Implications of the Development of Northern Alberta's Oil Resources for the Regional Peatland Carbon Budget.

Peatlands of boreal, continental, western Canada cover 365,157 km² and store 42 Pg of C as peat, an indication of the long-term function of these ecosystems as net sinks for atmospheric CO₂.  Recent studies suggest that these peatlands continue to function as C sinks, although natural and anthropogenic disturbances may compromise the strength of the sink.  Conventional oil and oil sands exploration and development across northern Alberta occur across a region where peatlands (bogs, poor fens, and rich fens) cover 50% or more of the landscape.  Oil development influences peatlands through surface mining of oil sands, and through the construction of roads and oil well pads.  Surface mining of oil sands in peatland areas completely removes the peatland C sink.  Oil road and pad construction in peatland areas has the potential to alter peatland water tables across considerable distances from the road or pad, especially in fens.  Ongoing studies of drought and water table manipulation in fens will be used to estimate implications for regional peatland C balances.