Bin Xu

About

Bin is a peatland ecologist with a Ph.D. in Plant Biology from Southern Illinois University Carbondale. He worked as a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

His research focuses on the impact of human activities on the ecology, biogeochemistry, and ecosystem functions of boreal peatlands. He works closely with university collaborators, industry partners and small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) to develop science-based, techniques and methods to reclaim disturbed peatlands in Alberta’s boreal region.

Specialization(s)

peatland vegetation and community edology, ecological restoration and monitoring, climate change and greenhouse gas emissions, peatland restoration, peatland ecology, greenhouse gas modelling

Partners and industry collaborators

Dr. Maria Strack, Professor, University of Waterloo, Dr. Line Rochefort, Professor, Laval University, Dr. Dale Vitt, Professor Emeritus, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Dr. Felix Nwaishi, Assistant Professor, Mount Royal University, Dr. Greg McDermid, Professor, University of Calgary, Dr. Scott Ketcheson, Assistant Professor, Athabasca University, Industrial Footprint Reduction Options Group (iFROG)

Projects and initiatives

• Removing mineral footprint and restoring ecohydrologic functions of freshwater peatlands affected by in-situ oil and gas activities in northern Alberta
• Restoration of peatland ecosystems impacted by linear disturbances within Subwatersheds of the North Saskatchewan River Watershed, Alberta, Canada

Published work

How scientists are restoring boreal peatlands to help keep carbon in the ground. Conversation Canada, April 8, 2021.

Xu, B., Rochefort, L., Bird, M., Khadka, B., and M. Strack, Restoration of boreal peatland impacted by an in-situ oil sands well-pad 1: Vegetation response. Restoration Ecology.

Engering, A., Davidson, S.J., Xu, B., Bird, M., Rochefort, L., and M. Strack, Restoration of a boreal peatland impacted by an in-situ oil sands well-pad 2: Greenhouse gas exchange dynamics. Restoration Ecology, 2021

Murray KR et al. Restoration approach influences carbon exchange at in-situ oil sands exploration sites in east-central Alberta. Wetlands Ecology and Management 29:281–299, 2021

Saraswati, S., Petrone, R.M., Rahman, M.M., McDermid, G.J., Xu, B., and M. Strack., Hydrological effects of resource-access road crossings on boreal forested peatlands, Journal of Hydrology, 2020

Strack, M., Hayne, S., Lovitt, J., McDermid, G.J., Rahman, M.M., Saraswati, S., and B. Xu, Petroleum exploration increases methane emissions in northern peatlands, Nature Communications, 2019.

He, A., McDermid, G.J., Rahman, M.M., Strack, M., Saraswati, S., and B. Xu., Developing allometric equations for estimating shrub biomass in a boreal fen, Forests 9(9): 569.

Lovitt, J., Rahman, M., Saraswati, S., McDermid, G.J., Strack, M., and B. Xu, UAV Remote Sensing Can Reveal the Effects of Low-Impact Seismic Lines on Surface Morphology, Hydrology and Methane (CH₄) Release in a Boreal Treed Bog, Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences, 2018.

Munir, T., Khadka,B., Xu, B, and M. Strack, Partitioning Forest‐Floor Respiration into Source Based Emissions in a Boreal Forested Bog: Responses to Experimental Drought. Forests 8:75, 2017

Munir, T. M., Khadka, B., Xu, B, and M. Strack, Mineral nitrogen and phosphorus pools affected by water table lowering and warming in a boreal forested peatland. Ecohydrology, 2017