Diversity of Vegetation Dominated by Selected Grass Species on Coal-Mine Spoil Heaps in Terms of Reclamation of Post-Industrial Areas

Abstract

Grasses have a considerable potential for the adaptation to various, often extreme, habitat conditions. The aim of the work was to present the vegetation diversity of the coal-mine spoil heaps with the dominant share of grasses and to identify the main factors responsible for this diversity in the aspect of post-industrial land reclamation. The communities differ in reference to the species preferences to light, moisture, soil fertility and reaction, which is reflected in the wide variety of microhabitats in the area. It was shown that the increase in the abundance of certain grass species, including Calamagrostis epigejos, Festuca rubra, Festuca arundinacea, Phragmites australis, has a significant negative impact on the species richness, species diversity and the uniformity of distribution of species of the plant community. Preliminary analyses revealed that on post-mining waste, the biomass production of the dominant species is negatively correlated with biodiversity. The knowledge about the biology and ecology of grass species, as well as on the assembly rules may be used in the reclamation of degraded areas. Gaining the knowledge about the vegetation diversity of the coal-mine spoil heaps with the dominant share of grasses can be useful in planning the reclamation works, taking into account natural processes, which leads to the creation of a permanent vegetation cover at a given site, protecting it against water or wind erosion. In the future these areas may provide a number of important ecosystem services.

Use of remote sensing to track postindustrial vegetation development

“…The first axis gradient is related to NDVI growth values, the plant height trait and the TWI as a proxy for moisture. The value of the DEM and DSM was in agreement with numerous field observations and published analyses showing that oftentimes the exposed, locally high‐elevation places are more exposed to wind and have less retention of rainfall (Błońska et al, 2019; Kompała‐Bąba et al, 2020; Woźniak, 2010).…”

Vegetation- and Environmental Changes on Non-Reclaimed Spoil Heaps in Southern Poland

“…Therefore, in each separate area, succession can evolve in different directions taking into account the features of the geochemical gangue. Their common feature is the initiation of succession by ruderal species at the initial succession stages such as Calamagrostis epigejos (L.) Roth, Solidago canadensis L., and S. virgaurea L. in most coal mining areas in Europe [ 21 , 34 , 80 ].…”

“…Many scientists have discussed the use of different types of reclamation strategies on tailings heaps (brownfield sites) and dumps [ 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 ]. In non-reclaimed or undeveloped areas, spontaneous successive vegetation has taken place, despite having hostile habitats such as no seed bank, poor amounts of nutrients or differentiation of granulometric compositions [ 32 , 33 ], and also high content of toxic metals in the ground [ 34 , 35 ]. Regardless, these areas are effectively colonized by plants with different environmental demands.…”

Is the Age of Novel Ecosystem the Factor Driving Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Colonization in Poa compressa and Calamagrostis epigejos?

“…The species composition and spatial structure of the vegetation of post-industrial areas (e.g., post-hard coal mine heaps) is different from any known in natural or semi-natural sites, which makes it difficult to classify using the vegetation type based on accepted phytosociological methods [ 42 , 74 ]. Although, it would be expected that the studied vegetation will consist mainly of ruderal species coming from the urban-industrial environment.…”

“…The hard coal mine heaps provide harsh, mineral substrate environmental conditions for plant colonization and growth [ 19 , 41 , 42 ], with such physico-chemical properties as: lack of soil, low fertility, low water-holding capacity [ 10 , 19 ], variable pH, high salinity, high temperatures [ 10 ], vulnerability to erosion, and high compaction of substrate material [ 43 ]. The post-hard coal mine heaps are sites of a pure mineral substrate and can temporarily be extremely warm (50 °C at noon in summer) compared with their surroundings, but with no differences in precipitation.…”