Evaluating ecological restoration outcomes for oil sand well-site disturbances on peatland: linking ecosystem structure and function

油砂开采导致加拿大北方森林的生态系统受到广泛干扰，包括建设井场。该地区至少有84，000公顷的井场干扰;鉴于该地区30%的地区由泥炭地组成，其中许多井场是在泥炭地生态系统中建造的。尽管为井场和相关基础设施（例如，通道、管道等）在阿尔伯塔省，井场的生态恢复方法仍然效率低下。因此，能源部门面临的挑战是开发和采用创新的泥炭地恢复技术，以满足监管要求和重建功能正常的生态系统。拟议的研究计划将评估各种泥炭地恢复技术的油砂井场干扰泥炭地的能力，以满足省级设定的复垦标准。此外，还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，并将其与区域未受干扰的泥炭地的速率进行比较，作为参考。然后可以评估植被群落结构与生态系统功能之间的一致性。研究结果将为泥炭地井场恢复提供最佳管理实践，改善能源部门的环境绩效，并有助于确保加拿大北方森林的长期健康。

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.