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，泥炭地是覆盖着大约40厘米泥炭的地形，泥炭是一种有机物质，在水饱和的条件下，由于植物和苔藓的不完全腐烂而形成并积累在原地。艾伯塔省北部30%的油砂区位于泥炭地内。泥炭地的资源勘探和石油开采通常需要添加矿物填充物和土工布，以创造道路和井台等特征，为重型设备提供通道和支撑。这些矿物特征在局部和区域尺度上对土壤、生物地球化学、水文和植被具有持久的影响。矿物特征的复垦技术包括完全去除矿物填充物、部分去除和保留原状，每种技术都具有不同程度的植被再定殖和泥炭地功能的恢复，如净碳(C)吸收。虽然完全去除矿物填充物是成功的，但它是昂贵的。在残余矿物填充物上启动泥炭地过程被认为是一种可行的替代方法。有限的研究表明，fen物种可以在矿物基质上生长，并且开垦的场地可以在几年后成为净碳汇。然而，需要更多的研究来确定泥炭积聚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充物建造的再生原位油气特征（井台和道路）。我们将评估部分去除矿物填充物后的植被发展情况，并将其与参考生态系统（天然泥炭地）和所有矿物填充物和土工布已被移除的地点进行比较。随着填海地的发展，将测量主要植物群的初级生产和分解，以量化泥炭积累的潜力。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做法和实地指南，供工业伙伴和填海专家使用。

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.