Date of Award
2011
Publication Type
Master Thesis
Degree Name
M.Sc.
Department
Biological Sciences
Keywords
Biology, Ecology.
Supervisor
Ciborowski, Jan (Biological Sciences)
Rights
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Abstract
Sediment oxygen demand (SOD), nutrient concentrations, and submergent macrophyte biomass were measured in reference wetlands and oil sands process material-affected (OSPM) wetlands in the oil sands region of Alberta. Any or all of these factors could influence the success of wetland reclamation in this area. Gas flux and SOD chambers were deployed to determine the biological and chemical components. Nutrient concentrations were estimated from water and sediment extractions as well as PRS™ probes.Sediment oxygen demand was slightly higher in OSPM-affected wetlands than in reference wetlands. Over 85% of SOD was due to chemical processes, likely due to ammonium oxidation. High SOD could limit benthic respiration and ultimately affect carbon stores. Reference wetlands had greater submergent macrophyte biomass than OSPM-affected wetlands but phosphorus concentration could not explain this difference. This implies that sediment oxygen demand, phosphorus concentration, and submergent macrophyte biomass are independent of one another among wetland classes.
Recommended Citation
Slama, Carsten, "Sediment oxygen demand and sediment nutrient content of reclaimed wetlands in the oil sands region of Northeastern Alberta" (2011). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 300.
https://scholar.uwindsor.ca/etd/300