Heather Archibald (University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada)
"Early System Genesis Following Large Scale Mining Disturbances"

Abstract

Surface mining on very large scales involves the complete removal of an ecosystem, which must be recreated to re-establish hydrologic flows, biogeochemical cycling and ecosystem functions. A meta-analysis using data from Alberta’s oil sands and from Germany’s Lower Lusatian brown coal mining sector will be conducted. The main objective of this research is to examine early ecosystem genesis including plant community trajectories and the key functions and processes associated with them in large scale mining reclamation. Data will be collected from previously established sites in the oil sands where forest floor – mineral mix was applied as a plant growth medium and source of plant propagules. Comparisons will be made among different application depths, substrate textures and LFH types at different ages. Results from the first field season in the oil sands analyzed in conjunction with results from previous research conducted on the research sites will be presented at the conference.