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Spring 2022

Ficko, Sarah A.

Resource exploration and extraction in the arctic causes long lasting disturbances as natural recovery is a long and slow process in the north. With three Canadian diamond mines expected to close in the next fifteen years, many hectares of land will require revegetating. Research conducted in the...

Fall 2024

Cole, Hailey

Boreal forests provide multiple ecological and economic services, including carbon storage, provision of wildlife habitat and recreational space, and timber supply. In Canada’s western boreal forests, natural resource energy exploration and extraction results in substantial anthropogenic...

Spring 2018

deBortoli, Leah A.

Reclamation efforts that promote the re-establishment of native tree and plant communities subsequent of large-scale oil sands mining land disturbances are crucial in restoring natural ecosystems. It is important that reclamation procedures capable of facilitating the establishment of native...

Spring 2017

Frerichs, Laurie Anne

Achieving forest recovery on previously forested well sites in northern Alberta is an on-going challenge for the oil and gas industry. Thirty-three experimental oil sands exploration (OSE) sites were constructed and reclaimed between 2004 and 2006 in northeastern Alberta. Our goal was to...

Fall 2017

Melnik, Katharine O

Legacy propagule banks of salvaged topsoils are excellent sources of plant propagules for reclamation of mine sites. However, prior studies show that less than 50% of species found in original propagule banks actually establish. We hypothesize that the expression of this legacy propagule bank is...

Spring 2018

Mathison, Adam L

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 “Hitchhiker Planting” which is similar to companion cropping in agriculture, with the goal of improving native forb...

Spring 2017

Hoffman, Elizabeth H

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...

Fall 2023

Hynes, Brittany E

The redevelopment of understories is an often-overlooked aspect of forest restoration following anthropogenic disturbances. In my research I explored the feasibility of actively restoring forest understories through seedling planting. First, I examined the quality of nursery-grown boreal shrub...

Fall 2013

Yao, Linjun

Drilling fluid, also referred to as drilling mud, is used to lubricate and cool the drilling apparatus, transport drill cuttings to the surface and seal off porous geologic formations. Disposal of drilling fluid is a growing concern to the global oil and gas industry as it can require extensive...

Spring 2014

Archibald, Heather Anne

Peat mineral soil mix has been the predominant cover soil used in Athabasca oil sands reclamation. Use of LFH mineral soil mix (forest litter layers and underlying mineral soil) has recently been mandated by regulatory approvals. Effectiveness of these cover soil types to provide diverse, native...