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AlgomaU Repository publishes and preserves the scholarly work of Algoma University faculty and students. It is a space created by Algoma University Libraries to support the dissemination of knowledge created at Algoma University and its communities.

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Faculty and Staff Works 0
Works by any staff member, including faculty, librarians, and archivists.
Graduate Student Works 3
Scholarly works by graduate students, including theses and dissertations.
Nordik Institute 26
NORDIK Institute promotes more vibrant, caring and sustainable communities through research, dialogue, analysis, reflection and cultivating talent dedicated to the practice of holistic community development.
Undergraduate Student Works 0
Scholarly works by undergraduate students.

Recent Submissions

Access status: Open Access ,
An analysis of ecological succession, microbial communities, and plant responses to guide reuse and restoration of steel slag substrates; case studies from Algoma Steel Inc.
(Algoma Univeristy, 2025-12-12) Clark, Quincy L.
Steelmaking operations generate large deposits of steel slag; a highly alkaline, metal-rich, and nutrient-poor substrate, with very low water-holding capacity. These conditions limit early plant establishment and microbial colonization, yet slag deposits also undergo progressive weathering and biological development over time. Understanding plant-fungal interactions across different stages of slag development is critical for evaluating its potential use in ecological restoration and as a soil amendment. To assess how fungal communities respond to slag weathering, I characterized slag chemistry and fungal assemblages at “young” (<5 years) and “old” (>30 years) slag deposits at Algoma Steel Inc. I hypothesized that older slag would exhibit reduced alkalinity, greater organic matter accumulation, and increased representation of mutualistic fungal guilds. Within-site (alpha) diversity did not differ at either slag site, but fungal community composition shifted with slag age. Young slag was dominated by stress-tolerant groups, whereas old slag supported more functionally diverse communities enriched in mycorrhizal fungi. These results demonstrate that weathering and organic inputs gradually reduce abiotic constraints, allowing more complex plant–microbe interactions. I then conducted a greenhouse experiment to test how slag concentration, sterility, and fertilizer application affect plant performance and belowground symbioses. Using romaine lettuce (Lactuca sativa) as a model species, I hypothesized that moderate slag concentrations, when paired with nutrient supplementation, would improve plant growth, while high slag concentrations would suppress it due to alkalinity, micronutrient imbalance, and low water retention. Plants grown in 10–30% slag with half-strength Hoagland’s solution showed substantial increases in biomass and height, whereas those grown in 100% slag exhibited severely reduced growth, very low water-holding capacity and near complete loss of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal colonization. Overall, slag suitability for plant growth depends strongly on its degree of weathering, physical characteristics, and nutrient availability Weathered slag and low-percentage slag-soil mixtures, particularly when supplemented with balanced fertilizers, can support plant establishment and microbial symbioses, informing both ecological understanding and applied restoration practices.
Access status: Open Access ,
Effect of lampricide exposure on olfaction and stress physiology in juvenile lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens)
(Algoma University, 2025-12-01) Monteiro, Michelle
Freshwater ecosystems are facing increasing pressures from invasive species, habitat alteration, and chemical pollutants. In the Laurentian Great Lakes, lampricides have been used for decades to suppress invasive sea lamprey, and the sea lamprey program is widely credited as a critical component of the recovery and maintenance of native fisheries. However, the application of these chemicals in nursery streams also creates potential risk for non-target species of conservation concern, such as lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens), whose early life stages often overlap spatially and temporally with treatment zones. While young-of-the-year (YOY) sturgeon have been shown to exhibit functional impairments following lampricide exposure, the vulnerability of older juveniles remains unclear. To address this gap, I investigated whether short-term exposure to TFM or a TFM with 1% niclosamide mixture affects olfactory sensitivity or stress physiology in yearling (age 1+) lake sturgeon. I exposed fish for either 30 minutes or 12 hours and evaluated responses immediately after exposure and following a six-day recovery period. I measured plasma cortisol and glucose concentrations to evaluate baseline endocrine function, responsiveness to handling stress, and post exposure patterns over time. I used electro-olfactography to assess activation of microvillous and ciliated olfactory sensory neurons using L-alanine and taurocholic acid as stimuli. I found no treatment-related effects on baseline cortisol, cortisol responsiveness, circulating glucose, or stress-induced glucose, indicating that endocrine and energetic function remained intact under the exposure conditions used in this study. I also observed no reductions in EOG amplitudes, suggesting that peripheral olfactory sensitivity was not impaired. In contrast to YOY sturgeon, my results indicate that yearling lake sturgeon may have greater physiological tolerance to lampricide exposure, particularly under moderate alkalinity and near-neutral pH conditions. Overall, my research adds to a growing body of literature that collectively demonstrates that non-target vulnerability to lampricides is strongly influenced by life stage, physiological development, and environmental context, and contributes evidence that can improve life-stage-specific risk assessment and conservation planning for lake sturgeon.
Access status: Open Access ,
An analysis of ecological conditions and release procedures to guide reintroduction efforts for the Eastern Sand Darter (Ammocrypta pellucida) in Canada
(Algoma University, 2025-08-03) Gouge, Adam
To address recent losses in freshwater biodiversity, reintroductions are becoming increasingly common as a tool for the conservation and rehabilitation of target species. As historically underrepresented approaches for fishes, many reintroduction projects have been unable to establish self-sustaining populations, due at least in part to an underappreciation of the stressors associated with the reintroduction process. Two elements that have a measurable influence on the probability of successful outcomes in reintroduction programs are the ecological conditions of the release habitat and the transport and release methods employed. The Eastern Sand Darter (Ammocrypta pellucida) is a small, benthic freshwater fish species that is threatened in parts of its range in Canada, and reintroduction has been proposed as a key component of its recovery strategy. To support the reintroduction of this species to Big Otter Creek in Ontario, Canada, I first assessed the environmental conditions and fish community assemblage along the length of Big Otter Creek to characterize reintroduction habitat. By considering factors known to influence Eastern Sand Darter persistence, including substrate composition and the presence of invasive species, I was able to identify a set of release sites that are likely to provide the best conditions for establishment. I then analyzed the influence of a simulated transport event on behaviour, and investigated whether the provision of in-river acclimation (i.e., soft-release) enclosures can promote recovery from transport stress. I found that transport stress did not influence behaviours related to activity level, space use, substrate preference, burrowing activity, response to a simulated predator, or swimming performance. I also found no differences in behaviour between control (non-transported) fish and those held in soft-release enclosures for 24- or 48-hours after transport. Some behaviours, however, differed between seasons (summer vs. fall). I conclude that Eastern Sand Darter may be behaviourally resilient to the effects of transport, particularly when conditions are ideal, and that traditional release methods with no acclimation period (i.e., hard-release) may be suitable for this species. Overall, my thesis contributes knowledge directly to reintroduction planning for the Eastern Sand Darter, while also more generally providing information on behaviour and responses to transport stress in conservation-relevant, small-bodied fishes.
Access status: Open Access ,
Urban Aboriginal Economic Development in Sault Ste. Marie: Environmental Scan
(Nordik Institute, 2008-05-01) Rice, Derek; Brodie, Ian; Waboose, Natalie
In 2009, a ‘learning circle’ methodology was used to develop an Environmental Scan on Urban Aboriginal Economic Development (UAED) for Sault Ste. Marie. The Environmental Scan explores the history of UAED and its current context in this locale. While educational initiatives such as the Aboriginal Apprenticeship Centre and Aboriginal specialized programs and services offered at Algoma University, Shingwauk University and Sault College are positively impacting low educational attainment levels in Sault Ste. Marie,; along with the positive efforts contributed by the Indian Friendship Centre and Métis Nation of Ontario in filling in the service gaps of mainstream organizations, more Aboriginal specific services that meet the cultural and social needs of the urban Aboriginal community need to be provided by mainstream organizations. Collectively, the urban Aboriginal economy can grow in Sault Ste. Marie.
Access status: Open Access ,
Tourism in Northern Ontario: 2021 Survey Results for Visitors & Operators
(Nordik Institute, 2008-05-01) Aziz, Dr. Nusrate; Rimi, Dr. Tamanna; Meades, Dr. Sean; Slater, Graham
As part of the Northern Ontario Tourism Development and Recovery Strategy in the Face of the COVID-19 Pandemic study, which sought to understand how tourism-based economies have grown under both normal circumstances, two surveys were conducted to identify the strengths and barriers to growth of the tourism industry. With one survey focused on the experiences of visitors to the region and the other focused on the experiences of tourism-related enterprises, the surveys were conducted from April to May 30, 2021, and focused on the preceding 12 months’ of respondents’ experiences. This study was conducted with the support of Algoma University’s Institutional Grant from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.