Threatened vascular plant species in spontaneously revegetated post‐mining sites

Abstract

The occurrence of threatened vascular plant species has been occasionally reported from some disturbed sites. Nevertheless, almost nothing is known about the conservation potential of post-mining habitats for vascular plant species at a landscape scale. We asked how much threatened species occur in the artificial habitats, and if the participation of particular threatened species categories differ over the course of succession. We studied 10 successional series running in 321 post-mining sites across the Czech Republic, Central Europe. In total, 2,597 vegetation samples comprising 935 vascular plant species were analyzed. We found 235 threatened species (14% of the country's threatened flora). The majority of the threatened plants, namely 223, avoided plots overgrown by woody species, in which only 48 species occurred. The importance of spontaneously revegetated habitats for nature conservation differed among successional stages formed by discontinuous vegetation cover (not fully developed and still open, up to approximately 25 years since site abandonment), which harbored especially critically endangered species of open habitats, and continuous vegetation cover (fully developed and closed, over approximately 25 years), which was suitable for specialized threatened species typical of fully established vegetation. A mosaic of various successional stages comprising both categories of vegetation cover should be applied as an effective restoration solution to maintain a variety of habitats for threatened species.

Spontaneous succession on road verges—An effective approach with minimum effort

“…This indicates that all successional stages on road verges may be, to a certain degree, important for rare species. A similar conservation potential of spontaneous succession was documented by Řehounková et al (2020) for post‐mining habitats.…”

“…In the last two decades, spontaneous succession has been recognised as an effective approach in the restoration of highly disturbed sites (Albert et al, 2014; Lavoie, Grosvernier, Girard, & Marcoux, 2003; Prach et al, 2001; Prach & Hobbs, 2008). Such natural processes may result in an increase of small‐scale biodiversity (Heneberg, Bogusch, & Řezáč, 2017; Ullmann & Heindl, 1989), landscape heterogeneity (Cole, Brocklehurst, Robertson, Harrison, & McCracken, 2017), species richness of specialised grassland species (Tikka et al, 2001), and creation of suitable habitats for endangered species (Fekete et al, 2017; Řehounková, Vítovcová, & Prach, 2020). However, the ability of succession to lead to a target vegetation depends on many factors, such as environmental site conditions, namely soil pH, soil moisture, climatic conditions, landscape context, and the local species pool (Johansen, Aker, Klanderud, Olsen, & Skrindo, 2017; Prach, Pyšek, & Jarošík, 2007; Prach, Pyšek, & Řehounková, 2014; Turner, Baker, Peterson, & Peet, 1998).…”

“…In the last two decades, spontaneous succession has been recognised as an effective approach in the restoration of highly disturbed sites (Albert et al, 2014;Lavoie, Grosvernier, Girard, & Marcoux, 2003;Prach et al, 2001;Prach & Hobbs, 2008). Such natural processes may result in an increase of small-scale biodiversity (Heneberg, Bogusch, & Řez ač, 2017;Ullmann & Heindl, 1989), landscape heterogeneity (Cole, Brocklehurst, Robertson, Harrison, & McCracken, 2017), species richness of specialised grassland species (Tikka et al, 2001), and creation of suitable habitats for endangered species (Fekete et al, 2017;Řehounkov a, Vítovcov a, & Prach, 2020).…”

Proposals for improvement of Annex I of Directive 92/43/EEC: Sardinia

“…Motivation: Natural revegetated post-mining dumps, tailing dams and quarries may act as important secondary habitats and can be considered a potential complement to existing protected ones (e.g., Angiolini et al 2005;Řehounková et al 2020). Due to the extreme and peculiar environmental conditions occurring there, the biological communities established on these substrates are often unique and rich in endemic plant species.…”

Enhancing biodiversity and ecosystem services in quarry restoration – challenges, strategies, and practice

“…Řehounková et al () infer in their study that post‐mining sites, especially if left to spontaneous restoration, can operate as secondary or surrogate habitats for species of conservation concern. The approaches presented here can be alternatives to inadequate restoration practices (Perring et al ), and can contribute to maximize local biodiversity (Doley & Audet ).…”