From Dirt to Peat: How Reclamation Strategies Impact the Establishment of Peat Accumulation Function on Mineral Features within the Boreal Peatlands of Alberta (re-submission)

从泥土到泥炭：复垦策略如何影响阿尔伯塔省北方泥炭地矿物特征泥炭积累功能的建立（重新提交）

• 批准号: 556188-2020
• 负责人: Bajic, Jelena
• 金额: $ 5.46万
• 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: 2021
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2021-01-01 至 2022-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=722494
• 关键词: Dirt; Peat; How; Reclamation; Strategies

In Canada, peatlands are terrains covered by >40 cm of peat, which is an organic material formed andaccumulated in place due to incomplete decay of plants and mosses under water-saturated conditions. Thirtypercent of the oil sands regions of northern Alberta are located within peatlands. Resource exploration andextraction of oil in peatlands often require the addition of mineral fill and geotextile to create features, such asroads and well pads, to provide access and support for heavy equipment. These mineral features havelong-lasting impacts on the soil, biogeochemistry, hydrology, and vegetation at the local and regional scales.Reclamation techniques for mineral features range from complete removal of the mineral fill, partial removal,and left as is, each with varying degrees of vegetation recolonization and recovery of peatland functions, suchas net carbon (C) uptake. While complete removal of mineral fill has been successful, it is expensive. Initiationof peatland processes on residual mineral fill is being considered as a feasible alternative. Limited studies haveshown that fen species can grow on the mineral substrate and reclaimed sites can become a net C sink after afew years. However, more research is needed to determine when peat accumulation and other peatlandfunctions may return, and under what conditions. This project will study several reclaimed in-situ oil and gasfeatures (well pads and roads) built with mineral fill in Alberta's boreal peatlands. We will evaluate vegetationdevelopment after partial removal of mineral fill and compare it to reference ecosystems (natural peatlands)and sites where all mineral fill and geotextile has been removed. Primary production and decomposition ofmajor plant groups will be measured to quantify peat accumulation potential as the reclaimed sites developover time. This project will assess the feasibility of establishing peat-accumulating vegetation on mineralsubstrates and provide critical benchmark information for peatland related policy development andimplementation. The results of this study will be used to develop best management practice and field guides foruse by industry partners and reclamation specialists.

在加拿大，泥炭地是泥炭覆盖的地形，这是一种有机材料，由于在水饱和条件下植物和苔藓的腐烂不完全而形成，并在适当的位置形成。艾伯塔省北部的油砂地区的三个浓度位于泥炭地。泥炭地中的石油资源探索和挖掘通常需要添加矿物填​​充和土工织物，以创建功能，例如Asfords和Well Pads，以提供重型设备的访问和支持。这些矿物质特征对局部和区域尺度上的土壤，生物地球化学，水文学和植被的影响。矿物质特征的隔离技术范围从完全清除矿物质填充，部分去除，剩下的，每个矿物质均具有不同的植被再殖民化程度的植被再殖民和山坡上的山corake（carake）。虽然完全清除矿物质填充量已经成功，但价格昂贵。在残留矿物填充物上的泥炭地过程的启动被认为是可行的替代方法。有限的研究有限的研究表明，在矿物基材上可以在矿物基材上生长，而回收的地点可以在AFEW年后成为净C下沉。但是，需要进行更多的研究来确定何时可能会返回泥炭堆积和其他泥炭兰属性。该项目将研究在艾伯塔省的北方泥炭地中建造的几种用矿物质填充物建造的原地石油和燃气（井垫和道路）。我们将在部分去除矿物质填充后评估植被开发，并将其与参考生态系统（天然泥炭地）和所有矿物填充和土工织物都被去除的地点进行比较。将测量植物群的一级生产和分解，以量化泥炭积累潜力，作为回收地点的开发时间。该项目将评估建立矿物质材料上泥炭蓄积植被的可行性，并为泥炭地相关的政策制定和实施提供关键的基准信息。这项研究的结果将用于开发最佳的管理实践和现场指南，由行业伙伴和开垦专家使用。