| Title | Sediment oxygen demand of wetlands in the oil sands region of northeastern Alberta |
| Publication Type | Conference Proceedings |
| Year of Publication | 2010 |
| Authors | Slama, C., Gardner Costa J., & Ciborowski J. J. |
| Editors | Martel, L. M., Fournier G., Triffault-Bouchet D., Berryman I., Guay P. G. C., Campbell M., Lebeuf C., Couillard L., Parent J., Pellerin P. B., Benoit E., & Lacroix M. P. |
| Date Published | 09/2009 |
| Place Published | La Malbaie, QC |
| Publication Language | eng |
| Keywords | aquatic vegetation, microbiology, sediment, wetlands |
| Abstract | Sediment oxygen demand (SOD) can significantly influence the dissolved oxygen concentrations in shallow water bodies. This study discussed the types of sediments used to reclaim wetlands and their influence on SOD, successional processes, and ecosystem trajectories. The study hypothesized that oil sands process material (OSPM) affected wetlands would support cyanobacterial biofilms as opposed to submergent macrophytes as a result of insufficient phosphorus levels. SOD was assessed by monitoring dissolved oxygen concentrations within domes placed on the sediment surface for a 3-hour period. Gas flux and composition analyses were used to quantify the biological SOD components. Chemical SOD components were then determined by subtraction. Concentrations of phosphorus bioavailable to the macrophytes were estimated using plant root simulator probes. The study showed that OSPM wetlands exhibited higher chemical SOD and SOD than reference wetlands, and supported benthic biofilms as opposed to the submergent macrophyte communities typically found in northeastern Alberta wetlands. |
| Notes | IN: Proceedings of the 36th Annual Aquatic Toxicity Workshop. September 27-30, 2009. La Malbaie, Quebec. |
| Locational Keywords | Alberta oil sands |
| Group | OSEMB |
| Citation Key | 53622 |
