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40厘米厚的泥炭覆盖的地形，泥炭是一种有机材料，形成和 由于植物和苔藓在饱和水分条件下不完全腐烂而积累在原地。三十 阿尔伯塔省北部的油砂区有%位于泥炭地内。资源勘探与开发 在泥炭地开采石油通常需要添加矿物填充物和土工织物来创造特征，例如 道路和井垫，为重型设备提供通道和支持。这些矿物特征具有 对当地和区域尺度上的土壤、生物地球化学、水文学和植被的长期影响。 矿物特征的复垦技术包括完全去除矿物填充物，部分去除， 并保留原样，每个都有不同程度的植被再殖民化和泥炭地功能的恢复，如 作为净碳(C)吸收。虽然完全清除矿物填充物取得了成功，但代价高昂。起爆 泥炭地工艺处理残留矿物填充被认为是一种可行的替代方案。有限的研究已经 结果表明，沼气可以在矿物基质上生长，复垦后的场地可以成为净碳汇。 几年了。然而，还需要更多的研究来确定泥炭堆积和其他泥炭地 函数可以返回，以及在什么条件下可以返回。该项目将研究几种再生的原地油气。 在艾伯塔省北部的泥炭地，用矿物填充物建造的特征(井垫和道路)。我们将对植被进行评估 部分去除矿物填充物后的开发，并与参考生态系统(天然泥炭地)进行比较 以及所有矿物填充物和土工布已被拆除的地点。初级生产和分解 随着填海地点的发展，将对主要植物类群进行测量，以量化泥炭积累潜力 随着时间的推移。该项目将评估在矿物上建立泥炭堆积植被的可行性。 并为泥炭地相关政策的制定和开发提供关键基准信息 实施。这项研究的结果将用于制定最佳管理做法和实地指南 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.