A Vegetation and Soil Chronosequence on the Mesabi Iron Range Spoil Banks, Minnesota

Leisman, Gilbert A.

doi:10.2307/1942184

Cited by 69 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…Iron ore spoils can have pH less than 6 (Leisman 1957) and barren metal mine spoils in Colorado have chemical characteristics that are similar to the coal mine soils described in this paper (unpublished data).…”

Section: Mycorrhizaesupporting

confidence: 55%

“…Aspens are also common volunteers on iron mine spoils in Minnesota (Leisman 1957) and on metal mine spoils in western North America (observation by the author). Iron ore spoils can have pH less than 6 (Leisman 1957) and barren metal mine spoils in Colorado have chemical characteristics that are similar to the coal mine soils described in this paper (unpublished data).…”

Section: Mycorrhizaementioning

confidence: 96%

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Colonization Bottlenecks on Acidic Coal Spoils

Hedin¹

1992

ASMR

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Section: Mycorrhizaesupporting

confidence: 55%

Section: Mycorrhizaementioning

confidence: 96%

Colonization Bottlenecks on Acidic Coal Spoils

Hedin¹

1992

ASMR

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“…Natural plant succession and minesoil development on unreclaimed areas after disturbance have been reported in Minnesota (Leisman 1957), Wisconsin (Kimmerer 1984), ~ontana (Schafer et al 1980, Schafer and Nielsen 1979, Sindelar 1979, Iowa (Glen-Lewin 1979), Illinois (Croxton 1928), Indiana (Byrnes and Hiller 1973), Ohio (Bell and Ungar 1981), Pennsylvania (Bramble andAshley 1955, Brenner et al, 1984), West Virginia (Smith et al 1971), Kentucky (Thompson et al 1984), Missouri (Game et al 1982), and Oklahoma (Gibson et al 1985, Johnson· et al 1982. Most of these studies have attempted to evaluate the plant species and communities that established and developed on the disturbed area, and to· assess the influence of soil properties on plant community development.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Chronosequence of Vegetation and Minesoil Development on a Texas Lignite Surface Mine

Skousen¹,

Call²,

Knight³

1988

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Abstract.--Unreclaimed mined sites ranging in age from 1-50 years were sampled to evaluate vegetation and minesoil changes with time, and compared to an adjacent unmined area. One-year-old, unreclaimed mined areas had very sparse vegetation dominated by weedy species. Herbaceous plant cover increased on mined areas that were 5, 10, and 15 years old, and reached a peak on 20-year-old mined sites.On mined sites older than 20 years, shrub and tree canopies began suppressing understory species. Shrub and tree species were observed on mined areas as early as 5 years after mining, but shrub and tree cover did not become substantial until 20 to 30 years after mining. A multi-layered tree and shrub vegetation structure dominated the 50-year-old site. Compared to native soils of the area, minesoil pH increased from 5,9 to 6.9 shortly after mining then dropped to 3.8 during the next 5 yeats due to weathering and release of acidic ions. Continued weathering and pyrite oxidation caused minesoil pH to remain at this level for approximately 30 years. Minesoil pH of the 50-year-old site was 6.8. Bulk density of minesoils in the surface 12 cm declined with time as vegetation, litter, and organic matter increased on the site. A· similarity index revealed the intermediate-aged mined sites (5, 10, 15, and 20) were similar in plant species composition. Vegetation establishment and development on these different-aged mined sites followed ·several models of ecological succession: initial floristics model (plants reach disturbed areas as a result of chance and remain until other plant species become more competitive for resources), tolerance model (each fndividual plant species possesses characteristics or mechanisms which make it adapted to the site), and relay floristics (some plants ameliorate the site and fascilitate establishment by other species).

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“…For example, for maximum establishment of poplars or willows, it is necessary that there be a juxtaposition of limed ground, a sparse growth of seeded grasses and legumes, a good wind and moist weather and soil during the short period of seed dispersal and seed viability. Leisman (1957) has made a similar point with respect to the establishment of Popu/us tremuloides and P. ba/samifera on iron range spoil banks in Minnesota, and also points out that aspens on! y produce good seed crops every four or five years.…”

mentioning

confidence: 80%

“…Leisman (1957) studied natural colonization of spoil banks consisting mostly of overburden and lean ore dumps of coarse taconite in Minnesota, treating a series of spoil banks up to 51 years of age as a chronosequence. He found a uniform pattern of succession, in which the earliest invaders were ruderals, followed very soon by Populus tremuloides (Trembling Aspen) and P .balsamifera (Balsam Poplar), with root suckering playing a major role in their spread.…”

Section: Taconite and Other Iron Mine Wastesmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Roles of Colonization and Succession in the Reclamation of Mine Sites

Winterhalder¹

1993

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It is of advantage to the reclamationist to have some conceptual understanding of natural succession, and even more important to have a practical knowledge of the climax vegetation and natural successional processes in the region where he or she works. Factors that can limit succession on reclaimed land include lack of appro!)riate seed source unsuitable soil conditions, and climatic or microclimatic factors. The use of natural success10nal processes is' not incompatible with a certain amount of management, and measures that can be. used to initiate or enhance succession include the use of physical site stabilization or a nurse crop, an enhanC<:d nanve seed source, ".r the use of minimal soil amelioration. An understanding of seed ecology, patch dynamics and the role of s01l microoorganisms are also invaluable to the reclamationist The extensive literarure on colonization and succession, both on untreated and treated wastes of various types and in various climates, is reviewed. The concept of successionThe concept of ecological succession has been at the heart of ecological thinking since the time of Clements (1916Clements ( , 1936. According to Clementsian thinking, succession is an autogenic process, in which vegetation develops on a formerly bare substrate as a sequence of plant communities, each one altering the environment such that it favours the one that follows, culminating in a relatively steady-state -the climax. This concept of succession came to be known as "Relay Floristics" (RF). Egler (1954) introduced another concept of succession, which suggested that the species composition early in the successional process can have a great influence on the final composition. This concept, which would be especially applicable to secondary successions such as those following industrial disrurbance, was known as Initial Floristic Composition (IFC). A lesson on the importance of "initial composition" can be learned from the Mount St. Helen's eruption, where "late successional" species such as hemlock and true fir became established on the debris slide within a year (Dale, 1992). Similarly, Bellairs and Bell (1992) found that initial species composition largely determined vegetation development on sand-mined soils in Western Australia. (1977) presented two further models of succession, the "tolerance" model and the "inhibition" model. The tolerance model incorporates both the RF and the IFC approaches, since it proposes that vegetational change is the result of the superior success of the species best able to make use of the available resources. These species will normally include both "pioneers" and species already established.In the context of revegetation, the tolerance model is likely to include a third component -the species sown or planted by the rec.lamationist. The model is particularly relevant m the case of revegetated land, in view of the use of fertilizers as a tool in implementing revegetation and in managing revegetated land. A plant community is the result of the interaction between the ec...

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A Vegetation and Soil Chronosequence on the Mesabi Iron Range Spoil Banks, Minnesota

Abstract: differences might yield results which would increase our knowledge of the kind and rate of plant successions and the rate of soil development.

Cited by 69 publications

References 10 publications

Colonization Bottlenecks on Acidic Coal Spoils

Colonization Bottlenecks on Acidic Coal Spoils

A Chronosequence of Vegetation and Minesoil Development on a Texas Lignite Surface Mine

The Roles of Colonization and Succession in the Reclamation of Mine Sites

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