title: Impacts of oil sands process water on fen plants: implications for plant selection in required reclamation projects.
abstract: Fen plant growth in peat contaminated with groundwater discharges of oil sands process water (OSPW) was assessed in a greenhouse over two growing seasons. Three treatments (non-diluted OSPW, diluted OSPW and rainwater) were tested on five vascular plants and four mosses. All vascular plants tested can grow in salinity and naphthenic acids levels currently produced by oil sands activity in northwestern Canada. No stress sign was observed after both seasons. Because of plant characteristics, Carex species (C. atherodes and C. utriculata) and Triglochin maritima would be more useful for rapidly restoring vegetation and creating a new peat-accumulating system. Groundwater discharge of OSPW proved detrimental to mosses under dry conditions and ensuring adequate water levels would be crucial in fen creation following oil sands exploitation. Campylium stellatum would be the best choice to grow in contaminated areas and Bryum pseudotriquetrum might be interesting as it has spontaneously regenerated in all treatments.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Sciences and Peatland Ecology Research Group (PERG²), Laval University, 2425 rue de l'Agriculture, Québec City, Québec, Canada G1V 0A6. remy.pouliot.1@ulaval.ca
authors.forename: Rémy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pouliot
authors.forename: Line
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rochefort
authors.forename: Martha D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Graf
mesh_terms: D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D044002:Bryophyta / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D002264:Carboxylic Acids / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D060587:Groundwater / Q000737:chemistry*; D059392:Petroleum Pollution / Q000032:analysis*; D063245:Plant Development; D010944:Plants / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D011188:Potassium / Q000378:metabolism; D054712:Salinity; D012964:Sodium / Q000378:metabolism; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D053833:Wetlands
chemical_list: D002264:Carboxylic Acids; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D012964:Sodium; D011188:Potassium; C046170:naphthenic acid