Article
Food Science & Technology
Toyin Adekanmbi, Xiuquan Wang, Sana Basheer, Rana Ali Nawaz, Tianze Pang, Yulin Hu, Suqi Liu
Summary: Crop yields are adversely affected by climate change, making it crucial to develop climate adaptation strategies for the agriculture system to ensure food security. This study used a potato model to simulate future potato yields in PEI under different climate scenarios and found significant declines in potato yield. Effective climate adaptation measures need to be developed to ensure the long-term sustainability of potato production in PEI.
Article
Plant Sciences
Cindy Hudec, Amy Novinscak, Martin Filion
Summary: This study characterized the genetic and phenotypic diversity of pathogenic Streptomyces spp. causing Common scab (CS) in Prince Edward Island, Canada. Analysis revealed 14 distinct genetic groups, with varying levels of virulence. The most virulent genetic groups seemed to dominate the pathogenic Streptomyces spp. populations in each field, highlighting the importance of understanding population dynamics for managing this potato disease efficiently.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Serban Danielescu, Kerry T. B. MacQuarrie, Bernie Zebarth, Judith Nyiraneza, Mark Grimmett, Mona Levesque
Summary: The global increase in potato production is expected to result in higher irrigation needs, raising concerns about the sustainability of groundwater sources. This study estimated the crop water requirements and irrigation needs for potato production in Prince Edward Island, Canada, and evaluated their impact on aquifer storage. Depending on the efficiency and extent of the irrigation system, the irrigation water supply requirement can approach or exceed the groundwater recharge.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Catherine DeMone, J. Trenton McClure, Spencer J. Greenwood, Rebecca Fung, Mei-Hua Hwang, Zeny Feng, Karen Shapiro
Summary: Food and waterborne protozoan pathogens, including Cryptosporidium parvum, Giardia enterica and Toxoplasma gondii, are a global public health concern. A novel 18S amplicon-based next-generation sequencing assay was used to simultaneously detect protozoan pathogens in wild oysters from Prince Edward Island (PEI), with detection in 28% of oysters tested. Protozoan contamination was not associated with harvesting site classifications, indicating fecal indicators may not be sufficient for ensuring food safety.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FOOD MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Agronomy
Judith Nyiraneza, Yefang Jiang, Tandra D. Fraser
Summary: The study shows that the application of willow chips can improve soil aggregation, respiration, C and N contents in whole soil, and increase plant-available K.
CANADIAN JOURNAL OF PLANT SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Donald E. Jardine, Xiuquan Wang, Adam L. Fenech
Summary: Prince Edward Island in Canada has been affected by rising sea levels and intense storms in recent years, with Post Tropical Storm Dorian causing extensive coastal floods in many areas. The measurement of highwater marks revealed that Dorian reached elevations exceeding 3.4m in some locations, posing threats to local infrastructure and natural features such as sand dunes. Better planning and enhanced storm forecasting could help reduce the impacts of future storms and improve public understanding and preparedness.
Article
Agronomy
Bernie J. Zebarth, Sherry Fillmore, Steve Watts, Ryan Barrett, Louis-Pierre Comeau
Summary: The study in PEI revealed that soil texture plays a major role in potato yield, primarily through improved soil water holding capacity. Soil fertility, organic matter quality, and soil structure also impact yield, while soil pathogens did not show significant differences between high and low yield locations. Using multivariate approaches can help in identifying factors influencing within-field yield variability.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF POTATO RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ahmad Zeeshan Bhatti, Aitazaz Ahsan Farooque, Nicholas Krouglicof, Wayne Peters, Qing Li, Bishnu Acharya
Summary: This study investigates the impacts of climate change on temperatures, precipitations, streamflows, and recharges in different regions of Prince Edward Island. The results show that average annual temperatures are projected to significantly rise in the next few decades, with a potential increase in precipitation in western PEI offsetting further warming impacts. Streamflows and recharges are expected to be affected differently across the regions, with some areas experiencing a decrease. The uncertainty of precipitation between dry and wet years remains a major challenge for water management.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Megan Ross, Kathryn Proudfoot, Katrina Merkies, Ibrahim Elsohaby, Molly Mills, Kathleen Macmillan, Shawn Mckenna, Caroline Ritter
Summary: This research investigated horse owner attitudes and experiences related to horse welfare, finding that horse owners believe that outdoor and group housing is better for horse welfare, but there is disagreement on whether the standard of care for horses in those housing types is better than indoor and individual housing. Owner attitudes correspond with their housing decisions and consider various horse welfare aspects.
Article
Water Resources
Igor Pavlovskii, Yefang Jiang, Serban Danielescu, Barret L. Kurylyk
Summary: The present study investigates the impact of precipitation event magnitude on baseflow and associated groundwater-driven nitrate export in Prince Edward Island, Canada. It reveals a non-linear relationship between precipitation event magnitude and baseflow change, which is also observed for precipitation events associated with hurricanes and post tropical storms. The results show that baseflow increases after heavy precipitation events have limited impact on streamflow concentrations but result in substantial and sustained increase of nitrate export.
HYDROLOGICAL PROCESSES
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
H. Carolyn Peach Brown
Summary: While agriculture contributes to global biodiversity loss, it also provides important habitat for many species. The Canadian Species at Risk Act falls short in protecting species and their habitats on private lands. Research on young farmers in Prince Edward Island shows their positive attitudes towards protecting species at risk and a willingness to change land management strategies, while also calling for more education and financial compensation from the provincial government.
BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Holly D. M. Wilts, David L. Burton, Aitazaz A. Farooque
Summary: Cultivating shrub willow as a strategy for mitigating elevated riparian nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions in agricultural regions has been proposed. The study found that agricultural-riparian Salix significantly reduced N2O emissions, even after high NO3- inputs and precipitation events. The N2O emissions in Salix were reduced by 1.32 kg N2O-N ha(-1) compared to cultivated fields. Additionally, the average cumulative average global warming potential of Salix was 613 kg CO(2)e ha(-1) lower than cultivated fields.
WATER AIR AND SOIL POLLUTION
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Harini Aiyer, Bourlaye Fofana, Tandra Fraser, Claude Caldwell, Andrew McKenzie-Gopsill, Aaron Mills, Adam Foster
Summary: The choice of cover crops significantly influences the composition of soil fungal and bacterial communities, which may have an impact on the health of subsequent crops.
CANADIAN JOURNAL OF MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Harini Aiyer, Bourlaye Fofana, Tandra Fraser, Claude Caldwell, Andrew McKenzie-Gopsill, Aaron Mills, Adam Foster
Summary: Choice of cover crops influences the composition of soil microbial community and may impact subsequent crop health.
CANADIAN JOURNAL OF MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Anne C. Arsenault, Peter M. Foley, Noel P. Clancey
Summary: This paper reports the first documented case of babesiosis caused by Babesia vulpes in a dog from Canada, and describes the successful treatment protocol used.
CANADIAN VETERINARY JOURNAL-REVUE VETERINAIRE CANADIENNE
(2022)