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，泥炭地是被>40厘米的泥炭覆盖的地形，泥炭是由于植物和苔藓在水饱和条件下不完全腐烂而形成和积累的有机物质。北方阿尔伯塔30%的油砂区位于泥炭地内。在泥炭地进行资源勘探和石油开采通常需要添加矿物填料和土工织物，以创建道路和井场等功能，为重型设备提供通道和支撑。这些矿物特征在当地和区域尺度上对土壤、地球化学、水文和植被有着长期的影响。矿物特征的复垦技术包括完全去除矿物填料、部分去除和保持原样，每种技术都有不同程度的植被退化和泥炭地功能的恢复，如净碳（C）吸收。虽然矿物填料的完全去除是成功的，但它是昂贵的。在残余矿物填充物上开始泥炭地处理被认为是一种可行的替代方案。有限的研究表明，沼泽物种可以在矿物基质上生长，几年后，开垦的场地可以成为碳的净汇。然而，需要更多的研究来确定泥炭积累和其他泥炭地功能何时恢复，以及在什么条件下恢复。该项目将研究几个在阿尔伯塔北部泥炭地用矿物填料建造的再生原位油气特征（井场和道路）。我们将评估部分去除矿物填料后的植被发展，并将其与参考生态系统（天然泥炭地）和所有矿物填料和土工织物已被去除的地点进行比较。主要植物群的初级生产和分解将被测量，以量化泥炭积累潜力，作为开垦的网站随着时间的推移。该项目将评估在矿物基质上建立泥炭积累植被的可行性，并为泥炭地相关政策的制定和实施提供关键的基准信息。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。