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Skip to Search Results- 1Abele, Suzanne E
- 1Amos, Jared J. H.
- 1Archibald, Heather Anne
- 1Bakker, Nicola A. K.
- 1Barnes, William A
- 1Bony, Laura
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Marsh reclamation in the oil sands of Alberta: providing benchmarks and models of vegetation development
DownloadFall 2014
A key objective of the Alberta oil sands industry is to reclaim the post-mined landscape to “equivalent land capability” (Harris 2007). Vitt and Bhatti (2012) proposed a restoration framework for boreal disturbances. They suggested that to increase chances of achieving ecosystem equivalency and...
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Methane Production and Emission Mitigation in Oil Sands Tailings Concurrent with Hydrocarbon Degradation under Nitrogen Limited Conditions
DownloadFall 2020
Alberta’s oil sands generate large volumes of tailings from bitumen ore processing. These tailings ponds produce biogenic methane, which can be measured across 60-80% of the tailings surface. Based on current surface area data and emissions studies, tailings ponds could account for 8% of Canada’s...
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Fall 2013
Collins, Catherine Elizabeth Victoria
Surface mining for bitumen extraction results in production of tailings that are deposited into large ponds. Tailings in the ponds support diverse microbial communities capable of metabolizing organic compounds and producing biogenic gases (methane, CH4 and carbon dioxide, CO2). Because of low...
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Fall 2015
Assessment of microbial community development is required to determine the success of reclamation process on disturbed land after mining. Peat (PMM) or LFH mineral soil mix (LFH) is used as capping material in reclamation. Application of coarse woody debris (CWD) also facilitates reclamation by...
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Natural regeneration in the boreal forest: seedling establishment and success in western North American and European boreal forests
DownloadFall 2014
As the costs and ecological implications of intensive forest management rise, alternative management strategies that minimize intervention become more desirable options, particularly natural regeneration. Two locations were studied: the boreal mixedwoods of western North America (Alberta) and...
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Nutrient distribution in sandy soils along a forest productivity gradient in the Athabasca Oil Sands Region, Alberta, Canada
DownloadFall 2016
Brunisolic soils developed on coarse textured (sandy loam to sand) deposits comprise a significant portion of the land currently being disturbed by surface mining in the Athabasca Oil Sands Region of Alberta, Canada. The goals of this study were to determine (i) how the physical properties of...
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Offsetting approved harmful anthropogenic impacts in the 21st century – Insights into global offsetting practices, habitat banking as an alternative offsetting mechanism and application of habitat enhancement in northern boreal lake systems
DownloadFall 2022
Land-use change via human development is a major driver of biodiversity and habitat area loss and ecosystem function impairment. To reduce these impacts, billions of dollars are spent on environmental offsets, aimed to compensate for authorized negative impacts. Studies evaluating offset project...
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Spring 2013
A major barrier to reclamation after oil sands mining is lack of commercially available, diverse native plant seeds and propagules for revegetation. Potential of LFH (forest floor material) developed on coarse textured soil for establishing native plants and how salvage, placement and storage...
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Oil Sands Reclamation With Woody Debris Using LFH Mineral Soil Mix And Peat Mineral Soil Mix Cover Soils: Impacts On Select Soil And Vegetation Properties
DownloadFall 2014
Prior to mining oil sands, soil is salvaged for reclamation and forest stands are harvested for their merchantable timber. Harvest operations leave large amounts of residual woody debris, which has been historically burned or mulched. Woody debris has significant ecological effects and can be...
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Persistence of subsoiling effects on the soil physical and hydraulic properties in a reconstructed soil
DownloadSpring 2016
Surface mining is one of the most significant forms of anthropogenic disturbance to natural and managed ecosystems. In Alberta, mining disturbs large areas in the Mixedwood Boreal natural region and recovery is often slow because of poor soil quality, specifically the high degree of compaction....