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)

在加拿大，泥炭地是被超过 40 厘米泥炭覆盖的地形，泥炭是一种形成的有机材料， 由于植物和苔藓在水饱和条件下不完全腐烂而积累在适当的地方。三十 艾伯塔省北部 % 的油砂地区位于泥炭地内。资源勘探与 在泥炭地中提取石油通常需要添加矿物填料和土工织物来创造特征，例如 道路和井场，为重型设备提供通道和支持。这些矿物特性具有 对当地和区域尺度的土壤、生物地球化学、水文和植被产生长期影响。 矿物特征的复垦技术包括完全去除矿物填充物、部分去除、 并保持原样，每个都有不同程度的植被重新殖民和泥炭地功能的恢复，例如 作为净碳 (C) 吸收量。虽然完全清除矿物填充物已取得成功，但成本高昂。启蒙 正在考虑对残留矿物填充物进行泥炭地处理作为可行的替代方案。有限的研究 研究表明，沼泽物种可以在矿物基质上生长，并且经过一段时间后，开垦的场地可以成为净碳汇。 几年。然而，需要更多的研究来确定泥炭积累和其他泥炭地何时积累 函数可能会返回，以及在什么条件下返回。该项目将研究几种回收的原位石油和天然气 在阿尔伯塔省的北方泥炭地中用矿物填充物建造的特征（井场和道路）。我们将评估植被 部分去除矿物填充后的发展并将其与参考生态系统（天然泥炭地）进行比较 以及所有矿物填充物和土工织物已被清除的地点。初级生产和分解 随着开垦场地的发展，将测量主要植物群以量化泥炭积累潜力 随着时间的推移。该项目将评估在矿产资源上建立泥炭积累植被的可行性 基质并为泥炭地相关政策制定和提供关键基准信息 实施。这项研究的结果将用于制定最佳管理实践和现场指南 供行业合作伙伴和回收专家使用。

In Canada, peatlands are terrains covered by >40 cm of peat, which is an organic material formed and accumulated in place due to incomplete decay of plants and mosses under water-saturated conditions. Thirty percent of the oil sands regions of northern Alberta are located within peatlands. Resource exploration and extraction of oil in peatlands often require the addition of mineral fill and geotextile to create features, such as roads and well pads, to provide access and support for heavy equipment. These mineral features have long-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, such as net carbon (C) uptake. While complete removal of mineral fill has been successful, it is expensive. Initiation of peatland processes on residual mineral fill is being considered as a feasible alternative. Limited studies have shown that fen species can grow on the mineral substrate and reclaimed sites can become a net C sink after a few years. However, more research is needed to determine when peat accumulation and other peatland functions may return, and under what conditions. This project will study several reclaimed in-situ oil and gas features (well pads and roads) built with mineral fill in Alberta's boreal peatlands. We will evaluate vegetation development 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 of major plant groups will be measured to quantify peat accumulation potential as the reclaimed sites develop over time. This project will assess the feasibility of establishing peat-accumulating vegetation on mineral substrates and provide critical benchmark information for peatland related policy development and implementation. The results of this study will be used to develop best management practice and field guides for use by industry partners and reclamation specialists.