Spontaneous Vegetation Succession in Gravel–Sand Pits: A Potential for Restoration

Abstract

Vegetation variability, the participation of target and undesirable species, and the role of local species pool were studied in the course of spontaneous succession in disused gravel-sand pits. The study was conducted in various regions of the Czech Republic, Central Europe. The regions represented either agrarian lowlands with a relatively warm and dry climate or mostly woodland uplands with a relatively cold and wet climate. The gravel-sand pits (36) comprised stages of different age from 1 to 75 years since abandonment. Altogether, 224 vegetation samples were recorded with species cover (%) visually estimated. Species affinity to different vegetation types was assessed in each sample based on the species cover. Local site factors, such as water table and soil characteristics, and landscape characteristics, namely climatic parameters, presence of nearby (semi)natural plant communities and main land cover categories in the broader surroundings, were evaluated as well as the participation of target (grassland, woodland, and wetland) and undesirable (ruderal, alien) species. Ordination analyses showed that vegetation succession led to target grassland, wetland, or woodland vegetation depending on local site factors, especially moisture and the presence of (semi)natural vegetation in the surroundings (local species pool). Restoration of target vegetation in disused gravel-sand pits by processes of spontaneous succession can be possible and successful in about 25 years, especially if (semi)natural vegetation exists in the surroundings. The invasion of the alien tree Robinia pseudacacia must be taken into consideration within the dry sites in lowlands.

Floristic Survey of Summer Aspect in Chosen China Clay Pits in Western Bohemia

“…Wet habitats of china-clay pits were rather poor in number of species comparing to similar habitats in sand pits (Řehounková and Prach, 2008), which is probably the result of diff erent water regime in these substrates. Moreover water pools in china clay pits are usually muddy with clay particles.…”

Wetland management strategies lead to tradeoffs in ecological structure and function

“…For example, "passive" restoration approaches, including the re-establishment of vegetation through an existing seed bank and natural re-colonization of plants and animals, can be successful in some situations (Řehounková and Prach, 2008;Moreno-Mateos et al, 2015). These passive restoration approaches are low-cost and increase the likelihood that reestablished species are well-suited to the local physical conditions (Mitsch et al, 1998;Prach and Hobbs, 2008).…”

Succession rates and patterns twelve years after land use abandonment in the estuary of the river aliakmon, n. greece

“…Given the ecological importance of wetlands, alongside their over-exploitation, especially in Greece (ZALIDIS et al 1997, GERAKIS and KALBURTJI 1998, SMARDON 2009, it is not surprising that the development of protection and restoration strategies accompanied by appropriate legislation gained importance at both international and national levels (SMARDON 2009). The tight relation between restoration and vegetation succession explains why the latter is widely discussed in the relevant literature (ROOZEN and WESTHOFF 1985, ROSSELL et al 2009, MATTHEWS and ENDRESS 2010. Nevertheless, in Greece there is still a considerable lack of experience regarding the successional pattern of wetland vegetation and within this concept, our objective is to analyze the vegetation succession after 12 years of land use abandonment (agriculture and grazing) using a case study approach in the estuaries of the River Aliakmon, N. Greece.…”

“…Ecological restoration can, in addition to its main components of planning, implementation and evaluation, be regarded as the implementation of succession concepts (ZEDLER 2005, HOBBS et al 2007 or as a form of manipulated succession (MATTHEWS and ENDRESS 2010). To exemplify, information concerning long-term succession assists rational planning that reduces the possibility of undesirable results; or else allows for the definition of a framework of possible trajectories within which restoration can occur and defines the time frames within which restoration should be evaluated and further intervention is needed (HOBBS et al 2007, ÌEHOUNKOVÁ andPRACH 2008). This linkage between restoration ecology and succession implies that as much input as possible concerning ecological processes and functioning should be available (PRACH et al 2001).…”