Ecosystem Development in the Constructed Catchment “Chicken Creek”

Abstract

Landscapes and ecosystems are complex systems with many feedback mechanisms acting between the various abiotic and biotic components. The knowledge about these interacting processes is mainly derived from mature ecosystems. The initial development of ecosystem complexity may involve state transitions following catastrophic shifts, disturbances, or transgression of thresholds. We propose a conceptual framework of feedback processes in early states of ecosystem development affected by spatiotemporal environmental drivers. To test this concept, we used 10-year time series of hydrological, biological, geomorphological, and soil data from the constructed catchment Chicken Creek." The 6ha site was left to unrestricted development since 2005 and was intensively monitored. The data showed a very rapid development of the site with an increasing complexity and heterogeneity. In the first years, stochastic signals like the initial substrate conditions and external drivers like extreme weather events were the most important factors resulting in abiotic/abiotic feedback mechanisms shaping the morphology of the site and creating site diversity. Initial abiotic feedback mechanisms between water and substrate were soon followed by abiotic/biotic feedbacks between biological soil crusts, invading vegetation, geomorphology, and hydrology resulting in state transitions of catchment functioning.

Perspectives of lignite post-mining landscapes under changing environmental conditions: what can we learn from a comparison between the Rhenish and Lusatian region in Germany?

“…An artificial watershed (Hühnerwasser/Chicken Creek) was constructed in the Welzow-Süd open cast mine and used as a terrestrial observatory for ecosystem development [95]. Its rapid colonization by plants has been annually monitored showing distinct phases of development [96].…”

Study of phosphorus status and sorption properties in reclaimed lignite mine soils under different age stands of Robinia pseudoacacia L. in Welzow, Germany

“…Sites (S1~S7) were planted between 2005 and 2007 with an initial plantation of 13.2 hectares of Robinia pseudoacacia L. trees, and afterwards, 8.6 hectares and 11.7 hectares of Robinia pseudoacacia L. trees were planted (Quinkenstein et al, 2011). Sites S6 and S7 were covered with Populus tremula L. trees, where S3 is a mixture of Quercus robur (oak) and Robinia pseudoacacia L. In sites S9 and S10, an artificial catchment was made where vegetation has developed quickly, which now covers around 60%, and vascular species were about 39% of the catchment area by 2010 (Elmer et al, 2011), where the vascular species have reached 58% by 2015 (Schaaf et al, 2018).…”

Applying Ecological Succession Theory to Birds in Solar Parks: An Approach to Address Protection and Planning

“…In 2005, part of the former open-cast lignite mine was reclaimed as the 6 ha Hühnerwasser catchment. The fenced catchment area, which has been left entirely to natural processes since its creation, is south-southwest facing with a 15 m difference in elevation on its long side of 400 m [26,27]. An electric fence was added to the perimeter in 2011, so that terrestrial predators are mostly excluded.…”