Anthropogenic microparticle content in the intertidal sediment and Mya arenaria in the Bay of Fundy region
| dc.contributor.advisor | Hunt, Heather | |
| dc.contributor.author | Beardy, Krista Leigh | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2025-09-25T16:56:27Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2025-09-25T16:56:27Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2025-06 | |
| dc.description.abstract | Anthropogenic microparticles can affect marine wildlife and may have negative impacts on both health and habitat. My thesis assessed microparticle distribution in intertidal sediments and the potential for biological uptake in the bivalve Mya arenaria at 23 sites in the Bay of Fundy. Microparticles were separated and quantified from bivalve tissue and sediment. Bivalve microparticle content was compared to tissue weight and adjacent sediment content. Bivalve and sediment microparticle content was examined in relation to site-level characteristics: organic and carbonate content, grain size, visible debris, proximity to potential sources of pollution, region, and tidal range. Spectroscopic analysis was performed on a subset of sediment microparticles, showing a visual-identification success rate of 20%. While no significant relationship was observed between the microparticle content in bivalves and that in sediment, a negative relationship was observed with bivalve size. A weak positive relationship was observed between bivalve content and distance to potential sources. | |
| dc.description.copyright | © Krista Beardy, 2025 | |
| dc.format.extent | ix, 65 | |
| dc.format.medium | electronic | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://unbscholar.lib.unb.ca/handle/1882/38391 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.publisher | University of New Brunswick | |
| dc.rights | http://purl.org/coar/access_right/c_abf2 | |
| dc.subject.discipline | Biology | |
| dc.title | Anthropogenic microparticle content in the intertidal sediment and Mya arenaria in the Bay of Fundy region | |
| dc.type | master thesis | |
| oaire.license.condition | other | |
| thesis.degree.discipline | Biology | |
| thesis.degree.grantor | University of New Brunswick | |
| thesis.degree.level | masters | |
| thesis.degree.name | M.Sc. |