Ecological Features of Spontaneous Vascular Flora of Serpentine Post-Mining Sites in Lower Silesia

Abstract

Abstract:The aim of this study was to determine the ecological characteristics of vascular plants colonizing serpentine mining waste dumps and quarries in Lower Silesia. The investigated fl ora was analyzed with regard to species composition, geographical-historical status, life forms, as well as selected ecological factors, such as light and trophic preferences, soil moisture and reaction, value of resistance to increased heavy metals content in the soil, seed dispersal modes and occurrence of mycorrhiza. There were 113 species of vascular plants, belonging to 28 families, found on seven sites in the study. The most numerous families were Asteraceae, Poaceae, Fabaceae and Caryophyllaceae. Only 13% of all plants recorded occurred on at least fi ve of the study sites. The most numerous were species related to dry grassland communities, particularly of the Festuco-Brometea class, which included taxa endangered in the region of Lower Silesia: Avenula pratensis, Salvia pratensis, Festuca valesiaca. Apophytes dominated in the fl ora of the investigated communities. Hemicryptophytes were the most numerous group and therophytes were also abundant. The serpentine mining waste dumps and querries hosted heliophilous species which prefer mesic or dry habitats moderately poor in nutrients, featuring neutral soil reaction. On two study sites 30% of the fl ora composition consisted of species that tolerate an increased content of heavy metals in the soil. Anemochoric species were the most numerous with regard to types of seed dispersal. Species with an arbuscular type of mycorrhiza were defi nitely dominant in the fl ora of all the study sites, however, the number of nonmycorrhizal species was also relatively high. It was suggested that both the specifi c characteristics of the habitats from serpentine mining and the vegetation of adjacent areas had a major impact on the fl ora composition of the communities in the investigated sites.

Changes in the vascular flora of a postflotation zinc–lead ore spoil heap of the “Orzeł Biały” mining and smelting works in Bytom (Silesian Upland) after 15 years

“…During the succession that occurred on the lead and zinc spoil heaps, the number of native species (apophytes) increased. Similar results have also been obtained by other scientists who studied spontaneous succession on coal mine spoil heaps [37,38], sand and gravel pits [39,40], reclaimed and spontaneously vegetated Zn-Pb mine wastes in southern Poland [41,42], or serpentinite waste dumps [43]. The composition of the vascular flora of the postmining lead and zinc spoil heaps is connected with the local species pool.…”

“…In the past, the area of "Żabie Doły" was covered by rushes and wet meadows, some segetal as well as ruderal communities, in the floristic composition of which native species were primarily found. These are frequently better adapted to habitat conditions on spoil heaps than alien species [43]. Among the alien species that occurred in the vascular flora that was studied, Solidago gigantea was found on the top as well as at the bottom of the spoil heaps; however, it only formed rather small patches.…”

“…Such a mode of dispersal is typical of some species from the Poaceae family as well as other forbs of both native and foreign origin (Conyza canadensis, Erigeron annuus, Solidago sp.). In turn, zoochory enables some shrubs and trees to be dispersed over a short distance [43].…”

Robinia pseudoacacia and Melandrium album in trace elements biomonitoring and air pollution tolerance index study

“…The species M. album was often an abundant therophyte (hemicryptophyte) in the vascular flora on spoil heaps located in Piekary Ś ląskie and Bytom (southern Poland) (Skubała 2011). M. album also colonized serpentinite mining dumps in Lower Silesia (southwestern Poland) (Kasowska and Koszelnik-Leszek 2014). However, information concerning its accumulation capabilities is rather rare.…”

Threatened vascular plant species in spontaneously revegetated post‐mining sites

“…A detailed study of basalt quarries revealed the importance of distance to donor vegetation, that is, dry grasslands, for successful colonization of post‐mining sites, but this was found to be only up to about 50 m (Novák & Konvička ). On the other hand, it is obvious that not all species have a similar chance to successfully disperse into post‐mining habitats (Řehounková & Prach ; Kasowska & Koszelnik‐Leszek ), and their establishment and subsequent spread are further modified by habitat environmental barriers (Thornton ).…”