Microbal Communities in Boreal Peatlands of the Athabaska Region, Canada: Building a Reference for Fen Creation

Authors:
Andersen, Roxane; Price, Jonathan S.

Book:
Proceedings of the 14th International Peat Congress

Venue:
Stockholm

Keywords:
fen, fungi, microbial-diversity, oil-sands

Documentfile:
Andersen, Price 2012: Microbal Communities in Boreal Peatlands of the Athabaska Region, Canada: Building a Reference for Fen Cr

Summary:

Theme I.  Inventory, stratigraphy and conservation of mires and peatlands

SUMMARY

Microbial communities were investigated in fen peat in a greenhouse experiment, and in three different peatlands of the Athabaska region, in the North of Alberta, where oil sand extraction is currently a major disturbance to the landscape. More specifically, the composition and diversity of archaea, fungi and bacteria were investigated using molecular approaches. It was hypothesized that the diversity and composition would vary as plant composition and redox potential would change. The results will serve as a reference database for the monitoring of microbial communities in the peat, following the upcoming large-scale creation of a fen in post-mined areas.