Interim Report on Ecological Benchmarking and Biomonitoring for Detection of Air-borne Pollutant Effects on Vegetation and Soils, 1975 to 1978

A set of 11 sites were established in the Alberta Oil Sands Environmental Research Program study area to provide baseline information on vegetation and soils with respect to air pollution impact. Sites were strategically located for use in long-term biomonitoring and were described with respect to their vascular and cryptogamic species list, stand density and age, soil characteristics and type, and cover and frequency of lower strata species. No apparent impact was detectable that could be attributed to air pollution. Additional sites of a temporary nature were established for use in the development of biomonitoring techniques. Several of these techniques were sensitive enough to detect air pollution impingement in the vicinity of Great Canadian Oil Sands Ltd. operations.