1:30 pm - 2:30 pm
802 General Services Building (GSB), General Services Building, University of Alberta, Edmonton AB
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 Mahdiyeh (Maddie) Safaripour . This seminar is open to the general public to attend.
MSc with Dr. M. Anne Naeth
Thesis Topic:
PHYTOREMEDIATION POTENTIAL OF SEVEN NATIVE PLANT SPECIES FOR HYDROCARBON CONTAMINATED PEAT SOILS
Abstract:
Alberta’s economy depends on the oil and gas industry, including oil sands mines, well sites, and pipelines, which contribute to the growing risk of contamination in peatlands. Hydrocarbon pollution in these ecosystems threatens their vital soil functions, carbon storage capacity, and biodiversity. Despite their ecological importance, effective remediation strategies for peatlands remain limited. Phytoremediation, a cost effective approach that uses plants to reduce contaminants, offers a sustainable solution for addressing this issue in these environments.
The objective of this research was to evaluate the ability of seven native wetland species to germinate, tolerate, survive, grow, and remove high hydrocarbon concentrations, and to identify best performing species for hydrocarbon remediation. The phytoremediation research was undertaken in the greenhouse with seven plants species exposed to hydrocarbon contaminated peat soil at two soil water contents (saturation, field capacity) for 12 weeks. The seed germination research was conducted in the greenhouse and laboratory with plant seeds exposed to hydrocarbon contaminated peat soil and water in two light treatments (light, dark) for 4 weeks.
All native plant species, tolerated and survived 100 % in hydrocarbon peat soil, although growth and remediation effectiveness varied. Carex aquatilis, Carex utriculata, and Glyceria grandis exhibited significant growth and biomass accumulation under contamination; Typha latifolia had less vigorous growth. These species were capable of effectively removing specific contaminants, indicating complementary roles that enhance overall remediation. Saturated conditions promoted plant biomass and enhanced hydrocarbon uptake, while field capacity conditions promoted more efficient hydrocarbon removal from the soil, possibly due to increased oxygen availability for soil microbial degradation. Seed germination results showed that Glyceria grandis and Scirpus microcarpus had high resilience with strong germination even in contaminated settings. Carex aquatilis and Typha latifolia showed modest germination. This resilience suggests that these species could be particularly useful for phytoremediation efforts in hydrocarbon contaminated wetlands. Carex utriculata and Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani displayed greater sensitivity, with lower germination success under similar conditions, indicating a need to pair these sensitive species with more resilient ones to optimize restoration efforts. The results highlight the potential suitability of these native wetland species for the phytoremediation of hydrocarbon contaminants in peatlands, offering an effective and environmentally sustainable remediation strategy for hydrocarbon contaminated soil and water.
Categories: