Fundamental paradigms, foundation species selection, and early plant responses to peatland initiation on mineral soils

Koropchak, Sara C.; Vitt, Dale H.; Bloise, R.; Wieder, R. Kelman

doi:10.1017/cbo9781139059152.007

Cited by 12 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…The development of an aquatic bryophyte‐poor wetland type on these OSE pads is similar to early stages of wetland succession (MacDonald ; Kuhry et al ). In continental western Canada, macrofossil analysis of peat cores has shown that early peatland development on mineral soil is frequently dominated by herbaceous vegetation, especially Cyperaceae, with low abundance of bryophytes (Kuhry et al ; Koropchak et al ). Sedges will probably dominate the disturbed OSE habitats until the sedge peat accumulates sufficiently to develop elevated microsites.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Peatlands are most abundant in regions with cold‐temperate boreal climate, and Canada has about 1.24 × 10 6 km 2 , or approximately 30%, of total global peatlands (Vitt ). With intensifying industrial activity (>150 projects are currently operating in Alberta; Government of Alberta ), northern landscapes and its peatlands are becoming progressively disturbed and fragmented (Turetsky & St. Louis ; Koropchak et al ). Extensive areas (approximately 93,000 km 2 ) of deeply buried bitumen deposits are extracted through in situ methods (Government of Alberta ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Divergent Pathways of Successional Recovery for In Situ Oil Sands Exploration Drilling Pads on Wooded Moderate‐Rich Fens in Alberta, Canada

Caners

Lieffers

2014

Restoration Ecology

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Peatlands in northern Alberta, Canada, are being rapidly impacted by oil sands activities, with potentially long‐term consequences for their recovery. In situ oil sands extraction requires exploration of oil resources on a dense network of drilling pads across the landscape. This study examined the recovery of wooded moderate‐rich (WMR) fens 10 years after abandonment of these sites with minimal restorative measures. Bryophyte and vascular plant diversity, site microtopography, and water chemistry were assessed on drilling pads and in adjacent areas of undisturbed reference habitat. WMR fens affected by drilling activities were divided a priori into two groups based on strongly divergent trends in their successional development. One group represented the majority of WMR fens observed on the land base; at these sites hummock‐forming mosses including minerotrophic Sphagnum species were infrequent and tree recruitment was almost absent. The other group was dominated by Sphagnum species, had Picea mariana and Larix laricina recruitment, and appeared to recover more quickly. Both groups had high abundance of wetland sedges, notably Carex aquatilis. Further, drilling pads belonging to the first group had a high water table, limited elevated microsites, and had surface flooding over a portion of the growing season, in contrast to Sphagnum‐dominated sites. Development of the aquatic, bryophyte‐poor wetland type is comparable to early stages of wetland succession and these systems will recover relatively slowly, likely from decades to more than a century. Restoring part of the vertical distribution of microhabitats before abandonment of these pads could stimulate the successional recovery of vegetation.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Divergent Pathways of Successional Recovery for In Situ Oil Sands Exploration Drilling Pads on Wooded Moderate‐Rich Fens in Alberta, Canada

Caners

Lieffers

2014

Restoration Ecology

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“…These species are abundant in the rich fens of Alberta (Chee & Vitt ), occur at or near the peat–mineral interface in peat profiles (Bauer, Gignac & Vitt ; Koropchak et al . ) and occupy distinct niches along a hydrologic gradient (Gignac et al . ; Hájková & Hájek ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Creating fen initiation conditions: a new approach for peatland reclamation in the oil sands region of Alberta

Borkenhagen

Cooper

2015

Journal of Applied Ecology

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1.Reclaiming peatland ecosystems is challenging our understanding of how to rebuild functioning landscapes. Assisted succession may provide a practical approach to guide the reestablishment of peatlands in denuded landscapes. In Alberta, the majority of peatlands began as fens during the paludification process. This research focuses on creating fen initiation conditions to establish fen moss species on mineral sediment as an approach for peatland reclamation in the oil sands region. 2. In a field mesocosm experiment, we evaluated the establishment of five common fen mosses (Drepanocladus aduncus, Ptychostomum (Bryum) pseudotriquetrum, Campylium stellatum, Tomentypnum nitens and Aulacomnium palustre) introduced in equal proportions to clay loam. To determine the optimal hydrologic conditions for the establishment of each species, we tested four water levels (0, À10, À20 and À30 cm). We created vegetation types similar to those identified at the peat-mineral interface in peat profiles to determine the effect of herbaceous plant, low shrub and wood-strand mulch cover treatments on moss establishment. 3. Three seasons after introduction, total moss cover averaged 40% and was greatest under all cover treatments and at the 0 cm water level. Total moss biomass averaged 95Á5 g m À2 in moss introduction mesocosms and was greatest under low shrubs and herbaceous plants and at the 0 and À30 cm water levels. Fen moss species distribution was significantly influenced by water-table depth. Drepanocladus aduncus and Ptychostomum pseudotriquetrum were most common at 0 cm and Aulacomnium palustre and Tomentypnum nitens at À30 cm. 4. In this approach, we created vegetation types similar to those found on mineral sediments at the base of Alberta peat cores and successfully established distinct fen moss communities along a water-table gradient and under shade cover. Introducing a suite of fen moss species that inhabit a range of hydrologic niches under low shrubs or herbaceous plants improves moss establishment. 5. Synthesis and applications. Our research shows that it is possible to create fen initiation conditions on clay loam sediment by introducing foundation moss and vascular plant species at optimal water levels. Restoring the community structure and biomass accumulation that occurs in the initial stages of fen development appears to be a suitable target for peatland reclamation. These methods introduce a practical strategy to reclaim peatlands in the heavily impacted oil sands region of Alberta.

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“…Treatments were conducted at initial sodium concentrations ([Na þ ]) of 0, 300, 600, 1200 and 2400 mg L 71 (Table 1) [12,29]. Each treatment had three tray replicates that were prepared from dry NaCl crystals and DI water.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Survivorship and growth of Typha latifolia L. across a NaCl gradient: a greenhouse study

Koropchak

Vitt

2012

International Journal of Mining, Reclamation and Environment

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Oil sands surface mining operations in northeastern Alberta have created a substantial area of land needing to be reclaimed. Historically, these lands were a mosaic of uplands and boreal wetlands, particularly peatlands. While protocols for upland reclamation are well-defined, protocols for peatland reclamation are still in development. Two major concerns for peatland reclamations are (1) the ability of wetland plants to tolerate the increased sodicity present after surface mining and (2) the potential for the invasion of aggressive wetland plants, such as Typha latifolia, that could crowd out peatland plants and hinder the development of a peat layer. This study addresses these concerns by quantifying the response of T. latifolia seedlings to a sodium gradient. In the lowest two concentrations (0 and 300 mg L 71 ), there was about 100% survival rate as compared to about 56% at sodium concentration of 2400 mg L 71 . At 300 mg L 71 , T. latifolia leaf health began to decrease, and at 600 mg L 71 , the health, plant height and the biomass aboveground decreased substantially. Our findings suggest that T. latifolia populations might be kept in check by keeping sodium concentrations within a range between 300 and 600 mg L 71 .

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Fundamental paradigms, foundation species selection, and early plant responses to peatland initiation on mineral soils

Cited by 12 publications

References 40 publications

Divergent Pathways of Successional Recovery for In Situ Oil Sands Exploration Drilling Pads on Wooded Moderate‐Rich Fens in Alberta, Canada

Divergent Pathways of Successional Recovery for In Situ Oil Sands Exploration Drilling Pads on Wooded Moderate‐Rich Fens in Alberta, Canada

Creating fen initiation conditions: a new approach for peatland reclamation in the oil sands region of Alberta

Survivorship and growth of Typha latifolia L. across a NaCl gradient: a greenhouse study

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