DalSpace Institutional Repository

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Now showing 1 - 10 of 19

Recent Submissions

Access status: Open Access ,
Managing invasive species in Nova Scotia: public perceptions of smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) retention in the Margaree Valley
(2025-12) Addis, Sinead
Freshwater ecosystems, dynamic and complex environments rich with biodiversity, are threatened by aquatic invasive species. In Nova Scotia, smallmouth bass is a well-known aquatic invasive species found in over half of the province’s watersheds. In an attempt to reduce the spread of smallmouth bass populations, in 2024, the Provincial Government implemented a mandatory retention order in the Margaree River watershed, Cape Breton. The effectiveness of such management efforts often hinges on public acceptance and compliance; however, the degree to which anglers and the community are accepting of and complying with the retention order is unknown. This study explores local perceptions of the retention order by utilizing semi-structured and structured interviews guided by Ostrom’s social-ecological systems framework. The results indicate that support for mandatory retention as a management strategy was strong, although not universal. The retention order was viewed as a tool that could help support and maintain ecosystem balance by reducing smallmouth bass biomass in the watershed, thereby benefiting native species. Yet the order was simultaneously criticized both for its rushed implementation and lack of stakeholder engagement. It was also criticized for being implemented too late after the initial introduction of the species to the region, limiting its ability to have any real impact on the population. Importantly, social and ecological variables were interconnected by moral value conflicts, where personal values often conflicted with conservation goals. This research provides valuable insights for developing effective invasive species management plans and underscores the importance of incorporating human dimensions into biological invasion research and management decisions.
Access status: Open Access ,
CULTURAL ADAPTATIONS OF DEVELOPMENTAL INTERVENTIONS AND NATURALISTIC DEVELOPMENTAL BEHAVIOURAL INTERVENTIONS FOR PRESCHOOLERS WITH AUTISM
(2026-03-13) Hamodat, Teba; No; Doctor of Philosophy; Department of Psychology and Neuroscience; Received; Dr. Kathy Leadbitter; Yes; Dr. Sean P. Mackinnon; Dr. Ana Maria Gonzalez-Barrero; Dr. Isabel M. Smith
Developmental Interventions (DIs) and Naturalistic Developmental Behavioural Interventions (NDBIs) for preschoolers with autism are typically delivered by caregivers in the context of play or daily routines to amplify children’s social communication gains. Cross-cultural differences exist in caregivers’ expectations of these programs, parent-child engagement styles, and play preferences, which may necessitate modification of existing DIs/NDBIs to suit diverse families’ needs. Stirman et al. (2013, 2019) developed the Framework for Reporting Adaptations and Modifications- Enhanced (FRAME), which captures content, contextual, and training and evaluation modifications to evidence-based interventions. In this three-part study, we examined the ways in which DIs/NDBIs have been or can be modified to suit the needs of cultural groups using the FRAME. Manuscript 1 details the findings of our scoping review. Forty-one studies detailed culturally adapting a DI/NDBI spanning 17 countries. Findings provide examples of the various ways in which researchers/clinicians have modified these interventions, most frequently describing modifications to intervention content, context, and staff training. We also coded the goals and rationales for implementing these adaptations. To further enhance our understanding of cultural adaptations, we disseminated a series of questionnaires to experts globally to discern ways in which DIs/NDBIs have been, or should be, adapted for cultural groups. We used the Delphi technique to establish consensus among experts regarding the importance of these adaptations. Many themes overlapped with our scoping review findings, including the importance of adapting intervention materials and packaging. Building on these findings, Study 3, described in Chapter 5, showcases the development and evaluation of an NDBI knowledge translation tool for Arabic-speaking families. Clinicians and caregivers made positive reflections regarding the infographic during its development. Overall, this dissertation sought to offer ways that researchers and clinicians may modify DIs/NDBIs to better suit the cultural needs of families they serve. Numerous examples obtained in this dissertation research showcased the breadth of modifications to consider. More empirical assessments of adapted interventions would further enhance our understanding of, and need for, cultural adaptations.
Access status: Open Access ,
Becoming the Other: Political Structures and Migrant Dehumanization in Rawi Hage’s Cockroach
(2026-03) Cassidy Thrower
Access status: Open Access ,
Intimacy and sexual well-being in couples coping with Sexual Interest/Arousal Disorder: The importance of perceived partner responsiveness
(2025) Perrier Léonard, D.; Rosen, N. O.; Bigras, N.; Massé-Pfister, M.-M.; Bergeron, S.
Access status: Embargo ,
Attachment insecurity mediates the associations between childhood trauma and duration of emotions during a laboratory-based sexual conflict discussion among couples
(2025) Bigras, N.; Rosen, N. O.; Dubé, J. P.; Daspe, M.-E.; Bosisio, M.; Peloquin, K.; Bergeron, S.
Access status: Open Access ,
Love and loss: Perinatal grief and couples’ sexual well-being after pregnancy loss
(2025) Allsop, D. A.; Nesbitt-Daly, K.; Cockwell, H.; Péloquin, K.; Rosen, N. O.