Evaluating Ecological Restoration Outcomes for Oil Sand Disturbances on Peatland: Linking Ecosystem Structure and Function

评估泥炭地油砂扰动的生态恢复成果：将生态系统结构和功能联系起来

• 批准号: 502331-2016
• 负责人: Dambrowitz, Christopher
• 金额: $ 3.22万
• 依托单位: Northern Alberta Institute of Technology
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Applied Research and Development Grants - Level 2
• 财政年份: 2018
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2018-01-01 至 2019-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=648569
• 关键词: Evaluating; Ecological; Restoration; Outcomes; Oil

Oil sands extraction results in widespread ecosystem disturbance across Canada's boreal forest, including the**construction of well-sites. At least 84,000 ha of well-site disturbance are present in the region; given that 30%**of the region consists of peatland, many of these well-sites have been constructed in peatland ecosystems.**Despite the introduction of peatland reclamation criteria for well-sites and associated infrastructure (e.g., access**roads, pipelines, etc.) by the Province of Alberta, ecological restoration methods for well-sites remain**inefficient. Therefore, the energy sector is faced with the challenge of developing and employing innovative**peatland restoration techniques to meet regulatory requirements and recreate functioning ecosystems. The**proposed research program will evaluate a variety of peatland restoration techniques for oil sand well-site**disturbances on peatland for their ability to meet provincially set reclamation criteria. In addition, a range of**ecosystem functions, including hydrologic regulation, biodiversity support, chemical conditions, peatland**accumulation and greenhouse gas exchange, will be assessed and compared to rates in regional undisturbed**peatlands as a reference. The congruence between the structure of the vegetation community and the ecosystem**function can then be assessed. Results from the study will inform best management practices for peatland**well-site restoration, improve the environmental performance of the energy sector, and help ensure the**long-term health of Canada's boreal forest.

油砂的提取导致整个加拿大北方森林的广泛生态系统干扰，包括**建造良好的井。该地区至少有84,000公顷的良好位置干扰；鉴于该地区的30％**由泥炭地组成，因此许多这些井的生态系统已在泥炭地生态系统中建造。因此，能源部门面临着开发和采用创新**泥炭地恢复技术以满足监管要求并重新创建功能性生态系统的挑战。 **建议的研究计划将评估各种油砂井的泥炭地恢复技术**对Peatland的干扰，以满足省级设定的开垦标准。此外，将评估一系列**生态系统功能，包括水文调节，生物多样性支持，化学条件，泥炭地**积累和温室气体交换，并将其与区域不受干扰的** peatlands的速率进行比较。然后可以评估植被社区与生态系统的结构之间的一致性。这项研究的结果将为泥炭地**良好的恢复，改善能源部门的环境绩效，并帮助确保加拿大北方森林的长期健康。