Vegetation diversity on coal mine spoil heaps-how important is the texture of the soil substrate?

© 2019, The Author(s). The relationship between the size of the particle fractions of the soil substrate and the diversity of the spontaneously developing vegetation was investigated on coal mine spoil heaps in Upper Silesia (Southern Poland). The analyses were based on 2567 research plots of developed spontaneous vegetation and their associated soil substrate samples collected from 112 coal mine spoil heaps. For each research plot the prevailing particle size fraction was determined (stones, gravel, sand, silt), the species composition and abundance was recorded and the species richness (S), Shannon-Wiener diversity index (H′), Simpson (C) and Evenness (E) indices were used to determine species diversity. From a total of 119 research plots (in all particle size fraction categories), the values of 15 physicochemical properties (pH, electrical conductivity, water holding capacity, moisture, carbon content, total N, available P, Mg and exchange cations Ca, Mg, K, Na, fine particles (%), gravel (%), stone (%)) were obtained to asses their impact on the floristic composition of vegetation patches using Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA). Additionally, functional traits of the dominant species of each vegetation patch (life forms, life strategies and socio-ecological groups), were selected to analyse their relation to substrate texture. It was shown that the highest species richness and the highest values for Shannon-Wiener diversity index, as well as Simpson and Evenness indices, were obtained in plots formed on stones. Moreover, the greatest variation in the participation of species representing different habitats, life forms, and life strategies was found on gravelly substrates. Contrary to our expectations, the vegetation diversity (in terms of both species and their functional traits) was not highest in habitats with a high composition of fine size particles.Published versio

The role of plants and soil properties in the enzyme activities of substrates on hard coal mine spoil heaps

© 2021 The Authors. Published by Springer. This is an open access article available under a Creative Commons licence. The published version can be accessed at the following link on the publisher’s website: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-84673-0Knowledge about biotic (plant species diversity, biomass) and/or abiotic (physicochemical substrate parameters) factors that determine enzyme activity and functional diversity of the substrate on hard coal spoil heaps is limited. Spontaneously developed vegetation patches dominated by herbaceous species commonly occurring on these spoil heaps: grasses (Poa compressa, Calamagrostis epigejos) and forbs (Daucus carota, Tussilago farfara), were examined. The activity of dehydrogenase and alkaline phosphatase was twice as high in plots dominated by grass species compared with those dominated by forbs. Significant positive correlations were found between the activity of dehydrogenase and alkaline phosphatase with pH, available P, soil moisture, and water holding capacity and negative correlations between the activity of urease and soil organic carbon. Strong positive correlations were found between values for Shannon–Wiener diversity index, evenness, species richness and soil functional diversity in plots dominated by grasses. We found that the soil physicochemical parameters had a greater impact on enzyme activity of the substrate than plant biomass and species diversity. However, grasses, through their extensive root system, more effectively increased enzyme activity and health of the substrate than other herbaceous species, and as they stabilize the substrate and form dense plant cover, they can be recommended for reclamation purposes.This study was funded by the InfoRevita project (TANGO1/268600/ NCBR/2015) financed by The National Centre for Research and Development in Poland.Accepted versio

Diversity of vegetation dominated by selected grass species on coal-mine spoil heaps in terms of reclamation of post-industrial areas

Published by Polish Society of Ecological Engineering (PTIE). This is an open access article available under a Creative Commons licence. The published version can be accessed at the following link on the publisher’s website: https://doi.org/10.12911/22998993/93870© 2018, Polish Society of Ecological Engineering (PTIE). Grasses have a considerable potential for the adaptation to various, often extreme, habitat conditions. The aim of the work was to present the vegetation diversity of the coal-mine spoil heaps with the dominant share of grasses and to identify the main factors responsible for this diversity in the aspect of post-industrial land reclamation. The communities differ in reference to the species preferences to light, moisture, soil fertility and reaction, which is reflected in the wide variety of microhabitats in the area. It was shown that the increase in the abundance of certain grass species, including Calamagrostis epigejos, Festuca rubra, Festuca arundinacea, Phragmites australis, has a significant negative impact on the species richness, species diversity and the uniformity of distribution of species of the plant community. Preliminary analyses revealed that on post-mining waste, the biomass production of the dominant species is negatively correlated with biodiversity. The knowledge about the biology and ecology of grass species, as well as on the assembly rules may be used in the reclamation of degraded areas. Gaining the knowledge about the vegetation diversity of the coal-mine spoil heaps with the dominant share of grasses can be useful in planning the reclamation works, taking into account natural processes, which leads to the creation of a permanent vegetation cover at a given site, protecting it against water or wind erosion. In the future these areas may provide a number of important ecosystem services.Published versio

Impact of selected plant species on enzymatic activity of soil substratum on post-mining heaps

Published by Polish Society of Ecological Engineering (PTIE). This is an open access article available under a Creative Commons licence. The published version can be accessed at the following link on the publisher’s website: https://doi.org/10.12911/22998993/93867© 2019 Polish Society of Ecological Engineering (PTIE). The natural mineral resources (hard coal, sands, dolomites, lead and zinc ores) found in the Silesia and the excavation of them led to significant transformation or even degradation of the environment. The landscape of Upper Silesia was dominated by heaps created as a result of the accumulation of post-mining coal waste. These post-industrial sites are characterised by difficult conditions for the development of plant communities. Nevertheless, the heaps are spontaneously overgrowing and over time, a separate ecosystem can be observed (for heaps). The article analyzes the enzymatic activity of the substrate in relation to the selected dominant grass (Monocots) and herbaceous (Dicots) plant species. The aim of this study was to compare the activity of particular enzymes in soil substratum of the vegetation patches dominated by grass and herbaceous plants.Published versio

Do the dominant plant species impact the substrate and vegetation composition of post-coal mining spoil heaps?

This is an accepted manuscript of an article published by Elsevier in Ecological Engineering on 03/12/2019, available online: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2019.105685 The accepted version of the publication may differ from the final published version�� 2019 Dominant species influence both species and functional composition of the vegetation as well as soil properties of the substrate. However, knowledge about the role played by dominant species in the process of shaping their habitat within post-industrial ecosystems is still limited. We aimed to assess the impact of four dominant species (Calamagrostis epigejos, Daucus carota, Poa compressa and Tussilago farfara) on soil abiotic and biotic properties, and to detect differences in species and functional composition of the vegetation types studied. We hypothesized that (1) dominant species of higher mean biomass cause lower aboveground biodiversity and (2) dominant species of higher mean biomass have a higher impact than the others on soil properties. We measured soil chemistry (TOC, N, P, K, Na, Mg content, EC, pH and enzyme activities) as well as biomass, species diversity and functional diversity of vegetation on 15 study plots (28.3 m2) for each species studied. The DCA analysis revealed a clear distinction between the patches dominated by studied species. Vegetation patches dominated by Calamagrostis epigejos were correlated with amount of biomass, canopy height CWM and specific leaf CWM. Patches dominated by Daucus carota were related to the light requirements (EIV-L), Total Organic Carbon (TOC) and K content. The vegetation patches dominated by Poa compressa were related to dehydrogenase activity, higher Mg content and species richness of the vegetation patches. The highest TOC content was recorded for T. farfara substrates, and the lowest for C. epigejos substrates. The content of potassium does not differ statistically significantly in the substrates from sites dominated by D. carota and P. compressa. The highest values of Mg content were recorded for D. carota and were statistically different from Poa compressa sites, while the higher phosphorus content (statistically significantly different) was recorded for patches dominated by T. farfara and P. compressa. Despite our assumptions, the species with the highest mean biomass (Calamagrostis epigejos) did not cause lower species or functional diversity. In contrast, Tussilago farfara has the highest impact on postindustrial site habitats on coal mine heaps, as extreme values of four soil substratum parameters were recorded on these plots. This species also decreased both species and functional diversity of vegetation. The knowledge about relationship existing between plants (aboveground vegetation) and soil organisms seems important in order to undertake suitable reclamation measures and to restore variety of functions as well as to create diverse vegetation based on native species.Published versio

Ocena aktywności zanieczyszczeń glebowych jako wskaźnika wpływu zanieczyszczeń antropogennych na funkcjonowanie ekosystemów lasów świerkowych Beskidu Śląskiego

Activity of soil enzymes is considered as a good indicator of natural and anthropogenic disturbances of the functioning of the soil. Heavy metals can inhibit the activity of enzymes in varying degree, depending on soil properties such as content of clay materials, organic matter and pH of soil solution. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of physicochemical and biological properties of soils on the condition of Norway spruce stands in Silesian Beskid. In the soil samples enzymatic activity of four enzymes (alkaline and acid phosphatase, dehydrogenase, urease) and concentration of three selected heavy metals (Cd, Pb, Zn) and sulfur were determined. The analyses showed no reduced activity of investigated enzymes. Presumably, despite of low pH values of the soil, organic matter contained in the soil is able to effectively bind heavy metal ions, limiting their cycling in the environment. It can be concluded that the condition of spruce stands in Silesian Beskid is not affected by the soil contamination.Aktywność enzymów glebowych uważana jest za dobry wskaźnik naturalnych i antropogennych zaburzeń w funkcjonowaniu gleby. Metale ciężkie w różnym stopniu mogą hamować działanie enzymów, w zależności od właściwości gleb, takich jak zawartość materiałów ilastych, gliny, materii organicznej czy wartości pH roztworu glebowego. Celem pracy było określenie wpływu właściwości fizykochemicznych i biologicznych gleb na kondycję drzewostanów świerkowych w Beskidzie Śląskim. Próbki glebowe zbadano pod względem aktywności enzymatycznej (fosfataza kwaśna i zasadowa, dehydrogenaza, ureaza) oraz koncentracji trzech wybranych metali ciężkich (Cd, Pb, Zn) i siarki. Analizy nie wykazały obniżonej aktywności badanych enzymów. Prawdopodobnie mimo niskich wartości pH gleby, zawarta w niej materia organiczna efektywnie wiąże metale ciężkie, ograniczając ich obieg w środowisku. Można stwierdzić, że stan drzewostanów świerkowych w Beskidzie Śląskim nie ma związku z zanieczyszczeniem gleb na tym terenie

Suitability of selected Robinia pseudoacacia organs for bioindication purposes

Celem pracy było określenie przydatności wybranych organów Robinia pseudoacacia do bioindykacji. Oznaczono zawartości wybranych pierwiastków w liściach, pędach, nasionach i łupinach nasiennych R. pseudoacacia z terenów trzech miast województwa śląskiego: Katowic, Chorzowa i Siemianowic Śląskich. W każdym z miast wytypowano po pięć stanowisk pobrania próbek. Stanowiska podzielono na 3 grupy w zależności od ich otoczenia: różniły się one pod względem poziomu zanieczyszczenia (ruch uliczny, zakłady przemysłowe). Stwierdzono statystycznie istotne różnice w poziomie zanieczyszczeń pomiędzy wyróżnionymi grupami stanowisk. Na podstawie analizy skupień oraz PCA dla poszczególnych organów wyróżniono grupy stanowisk ze wzglądu na koncentrację badanych pierwiastków w tkankach R. pseudoacacia. Przeprowadzone badania pozwalają stwierdzić, że najlepiej nadającym się do celów bioindykacyjnych organem R. pseudoacacia są liście.The aim of this study was to determine the suitability of chosen organs of Robinia pseudoacacia as bioindicators. Content of selected elements in leaves, shoots, seeds, pods and bark of R. pseudoacacia from the area of three cities of Silesia province: Katowice, Chorzow and Siemianowice Slaskie was estimated. In each of the cities five sampling points were selected. Localizations were grouped in three categories differing in terms of the level of pollution (traffic, industrial plants). Statistically significant differences between pollution level of segregated groups in investigated localizations were found. On the basis of PCA and cluster analysis for individual organs sampling points were divided into groups depending on concentration of investigated elements in tissues of R. pseudoacacia. Conducted studies suggest that the organ best suitable for bioindication are leaves of R. pseudoacacia