2023 Early Hearing Detection & Intervention Conference
March 5-7, 2023 • Cincinnati, OH
6/08/2017 | 9:00 AM - 9:15 AM | ECOSYSTEM SERVICES REVEALED OR TRIGGERED BY MASSIVE REMEDIAL EFFORTS IN THE MINING REGION OF SUDBURY CANADA | 301B
ECOSYSTEM SERVICES REVEALED OR TRIGGERED BY MASSIVE REMEDIAL EFFORTS IN THE MINING REGION OF SUDBURY CANADA
Rarely do we conduct ecosystem experiments at the scale of the metal (Ni, Cu) smelter-impacted landscape of Sudbury Canada, the world's largest point source of SO2. This experiment involved a 95-99% reduction of atmospheric emissions of acid and metals over a 40 year period. Many of the results were expected (pH?, metal?, biodiversity?), but mitigation efforts also revealed surprising recovery processes and ecosystems services. For example: biomass was conserved at many trophic levels; dispersal rate of colonists did not limit recovery; high concentrations of SO4 in lakes near smelters exerted stimulatory effects on future recovery (i.e. increased alkalinity generation); the developing forest reduced surface winds and enhanced lake stratification in some lakes (creating cold water habitat in the face of climate warming); elevated Se deposition led to reduced Hg bioaccumulation; base cations from roads, soil treatments and other disturbances reduced metal toxicity; terrestrial organic matter inputs in these "carbon-starved environments" enhanced fish production; forest insect "pests" helped recycle the new forest into much needed soil organic matter; and the once barren landscape began to sequester large amounts of atmospheric carbon.
- C16 Restoration Ecology
- C22 Disturbance
- S16 Understanding and mitigating change in freshwater ecosystem services
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Presenters/Authors
John Gunn
(), Laurentian University, jgunn@laurentian.ca;
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Wendel (B) Keller
(), Laurentian Univeristy, BKeller@laurentian.ca;
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Norman Yan
(), York University, normandyan@gmail.com;
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