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Title: Human Security in World Affairs
Contributors: Alexander Lautensach (editor), Sabina Lautensach (author)
Abstract: This first and only university textbook of human security is intended as an introductory text from senior undergraduate level up, to be used in courses on international studies and relations, political studies, history, human geography, anthropology and human ecology, futures studies, applied social studies, public health, and other fields. Its second, thoroughly revised and updated edition will represent again in a coherent fashion the field of human security and will set it apart from more traditional models of security. Its approach is again deliberately multidisciplinary and transcultural. In addition to a thorough overview of the human security concept, the chapters address problems and opportunities in international law, politics, international relations, human ecology, ethics, law enforcement, development aid, human rights, and public health. The reader is also introduced to specific human security regimes that address human rights violations, peace building and conflict resolution, as well as global environmental governance. The book encourages a vision of the future that acknowledges the certainty of change, extrapolates significant current trends, and questions the values, beliefs and ideals that tend to inform some dominant notions of development. Because of its transdisciplinary approach, the book will appeal to a very wide range of interests at the post-secondary/tertiary level. It will be of particular interest to undergraduate and graduate students and researchers, and also to educators from various disciplines in the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities.
Date added: 2020-09-18T20:56:22.416Z

Title: Strategies for campus sport centre funding
Contributors: Craig Langille (author), Wootae Chun (thesis advisor), Kobby Owusu (committee member), Charles Scott (committee member), Cheryl Wallace (committee member), University of Northern British Columbia (Degree granting institution)
Abstract: Campus Sport Centres are important for university or college to retain and recruit student body, faculty, staff, and community memberships. It is important for these institutions to implement effective strategic plans that meet the needs of customers and stakeholders while remaining financially independent. The study determines how a campus sport centre can become financially self-sustaining without the need of government funding to support the operations of the facility while delivering value to its customers and stakeholders. The study used the Charles Jago Northern Sport Centre (CJNSC) of the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) as the case organization. The strategic priority for the CJNSC is to become a financially self-sustaining facility to cover costs associated with its aging facility. Through the review of secondary data and some primary data, the study identified eight key revenue streams that could be implemented by the CJNSC. These include; 1) increases to the percentage of UNBC student recreation and fitness fees that the CJNSC receives, 2) increased fees to programming and memberships, 3) forming strategic alliances, 4) space utilization, 5) sport tourism planning with seasonality of facility booking space, 6) cancellation fees for memberships, 7) a membership pricing strategy, 8) naming rights. It was determined through the case organization that reducing expenses would not have the long-term benefit for the CJNSC and only existing and new revenues would satisfy the goal of being financially self-sustaining. This information is provided through an integrative framework that could be used as a template or tool by other organizations of similar structure and system as the CJNSC to develop their sports centers for successful outcomes.
Discipline: Business Administration
Date added: 2020-08-18T22:19:04.862Z

Title: Understanding the mental health and well-being impacts of natural resource extraction and development : global perspectives and insights from Terrace, BC.
Contributors: Katherine E. Cornish (author), Margot Parkes (thesis advisor), Henry Harder (committee member), Gail Fondahl (committee member), University of Northern British Columbia (Degree granting institution)
Abstract: This research couples a global scale targeted systematic review with the perspectives and experiences of mental health service providers in Terrace, British Columbia. A targeted systematic review was conducted exploring mental health and well-being impacts of resource extraction globally. Findings informed qualitative interviews with mental health service providers in Terrace, BC. Main themes from service providers are systemic issues in health care, poor access to mental health services for children and youth, mental health risk factors, social determinants of health, and industry’s lasting influence and legacy. Synthesis of the findings from the systematic review and interviews with service providers indicates providers concerns aligned with the global literature. A synthesis combines the two phases of research. Insights from this work suggest a greater consideration of the social and mental health impacts of industrial projects is necessary, and there is need for equitable access to mental health resources for all ages.
Discipline: Health Sciences
Date added: 2020-05-28T20:56:13.185Z

Title: Clinical social work and community practice with children and youth through Carrier Sekani Family Services
Contributors: Jeremy Bissett (author), Joanna Pierce (thesis advisor), Susan Burke (committee member), Trevor Moyah (committee member), University of Northern British Columbia Social Work (Degree granting institution)
Abstract: In this report I weave the practical skills and knowledge I gained from my practicum with Carrier Sekani Family Services (CSFS) with theory related to child and youth mental health. I present human ecology as my grounding conceptual framework in my approach to wellness. I explore theoretical foundations for clinical social work, therapeutic modalities, rurality and cultural diversity through a literature review and build on these to support my practice experience. I include sections on youth mental health, Indigenous issues, ally-ship, trauma informed practice, attachment theory, connectedness, tele-mental health and rural social work practice. Services offered through Carrier Sekani’s counselling program that I have practiced include outreach, assessment, treatment planning, safety planning, referral and discharge. I connect practical experiences of working within Carrier culture as a mental health clinician to the literature and explore how I make sense of the shared and created knowledge.
Discipline: Social Work
Date added: 2020-10-26T21:32:14.805Z

Title: Influence of temperature and precipitation on radial growth properties of hybrid white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) x engelmannii (Parry)) in Central Interior British Columbia, Canada
Contributors: Anastasia Ivanusic (author), Lisa Wood (thesis advisor), Kathy Lewis (thesis advisor), Paul Bicho (committee member), University of Northern British Columbia (Degree granting institution)
Abstract: It is prudent to understand how changes in climate will affect tree-ring growth, wood fibre quality, and percent carbon content in natural and planted stands in central interior British Columbia (BC), as BC produces high volumes of wood fibres that are competitive in a global market. Wood properties within natural and planted stands of hybrid white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) x engelmannii (Parry)) (percent carbon, ring-width, earlywood and latewood width and wood cell properties of cell wall thickness, density, microfibril angle, radial diameter and coarseness) were assessed to determine if climate variation is a limiting growth factor. Results show precipitation is an important limiting factor in planted stand growth with some indication that increasing temperatures limit growth in natural stands. Relationships between climate and percent carbon indicate that rising winter, spring, and summer temperatures coupled with reduced precipitation strongly limit percent carbon accumulation in most natural and planted stands.
Discipline: Natural Resource & Environmental Studies
Date added: 2020-05-28T21:29:52.118Z

Title: Mentalization and interpersonal problems in borderline personality disorder (BPD) traits
Contributors: Melanie Adamsons (author), Heath Matheson (thesis advisor), Caroline Sanders (chair), Annie Duchesne (committee member), Daniel Cox (committee member), Davina Banner (committee member), University of Northern British Columbia Education-Counselling (Degree granting institution)
Abstract: Difficulties in mentalization may be a developmentally based foundation for interpersonal problems in Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). Fonagy and colleagues have developed a theoretical framework whereby relationships between difficulties in mentalization and other core characteristics of BPD (i.e., insecure attachment, intrapersonal emotion dysregulation and identity diffusion) may underlie interpersonal problems. However, most of the published work on these aspects of the framework have been theoretical in nature. The aim of the study was to investigate this framework and extend it by including interpersonal emotion dysregulation. Simple and multiple mediation analyses were performed with a convenience sample of 64 undergraduate students. Results indicated that hypomentalizing mediated the relationship between BPD symptoms and interpersonal problems. No significant mediators were found between insecure attachment and interpersonal problems or between mentalization errors and interpersonal problems. Limitations include the sample size and the lack of a negative emotion induction and recommendations for future research are suggested.
Discipline: Education-Counselling
Date added: 2020-11-24T23:53:15.76Z

Title: Efficient enumeration of small graphlets and orbits
Contributors: Apratim Das (author), Alex Aravind (thesis advisor), Fan Jiang (committee member), Samuel Walters (committee member), Mark Dale (committee member), University of Northern British Columbia (Degree granting institution)
Abstract: As the world is flooded with data, the demand for mining data for useful purposes is increasing. An effective techniques is to model the data as networks (graphs) and then apply graph mining techniques for analysis. As on date, the algorithms available to count graphlets and orbits for various types of graphs and their generalizations are limited. The thesis aims to fill the gap by presenting a simple and efficient algorithm for 3-node graphlet and orbit counting that is generic enough to work for both undirected and directed graphs. Our algorithm is compared with the state-of-art algorithms and we show that in most cases our algorithm performs better. We demonstrate our algorithm in three case studies related to (i) enzyme and metabolite correlation network in corn, (ii) watershed governance networks, and (iii) patterns exhibited by co-expression networks of healthy and cancerous stomach cells.
Discipline: Computer Science
Date added: 2020-05-28T21:03:27.802Z

Title: Removing barriers to environmental action : the impact of personal cap-and-trade systems on individuals’ sense of efficacy and personal responsibility for climate change
Contributors: Louisa Hadley (author), Loraine Lavallee (thesis advisor), Sungchul Choi (committee member), Arthur Freeden (committee member), Jiaying Zhao (committee member), University of Northern British Columbia (Degree granting institution)
Abstract: In complex industrialized societies, it is virtually impossible for individuals to know the environmental impact of their consumption. A personal cap and trade system, which assigns citizens limited, tradable allocations of pollution (e.g., carbon pollution), can link individuals directly to their environmental impact and enable them to chart a path to sustainable living. To explore public reactions to this system, an Amazon Mechanical Turk sample of individuals residing in Canada viewed a video describing either a carbon tax system or a personal cap and trade system. A personal cap and trade system based on allocations of kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalents (kgCO2e) was viewed as significantly more likely than carbon taxes to enable Canadians to reduce their carbon consumption and to live more sustainably. A range of public concerns that might limit support for carbon pricing systems were identified with qualitative analysis of participant comments about the systems.
Discipline: Natural Resources & Environmental Studies
Date added: 2020-05-28T21:17:08.181Z

Title: A holistic approach to capacity building
Contributors: Jennifer Parisian (author), Tina Fraser (thesis advisor), Catherine Whalen (committee member), Gwen Budskin (committee member), University of Northern British Columbia Education-Multidisciplinary Leadership (Degree granting institution)
Abstract: The history of Education in Canada has been systemically and generational destructive to Aboriginal people and culture. This history of destruction has caused systemic racism throughout our school systems resulting in lower graduation rates and a lack of equity in achievement within education resulting in gaps in social-economic disparity for Aboriginal People in Canada (Archibald & Hare, 2017). This research project aims to address a gap in the education of educators in regard to closing the gap and working together for reconciliation. This project provides a framework for a holistic understanding of how to approach working within First Nations communities within the education system or across systems. The result of this project is a guidebook and PowerPoint presentation for professional development. The project provides educational professionals with some tools and knowledge to improve inclusive and culturally sensitive practice. The project delivers a common goal framework conceptualized by the researcher and adapted from a generalized, personal, and interpretative understanding of the Aboriginal Medicine Wheel. The four-part conceptual framework includes leadership, holistic approach, capacity building, and ethical considerations with the common goal in the center. The project brings together the concepts important to achieving the common goal of improving professional capacity when working with Aboriginal People and First Nations communities.
Discipline: Education-Multidisciplinary Leadership
Date added: 2020-11-03T22:59:45.491Z

Title: The Iroquois
Contributors: Michael A. Landry (author), Michel Bouchard (thesis advisor), Earl Henderson (committee member), Siomonn Pulla (committee member), University of Northern British Columbia (Degree granting institution)
Abstract: This thesis will posit that the Iroquois migrations into the Northwest and Oregon Territories are misunderstood in their interactions amongst both the Indigenous and frontiersmen. By Iroquois we specifically mean the French-speaking and Catholic Iroquois who settled in New France in Sault St. Louis (1680), Lac des Deux-Montagnes (1717) and in 1755 when the St. Régis Mission was established. After 150 years of acculturation (1650s to 1800s), these Iroquois had become a hybrid culture with a syncretic Catholicism. The Iroquois immigrated to the Saskatchewan River in 1799 to escape ‘improvements of civilization’ in the east and to follow the mode of life of their forefathers. Peter Fidler’s three versions of the Chesterfield House incident, where 14 Iroquois and 2 Canadiens were killed, will be analyzed to provide a new understanding of the role of the Iroquois as central actors in the fur trade rivalries.
Discipline: Interdisciplinary Studies
Date added: 2020-08-18T15:58:50.417Z

Title: White spruce growth sensitivity to climate variability in pure and mixedwood stands
Contributors: Jéssica Chaves Cardoso (author), Che Elkin (thesis advisor), Paul Sanborn (committee member), Sybille Haeussler (committee member), University of Northern British Columbia (Degree granting institution)
Abstract: I studied how microclimate variables influence the growth of white spruce trees (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) in pure and mixedwood stands in north-eastern British Columbia. My key finding is that stand composition and structure are essential determinants of how spruce radial growth and sap flow respond to fluctuations in climate variables. A combination of warmer temperatures and drought during summer will negatively affect white spruce trees growth in pure and mixedwood stands in the studied region. Spruce sap flow in both stand types is likely to increase as the climate warms, increasing the demand for soil water. White spruce growing in mixedwood stands might be more sensitive to drought stress than in pure stands due to the higher competition for limiting resources (primarily water). I provide information that will be useful in modeling and managing these stands across western Canada under current and future climate conditions.
Discipline: Natural Resources & Environmental Studies
Date added: 2020-05-28T20:41:31.241Z

Title: Working smarter not harder
Contributors: Jana Baker (author), Tina Fraser (thesis advisor), Christine Ho Younghusband (committee member), Gerald Fussell (committee member), University of Northern British Columbia Education-Special Education (Degree granting institution)
Abstract: Classrooms are becoming increasingly diverse and the need for effective inclusive strategies is becoming more pronounced. Including students with exceptionalities into general classrooms is becoming the norm, however effective strategies are necessary to facilitate meaningful inclusion rather than superficial sharing of space. This need is especially true in content areas such as science. In these classes, students with exceptionalities tend to complete alternative programs in a resource room or have poor learning experiences in class. This project contains a content analysis of inclusive strategies and presents inclusive teaching resources that can help inclusion in middle school science classes. The strategies surveyed are research-based strategies that a teacher can implement in a general middle school science class. The strategies include technology, collaboration, universal design for learning (UDL), differentiated instruction (DI), strategy instruction, peer assisted learning, behaviour supports, and teacher practices. The strategies were analysed from the point of view of a learning support and science teacher for effectiveness in a middle school science class. A directed literature review was completed to more deeply examine strategies chosen for the teaching resources. Teaching resources were created and included with this project. The teaching resources were designed using universal design for learning (UDL) and other strategies from the content analysis.
Discipline: Education-Special Education
Date added: 2020-11-23T23:14:13.802Z

Title: The role of social worker at Ngāti Awa Social and Health Services
Contributors: Christopher Severight (author), Glen Schmidt (thesis advisor), Susan Burke (committee member), University of Northern British Columbia (Degree granting institution)
Abstract: The intention of this practicum report is to provide a further understanding of the social worker’s role at Ngāti Awa Social and Health Services in Whakatāne, New Zealand. Ngāti Awa Social and Health Services provided me with a unique learning opportunity to explore the importance of a Māori framework within their programs on a rotational basis such as: Iwi Social Services, Rangiatea (i.e. Teen Parent Unit), and Te Waipuna Ariki o Matangireia ECE (i.e. Early Child Education). This report will provide an emphasis and understanding of the importance of incorporating Māori culture, and teachings within their agency framework at Ngāti Awa Social and Health Services. This practicum was a unique venture to be included as part of the Cross-Cultural Indigenous Knowledge Exchange (CCIKE) program. The practicum was only possible with multiple organizations coming together to consult, collaborate, and communicate. The following organizations were involved: University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC), UNBC First Nations Department, Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi, UNBC Master of Social Work program, and Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Scholarship. This practicum opportunity represented the first collaboration with the Master of Social Work program and the Māori organizations. This experience allowed me to set specific learning goals in the following areas: professional practice, education development, cultural competency, cross-cultural experience, the ability to challenge oneself (i.e. out of my own comfort zone), and be an active participant in cultural events. This report will include a detailed description of the agency, theoretical frameworks/model, observations, research, critical reflection, hands-on experience, and an understanding of how Māori integrated programming improves health outcomes for Māori Whānau.
Discipline: Social Work
Date added: 2020-08-13T21:27:42.994Z

Title: A business case for a data-driven decision-making tool to support the UNBC research enterprise.
Contributors: Mark Barnes (author), Kafui Monu (thesis advisor), Julius Bankole (committee member), Cheryl Wallace (committee member), University of Northern British Columbia Business Administration (Degree granting institution)
Abstract: Business intelligence tools allows for data-driven decision-making within organizations using historical events to predict future trends, which is especially valuable when allocating operational resources. As a research-intensive Canadian university, UNBC has seen a significant increase in activities related to supporting the research enterprise, which requires additional resources (human, capital, financial etc.) in order to effectively and efficiently advance the mission of the research community. As outlined in our Annual University Accountability Report, 2018/19 was an incredibly productive year for research with more than $14 million received in support of research. The University has seen a significant increase in the number and breadth of agencies and organizations funding research at UNBC. The administration of research awards involves both pre-award and post-award processes, which requires responsible allocation of available resources to ensure a sustainable model will be developed to achieve goals outlined by the institution’s strategic priorities and build the foundation to reach our goal of a research enterprise generating $25M in annual research revenue. Therefore, using business intelligence tools to utilize historical data to predict the necessary resourcing needs of the institution will allow UNBC to make strategic investments in research and remain competitive on the provincial, national and international stage. Informed decision-making when investing resources are critical to the success of any business. The goal of my MBA project is to gather critical information to be used in the development a data visualization and forecasting tool that will allow for informed decisions for the allocation of resources necessary to support the research mission at UNBC. The objectives of the MBA project are two-fold, which include the development of the business case for the UNBC data visualization tool (DVT) and also the completion of a design document. The information gathered6 from this project will be used in the future (post-MBA) to develop a data visualization tool that will allow for the on-going monitoring of UNBC’s progress towards putting in place the appropriate resources to reach $25M in annual research revenue. Specifically, the MBA project will consist of completing a comprehensive business case outlining the “business need” and potential solutions. Secondly, the MBA project will consist of developing a “design document” for an eventual tool that will be used to visualize research funding and labor information to inform business decisions for resource planning for the UNBC research enterprise. This design support system will be used by senior leadership within UNBC to effectively and efficiently make decisions to allocate resources.
Discipline: Business Administration
Date added: 2020-10-23T22:16:30.125Z

Title: A spatio-temporal analysis of trends in Northern Hemisphere seasonal snow-cover, 1971-2017
Contributors: Michael Ian Allchin (author), Stephen Dery (thesis advisor), Brian Menounos (committee member), Roger Wheate (committee member), Richard Kelly (committee member), Dezene Huber (committee member), University of Northern British Columbia (Degree granting institution)
Abstract: Seasonal snow-cover (SSC) substantially alters surface physical properties over the Northern Hemisphere (NH). It modulates processes within the energy and water cycles, thereby influencing climatology, hydrology, geomorphology and ecology. In spring and summer, snowmelt provides an essential resource for humankind. The identification, quantification and explanation of changing spatial and temporal distributions of SSC helps to predict future impacts on natural and human environments, and informs development of mitigation and adaptation strategies. Because SSC is spatially and temporally heterogeneous, meaningful estimation of trends in its distribution and duration is dependent on long records of remotely-sensed imagery. The Rutgers University Global Snow Laboratory and the United States’ National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration provide the longest such archive (NOAA-Rutgers Snow Archive, NRSA), dating from 1966. However, several studies have raised questions about the credibility of the signs and magnitudes of trends derived from the NRSA, suggesting that they may be artifacts of technological improvements introduced in 1999. This dissertation improves the spatial resolution at which NH SSC extent and duration trends during the NRSA’s longest continuous section (since 1971) are reported, building on previous hemispheric and continental studies. It demonstrates that the magnitudes of area-related trends are sensitive to assumptions adopted when estimating SSC extent from the NRSA, and that these sensitivities vary spatially. The study assesses whether temporal trajectories of SSConset trends imply abrupt changes in 1999, particularly over more complex terrain, and finds no evidence of this. It also explores the broader climatological contexts of these trends, together with estimated departures from mean conditions. Evidence is presented at monthly intervals for causative chains linking advection of mid-tropospheric warming from lower to higher latitudes, consequent inception of climatologically novel airflows, and the incidence of significant SSConset trends of both signs. Earlier onset of snow-dominated conditions is found to be driven by augmented moisture advected from lower latitudes (in eastern Eurasia) or zonally from oceanic sources (in North America) over regional monthly mean 0°C isotherms. Delayed onset is associated with drier or warmer airflows. These findings support the interpretation that the NRSA-based trends are plausible within their spatial and temporal contexts.
Discipline: Natural Resources & Environmental Studies
Date added: 2020-05-27T22:24:31.691Z

Title: Assessing offshore wind power resources in British Columbia
Contributors: Talaat Bakri (author), Peter Jackson (author), Erik Jensen (chair), Stephen Dery (committee member), Ken Otter (committee member), William Perrie (committee member), Peter Taylor (committee member), University of Northern British Columbia Natural Resources & Environmental Studies (Degree granting institution)
Abstract: Wind resources are investigated and estimated offshore of the northern and central coasts of British Columbia, Canada. Remote sensing-based wind speed observations from a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) mounted on the Canadian RADARSAT-2 satellite are used for mapping offshore winds. In addition, in-situ wind speed observations extracted from several buoys distributed in the study region are used to analyze the temporal and spatial wind speed variations in relation to wind power generation. Sustained winds above several wind turbine thresholds are analyzed and values of 50-yr and 100-yr return extreme wind speed levels are calculated. The wind variability analysis suggests few interruptions to power generation by either very low wind speeds or extreme wind speed events with high spatial variability between offshore areas and sites located within the coastal mountains. The SAR wind speed fields are characterized by a high spatial resolution but cover a period of less than 2.5 years with a random temporal availability. The SAR fields are extrapolated to reanalysis long-term wind fields that are available over a climatological time period with a sub-daily temporal resolution but a coarse spatial resolution. The extrapolation procedure is developed by applying a statistical downscaling model and a bias-based correction method. Wind fields from both methods are validated against the in-situ observations from buoys. The extrapolated wind fields are used for mapping offshore winds by creating a robust wind climatology that represents the mesoscale wind variance as well as the diurnal wind variability. This wind climatology is used to calculate the wind statistics and power density, in addition to estimate offshore wind resources. Viable areas for wind power development are defined by using high resolution bathymetric data and considering the general environmental and ecological constraints in the region. The estimated offshore wind resource energy using only theiv determined viable areas is found to resemble a large portion of the current total power generation in British Columbia. Most suitable areas for offshore wind farms are determined by developing criteria based on a combination of the turbine tower technology, water depth zoning and power density values.
Discipline: Natural Resources & Environmental Studies
Date added: 2020-12-03T22:02:12.053Z

Title: Managing old-growth forests for multiple ecosystem services
Contributors: Luizmar de Assis Barros (author), Ché Elkin (thesis advisor), Oscar Venter (thesis advisor), Roger Wheate (committee member), University of Northern British Columbia (Degree granting institution)
Abstract: Old-growth forest reserves offer the potential to facilitate the maintenance of multiple ecosystem services (ES), such as carbon storage, water and recreation, in managed landscapes. However, substantial challenges exist with regard to defining and identifying old-growth forests, and suitably locating priority areas for old-growth conservation. To address these issues, I developed a structure-based old-growth index using field and LiDAR metrics that allowed old-growth values to be estimated at a fine grain across a landscape. I then used a spatial prioritization tool to simulate old-growth reserves for multiple ESs. Using this framework I evaluated trade-offs between forest ESs including timber. This thesis contributes to the management of old-growth forests by providing a quantitative and repeatable framework to identify, assess and monitor old-growth values while indicating the scope for the establishment of old-growth reserves for multiple ESs.
Discipline: Natural Resources & Environmental Studies
Date added: 2020-05-28T19:54:19.361Z

Title: Anthropogenic activities contribute to changes in forest cover in the shale oil and gas region of Northeastern British Columbia
Contributors: Joseph Oduro Appiah (author), Christopher Opio (thesis advisor), Oscar Venter (committee member), Derek Sattler (committee member), Shanon Donnelly (committee member), University of Northern British Columbia (Degree granting institution)
Abstract: The boreal forest ecosystems have been changing due to varying levels of anthropogenic land use processes such as logging, oil and gas activities, and agriculture. However, the cumulative impacts of these processes are likely to lead to a lasting degradation of the boreal forest ecosystem; and thus, contributing to environmental change. In this study, methods from Landscape Ecology, GIS, and remote sensing were used to process Landsat images and spatial data for shale gas infrastructure. These datasets and methods were used for measuring and assessing the forest change pattern in a study area in northeastern British Columbia (BC). The results of the study show that gross loss (5.98%) of coniferous forest cover in the timber harvest land base (THLB) is higher than the rate of gross loss (3.22%) of the coniferous forest cover in the area outside the THLB. However, the rate of net loss in coniferous forest cover is smaller in the THLB than that of outside the THLB (net loss THLB=0.6%; net loss non-THLB=1.7%). These dynamics in forest cover suggest that it is more likely for forest cover to regenerate much faster in the THLB than outside the THLB. The quantity of forest cover loss (0.163%) from shale oil and gas well pads development is more than the amount of forest loss from shale oil and gas access roads (0.017%) and pipeline development (0.057%). A higher amount of forest fragmentation is associated with periods and locations that have a high amount of anthropogenic-induced land classes in the landscape. These results of the study could serve as the information for modelling land change and fragmentation in the future. The finding from this study could assist land managers in the allocation of land uses across space as well as the formulation of effective and efficient policy frameworks and management initiatives.
Discipline: Natural Resources & Environmental Studies
Date added: 2020-05-28T19:43:31.178Z

Title: Pacific marten (Martes caurina) as an apex predator : the habitat and diet ecology of an insular population of mesocarnivore on Haida Gwaii
Contributors: David Norman Breault (author), Christopher Johnson (thesis advisor), Michael Gillingham (committee member), Melissa Todd (committee member), University of Northern British Columbia (Degree granting institution)
Abstract: Pacific marten (Martes caurina) may benefit from invasive or non-native species that occur across some coastal areas of the Pacific Northwest. I used remote-camera trapping and stable-isotopes of carbon and nitrogen to infer resource-use strategies of marten on Haida Gwaii, British Columbia, Canada. Marten are more likely to be detected in 3 ha patches with less logging and optimal amounts of road and forest edge habitat, and areas close to marine shorelines and streams. Findings from bulk carbon and nitrogen stable-isotope analysis suggest that terrestrial fauna, including birds, deer, small mammals, and invertebrates, contribute the most to diet; marine invertebrates are the second-most important prey group. Marten consume salmon and berries seasonally, but these are a relatively minor component of the diet. Knowledge of habitat and diet ecology of this generalist, apex predator should be integrated into ecosystem-based management and conservation of the globally rare old-growth forests that remain relatively intact on Haida Gwaii.
Discipline: NRES-Biology
Date added: 2020-05-28T20:26:57.525Z

Title: Performance of glued-in-rod connections in cross-laminated timber
Contributors: Ayansola Gbenga Solomon (author), Thomas Tannert (thesis advisor), Mark Gehloff (chair), Asif Iqbal (committee member), Marjan Popovski (committee member), Y.H. Chui (committee member), University of Northern British Columbia Natural Resources & Environmental Studies (Degree granting institution)
Abstract: The widespread availability of Cross-laminated timber (CLT) provides opportunities to extend the use of wood beyond traditional low-rise residential construction. Glued-in rods (GiR) are an interesting technical solution for numerous structural applications in timber engineering. Although GiR connections have the potential to be used in combination with CLT, research on this application is scarce. In this thesis, an experimental investigation on the performance of GiR in CLT is presented. Two different 5-ply CLT panel thicknesses (139 and 175 mm), two steel rod diameters (d = 12.7 and 19.1 mm) and five different anchorage lengths (la = 6d, 10d, 12d, 14d and 18d) were considered in single and multiple rod connections. A total of 260 specimens were fabricated and subsequently tested under uni-axial quasi-static monotonic tension. The results were assessed in terms of load-carrying capacity, stiffness and failure modes and demonstrated that GiR in CLT offer an alternative high capacity timber connection.
Discipline: Natural Resources & Environmental Studies
Date added: 2020-11-24T23:27:29.14Z

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