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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...

Spring 2016

Hupperts, Stefan F

The relationship between trees and ectomycorrhizal fungi is fundamental for tree growth and survival, particularly in the boreal forests of North America where low temperatures inhibit decomposition and consequently limit nutrient availability. The responses of ectomycorrhizal fungal communities...

Spring 2014

Critchley, Michael D

Question: Can a wet meadow plant community be established on abandoned peatlands through broadcast plant diaspore spreading in western Canada? Does fertilization impact the development and establishment of the wet meadow? Location: Evansburg, Alberta, Canada Methods: Wet meadow vascular and...

Fall 2012

Sherritt, Darin E

Rough fescue (Festuca hallii (Vasey) Piper (plains rough fescue) and Festuca campestris Rydb (foothills rough fescue) are long lived perennials that have been difficult to establish on disturbed sites. This research assessed the impact of seed mix diversity and suppression of arbuscular...

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...

Fall 2014

Roy,Marie-Claude

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...

Spring 2015

Hankin, Shanon L

The boreal forest is a vast circumpolar ecosystem covering approximately 11 % of terrestrial land globally. The Canadian boreal forest is rich in natural resources such as lumber, minerals, and oil, and therefore is heavily managed by humans in some regions. Surface mining for oil sands deposits...

Fall 2014

Van Rensen, Cassidy K

Mapping of oil reserves involves the use of seismic lines (linear disturbances) to determine size of reserves. These linear disturbances fragment forests and in many cases fail to regenerate trees even decades following their use. With the continued rise in anthropogenic disturbances,...

Spring 2019

Dias de Andrade Silva, Raiany

Protected areas are established and maintained in Alberta, Canada for the conservation and preservation of natural features and to facilitate their use and enjoyment for outdoor recreation and education. The use of off-highway vehicles (OHV) is a popular recreational activity in Alberta’s parks....

Fall 2011

Desserud, Peggy Ann

Festuca hallii (plains rough fescue), a late-seral bunchgrass and long-lived perennial, is difficult to restore once disturbed. Once dominant in grasslands throughout central Alberta, F. hallii now occurs in remnants, a result of agricultural and residential development, and oil and gas...