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Skip to Search Results- 1Aasberg, Sophie
- 1Amoako, Kwaku Akrofi
- 1Archibald, Heather Anne
- 1Bain, John F.
- 1Bakker, Nicola A. K.
- 1Barszczewski, Sara Janina Bodnar
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Spring 2014
The worldwide biodiversity crisis has intensified the need to better understand how biodiversity and human disturbance are related. Yet this relationship lacks both consensus in theoretical expectations and consistency in observed empirical patterns. I present one of the largest extent studies...
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Identifying understory diversity and resilience patterns with the depth-to-water index in boreal mixedwood forests
DownloadFall 2017
For the purpose of informing biodiversity conservation efforts in managed landscapes, we explored whether and how understory plant communities (abundance, diversity, composition) were related to a topographic moisture index, called depth-to-water, in the boreal mixedwood forests of northwestern...
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Spring 2016
Understanding factors affecting elemental carbon stocks on Alberta’s grasslands is of special importance with recent policy shifts focusing on climate change and carbon (C) emissions. A large part of Alberta is native prairie utilized by the beef industry. This study examined soil and vegetation...
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Impact of seedling characteristics, outplanting time, and container size on early establishment of aspen (Populus tremuloides) on reclamation sites
DownloadFall 2011
Aspen seedlings often suffer from transplant shock after outplanting. The influence of seedling characteristics and time of outplanting (spring, summer and fall) on field performance was examined on mining reclamation sites. Seedling characteristics were modified by inducing premature bud set...
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Impacts of a six year old pipeline right of way on Halimolobos virgata (Nutt.) O.E. Schulz (slender mouse ear cress), native dry mixedgrass prairie uplands, and wetlands
DownloadSpring 2016
Reclamation of native prairie ecosystems is of growing importance as they continue to be impacted by anthropogenic disturbances. Since European settlement, Alberta grasslands have declined by 61 %. Grasslands are agriculturally important, act as a carbon sink, and many species depend upon them....
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Spring 2020
Soil stockpiles are used around the world to reclaim sites affected by industrial activities. Oil sands surface mining and in situ extraction activities in Alberta, Canada, have directly impacted more than 900 km2 of land, with more development expected in the future. Soil stockpiles will be...
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Improving forb establishment and restoring soil function in disturbed landscapes: Hitchhiking native forbs with white spruce
DownloadSpring 2018
Changing requirements for land reclamation in Alberta has led to the need for revegetation of disturbed lands with native woody and herbaceous species. Our study involves âHitchhiker Plantingâ which is similar to companion cropping in agriculture, with the goal of improving native forb...
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Influence of Amendments and Soil Depth on Available Nutrients and Microbial Dynamics in Contrasting Topsoil Materials Used for Oil Sands Reclamation
DownloadFall 2015
As of December 2013, the cumulative area disturbed by oil sands mining in NE Alberta was 896 km2 out of an estimated final footprint of 4,800 km2 – all of which will require reclamation. Expensive handling costs and scarce soil resources necessitate judicious management and application of...
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Influence of Environmental and Site Factors and Biotic Interactions on Vegetation Development Following Surface Mine Reclamation Using Coversoil Salvaged From Forest Sites
DownloadSpring 2017
Industrial activities such as surface mining are responsible for disturbing large areas of forest land. Reclamation methods must facilitate the development of soil, of a diverse natural understory plant community, and of a tree canopy. In my thesis research, I examined the response of vegetation...
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Influence of permafrost characteristics on vegetation change in Yukon and Northwest Territories, Canada
DownloadFall 2021
Permafrost thaw is a significant contributor to landscape change and ecosystem disruption in northern systems. While previous studies have examined the impact of permafrost on vegetation change, few have investigated the connection of permafrost characteristics to the type and extent of...