Passerine Exposure to Metal Contaminants from Oilsands Mining in the Athabasca Region of Northeastern Alberta, Canada

atmire.migration.oldid2933
dc.contributor.advisorBarclay, Robert
dc.contributor.advisorSmits, Judit
dc.contributor.authorGodwin, Christine
dc.date.accessioned2015-02-02T22:52:41Z
dc.date.available2015-06-23T07:00:44Z
dc.date.issued2015-02-02
dc.date.submitted2015en
dc.description.abstractI characterized passerine exposure to metals from waste-materials associated with oilsands mining. I measured metal concentrations in whole blood of tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor), Tennessee warblers (Oreothlypis peregrina), and chipping sparrows (Spizella passerina). Additionally, I measured metal concentrations in kidney, liver, and stomach contents of nestling tree swallows, and monitored tree swallow nest success and nestling growth. I identified insects fed to nestlings to understand the influence of diet on metal accumulation in tissues, and collected insects to assess metal levels in available prey. I found high variability in metal concentrations in blood correlated with small blood sample volume, and suggest that blood may not be suitable for monitoring metal contamination in small birds. I found no evidence that metals were elevated in tissues of passerines near oilsands operations. Nest success and nestling growth were influenced by local environmental conditions and not affected by proximity to mining operations.en_US
dc.identifier.citationGodwin, C. (2015). Passerine Exposure to Metal Contaminants from Oilsands Mining in the Athabasca Region of Northeastern Alberta, Canada (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca. doi:10.11575/PRISM/27264en_US
dc.identifier.doihttp://dx.doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/27264
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11023/2053
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisher.facultyGraduate Studies
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Calgaryen
dc.publisher.placeCalgaryen
dc.rightsUniversity of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.
dc.subjectToxicology
dc.subject.classificationTree Swallow Nestlingsen_US
dc.subject.classificationMetal Pollutionen_US
dc.subject.classificationOilsands Miningen_US
dc.subject.classificationChipping Sparrowen_US
dc.subject.classificationTennessee Warbleren_US
dc.subject.classificationEcotoxicologyen_US
dc.titlePasserine Exposure to Metal Contaminants from Oilsands Mining in the Athabasca Region of Northeastern Alberta, Canada
dc.typemaster thesis
thesis.degree.disciplineBiological Sciences
thesis.degree.grantorUniversity of Calgary
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Science (MSc)
ucalgary.item.requestcopytrue
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