9:00 am - 10:00 am
Event details: A graduate exam seminar is a presentation of the student’s final research project for their degree.
This is an ALES MSc Final Exam Seminar by Gaosen Wang. This seminar is open to the general public to attend.
Zoom Link: https://ualberta-ca.zoom.us/j/95187164789?pwd=UPiaO27KeoCElgDCCaWpcMfKTdPFvZ.1
MSc with Dr. Janusz Zwiazek
Thesis Topic: Growth and Physiology of Mycorrhizal Plants in Soil Containing Enhanced Non-segregating Oil Sands Tailings.
Abstract:
Open-pit mining of oil sands in Alberta has resulted in a large-scale land disturbance of the boreal forest ecosystem and produced large amounts of tailings. Recently, the novel oil sands tailings management technologies of the enhanced non-segregating tailings (eNST) and enhanced-spiked non-segregating tailings (esNST) have been developed. However, a full impact of these tailings on vegetation remains to be determined. Most species of plants form symbiotic associations with fungi, which benefit plants in poor quality soils and under stressful conditions. In my thesis study, I found that both eNST and esNST resulted in reduced biomass and impaired physiological functions of velvetleaf blueberry, Labrador tea, jack pine, and white spruce. Inoculation with Oidiodendron maius and Pezoloma ericae significantly improved the response of velvetleaf blueberry and Labrador tea to eNST and esNST, and inoculation with Laccaria bicolor also enhanced the tolerance of jack pine and white spruce to eNST and esNST.
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