When assessing the health of reclaimed land, look for the bugs, says a University of Alberta land reclamation researcher.
When assessing the health of reclaimed land, look for the bugs, says a University of Alberta land reclamation researcher.
Current industry standards examine the soil and its vegetation to assess the health of a site that was disturbed—such as a mine or oil or gas well—and reclaimed.
But PhD candidate Stephanie Chute-Ibsen thinks invertebrates tell an equally important part of the story.
Invertebrates—including insects, arachnids and worms—are selective about the soils they choose to live in, and their absence can be a sign of soil health problems, said Chute-Ibsen.
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Image via University of Alberta.
