Spontaneous vegetation succession at different central European mining sites: a comparison across seres

Abstract

We performed detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) ordination to compare seven successional seres running in stone quarries, coal mining spoil heaps, sand and gravel pits, and extracted peatlands in the Czech Republic in central Europe. In total, we obtained 1,187 vegetation samples containing 705 species. These represent various successional stages aged from 1 to 100 years. The successional seres studied were more similar in their species composition in the initial stages, in which synathropic species prevailed, than in later successional stages. This vegetation differentiation was determined especially by local moisture conditions. In most cases, succession led to a woodland, which usually established after approximately 20 years. In very dry or wet places, by contrast, where woody species were limited, often highly valuable, open vegetation developed. Except in the peatlands, the total number of species and the number of target species increased during succession. Participation of invasive aliens was mostly unimportant. Spontaneous vegetation succession generally appears to be an ecologically suitable and cheap way of ecosystem restoration of heavily disturbed sites. It should, therefore, be preferred over technical reclamation.

Naturally recruited herbaceous vegetation in abandoned Belgian limestone quarries: towards habitats of conservation interest analogues?

“…Our study suggests that herbaceous plant assemblages that develop spontaneously on bare ground in abandoned limestone quarries in southern Belgium tend to succeed toward analogues to semi-natural plant communities that are recognized as having high conservation value. Several studies in temperate Europe have established that in abandoned surface quarries a period of 20 years is usually long enough for plant assemblages to develop a composition that is similar to natural or semi-natural herbaceous plant communities (Novák and Prach 2003;Prach et al 2013). Results of our study support the general observation that woody species do not usually re-establish on dry and rocky substrate of abandoned quarry sites (Prach 1987;Novák and Prach 2003;Prach et al 2013).…”

“…Several studies in temperate Europe have established that in abandoned surface quarries a period of 20 years is usually long enough for plant assemblages to develop a composition that is similar to natural or semi-natural herbaceous plant communities (Novák and Prach 2003;Prach et al 2013). Results of our study support the general observation that woody species do not usually re-establish on dry and rocky substrate of abandoned quarry sites (Prach 1987;Novák and Prach 2003;Prach et al 2013). However, one of the subsites studied (stage Q1 of Hermeton site) was colonized by Betula pubescens seedlings.…”

“…We used a space-for-time approach to examine a variety of time intervals since quarry abandonment (0-30 years) to investigate the time period needed for primary succession toward grasslands (via natural recruitment) in temperate regions (Prach 2003;Prach et al 2013). This space-for-time approach enabled us to identify changes in species composition and functional patterns resulting (Pickett 1989).…”

“…Several studies in temperate Europe have demonstrated that herbaceous plant assemblages have developed spontaneously on surface-mined areas after mining activities ceased (Novák and Prach 2003;Prach et al 2013). Limestone quarries provide large areas of bare bedrock that are dry and nutrient-poor, thus providing opportunities for spontaneous colonization by herbaceous species adapted to xeric and nutrient-poor conditions.…”

Participation of the Czech flora in succession at disturbed sites

“…The seres included successional stages on various spoil heaps from brown coal, black coal and uranium mining, sand and sand-gravel pits, limestone quarries, acidic rock quarries, basalt quarries, extracted peatlands, road verges, ploughed and then abandoned strips along the state border (the former "iron curtain"), river gravel bars, artificial islands and barriers in fishponds, the bottom of a former water reservoir, sedimentary basins, ruderal urban sites, abandoned fields, bulldozed sites of forests damaged by air pollution, forest clearings and burnt forests. Most of the seres are described in separate studies or summarized in papers (Prach et al 2013(Prach et al , 2014(Prach et al , 2016. In these references, there are details of the seres, including determination of successional age, which was based on rather precise records provided by mining companies, land owners and our own observations.…”