Revegetation of Fen Peatlands Following Oil and Gas Extraction in Northern Alberta

• Author / Creator

  Shunina,Anna

• A field experiment from 2012 to 2013 at two locations in northeastern Alberta examined the short-term success of different fen revegetation strategies following the removal of infrastructure (road and well-pad) associated with oil extraction. Although all treatments resulted in limited overall success in achieving revegetation relative to the adjacent intact fens, transplanting with sedge and cotton grass was more effective than that of other treatments. While composted (dead) peat had little to no effect on revegetation, live peat modified the plant community slightly, as did a rough surface treatment. Transplants of woody species were more successful at the top and middle micro-topographic positions on the well-pad, and generally enhanced species richness and diversity. Water availability was important in regulating species recovery at all locations. After two years all treatments remain highly dissimilar to that of the adjacent undisturbed fens.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Fen
  • Revegetation
  • Peatlands

• Graduation date

  Spring 2015

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Master of Science

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R35X25K5K

• License

  This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.