Peatlands cover more than 10% of Canada and store over 100 Gt C, making them one of Canada’s largest terrestrial carbon pools. Peatlands are currently experiencing climate and land-use change, altering their ecohydrology and biogeochemical cycling of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus and other elements. Peatlands are ecosystems looked to for natural climate solutions, but assessing their capacity to contribute requires understanding the links among their hydrology, ecology and biogechemistry. This session seeks presentations of research on the ecohydrology and biogeochemistry of undisturbed and disturbed temperate and boreal peatlands. Empirical and theoretical studies are welcome.

Conveners: Nigel Roulet, Department of Geography, McGill University; Maria Strack, Department of Geography and Environmental Management, Faculty of Environmental, University of Waterloo; Peter Whittington, Department of Geography and Environment, Brandon University; Tim Moore, Department of Geography, McGill University

4:00pm - 4:30pm    Estimating carbon emissions from peatland disturbance in Alberta’s oil sands region for Canada’s national greenhouse gas inventory    
Presenter(s): Kelly Bona

4:30pm - 4:45pm    Seasonal variation in the hydrologic balance of a partially removed oil well pad undergoing restoration to a boreal peatland    
Presenter(s): Murdoch McKinnon

4:45pm - 5:00pm    Linkages between microtopographic recovery and seedling growth on seismic lines in boreal peatlands    
Presenter(s): Marissa Davies

5:00pm - 5:15pm    Simulated net biospheric carbon emissions of managed peatlands, and implications for net-zero and net-zero targets.    
Presenter(s): Alice Watts

5:15pm - 5:30pm    Covered vs. Uncovered: The Impact of Peat Stockpile Storage Methods on Greenhouse Gas Emissions    
Presenter(s): Steffy Velosa