and nitrogen-to-phosphorus stoichiometry in cold region agricultural streams
https://hdl.handle.net/10680/2113
Nitrogen dynamics and nitrogen-to-phosphorus stoichiometry in cold region agricultural streams
Friesen-Hughes, Karl; Casson, Nora J.; Wilson, Henry F.
Cold agricultural regions are getting warmer and experiencing shifts in precipitation patterns, which affect hydrological transport of nutrients through reduced snowpack and higher annual proportions of summer rainfall. Previous work has demonstrated that the timing of phosphorus (P) concentrations is regionally coherent in streams of the northern Great Plains, suggesting a common climatic driver. There has been less investigation into patterns of stream nitrogen (N), despite its importance for water quality. Using high-frequency water quality data collected over 6 yr from three southern Manitoba agricultural streams, the goal of this research was to investigate seasonal patterns in N and P concentrations and the resultant impacts of these patterns on N/P stoichiometry. In the spring, high concentrations of inorganic N were associated with snowmelt runoff, while summer N was dominated by organic forms; inorganic N concentrations remained consistently low in the summer, suggesting increased biological N transformation and N removal. Relationships between N concentration and discharge showed generally weak model fits (r2 values for significant relationships ranging from .33 to .48), and the strength and direction of model fits differed among streams, seasons, and forms of N. Dissolved organic N concentrations were strongly associated with dissolved organic carbon. Nitrogen-to-phosphorus ratios varied among streams but were significantly lower during summer storm events (p < .0001). These results suggest that climate-driven shifts in temperature and precipitation may negatively affect downstream water quality in this region.
2021-05-12T00:00:00ZDifferences in ebullitive methane release from small, shallow ponds present challenges for scaling
https://hdl.handle.net/10680/2112
Differences in ebullitive methane release from small, shallow ponds present challenges for scaling
Baron, A .A. P.; Dyck, L. T.; Amjad, H.; Bragg, J.; Kroft, E.; Newson, J.; Oleson, K.; Casson, N. J.; North, R. L.; Venkiteswaran, J. J.; Whitfield., C. J.
Small, shallow waterbodies are potentially important sites of greenhouse gas release to the atmosphere. The role of ebullition may be enhanced here relative to larger and deeper systems, due to their shallow water, but these features remain relatively infrequently studied in comparison to larger systems.Herein,we quantify ebullitive release ofmethane (CH4) in small shallow ponds in three regions of North America and investigate the role of potential drivers. Shallow ponds exhibited open-water season ebullitive CH4 release rates as high as 40 mmol m–2 d–1, higher than previously reported for similar systems. Ebullitive release of CH4 varied by four orders of magnitude across our 15 study sites, with differences in flux rates both within and between regions. What is less clear are the drivers responsible for these differences. There were few relationships between open water–season ebullitive flux and physicochemical characteristics, including organic matter, temperature, and sulphate. Temperature was only weakly related to ebullitive CH4 release across the studywhen considering all observation intervals. Only four individual sites exhibited significant relationships between temperature and ebullitive CH4 release. Other sites were unresponsive to temperature, and region-specific factors may play a role. There is some evidence that where surface water sulphate concentrations are high, CH4 production and release may be suppressed. Missouri sites (n = 5) had characteristically low ebullitive CH4 release; here bioturbation could be important. While this work greatly expands the number of open-water season ebullition rates for small and shallow ponds, more research is needed to disentangle the role of different drivers. Further investigation of the potential thresholding behaviour of sulphate as a control on ebullitive CH4 release in lentic systems is one such opportunity. What is clear, however, is that efforts to scale emissions (e.g., as a function of temperature) must be undertaken with caution.
2022-01-01T00:00:00ZWhen Jewish settlers farmed in Manitoba
https://hdl.handle.net/10680/2094
When Jewish settlers farmed in Manitoba
Richtik, J. [James]; Hutch, D. [Danny]
Traces the history of Bender Hamlet, a planned agricultural village located in the Interlake (the area between lakes Winnipeg and Manitoba), about 80 km from Winnipeg. The settlement was organized by a land speculator, Jacob Bender, in 1902, and grew and prospered for 20 years before it finally collapsed and disappeared.
1977-01-01T00:00:00ZMore than Talking Heads?!? How do administrative tribunals hear from the public? A report prepared for the Consumers’ Association of Canada – Manitoba Branch
https://hdl.handle.net/10680/2064
More than Talking Heads?!? How do administrative tribunals hear from the public? A report prepared for the Consumers’ Association of Canada – Manitoba Branch
Fitzpatrick, Patricia; Alabi, Babatunde
Consumers and the general public want a say in the decisions which affect them. However, access to meaningful engagement in regulatory decisions is uneven across jurisdictions, as well as across types of tribunals. Scholarship on this subject describes meaningful participation as that which is open to all, is based on reliable data, ensures transparency and accountability, ensures early & ongoing engagement, has potential for participant funding, and is based on the principles of natural justice. But what happens in actual practice? The purpose of this research was to explore how consumers have and can be involved in the decisions which affect them. Specifically, this research: (i) examined how different tribunals implement statutory requirements for public engagement across Canada (ii) explored methods, dynamics, and nature of public engagement programs and, (iii) identified tools for engaging the public.
2021-04-30T00:00:00Z