Dunfield, PeterHaupt, Evan2016-10-042016-10-0420162016Haupt, E. (2016). Methanotrophic Bacteria and Biogeochemical Cycling in an Oil Sands End Pit Lake (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca. doi:10.11575/PRISM/26893http://hdl.handle.net/11023/3376This study examined for the first time the microbial community and biogeochemical cycling of methane and oxygen in Base Mine Lake, the reclamation site of a former tailings pond in the Athabasca oil sands region of Northern Alberta. Base Mine Lake represents the first large-scale demonstration of the “water-capped end pit lake” approach to tailings pond reclamation, with the ultimate goal of transitioning the lake into a natural, self-sustaining ecosystem. The oxygenated upper portion of the lake is home to aerobic hydrocarbon degrading bacteria, including a diverse population of methane oxidizing bacteria, whose activity, dispersion, and community composition is greatly influenced by seasonal variation. The majority of methanotrophs in the lake belong to the class Gammaproteobacteria, although Alphaproteobacteria methanotrophs make up a relatively large percentage of methanotrophs during summer stratification. Methanotroph abundance and potential for methane oxidation are relatively high during periods of turnover or partial mixing in the lake, and decrease during stratification.engUniversity of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.Microbiologymaster thesis10.11575/PRISM/26893