Biodiversity and temporal patterns of macrozoobenthos in a coal mining subsidence area in North China

Abstract

Coal resources play a strategic role in the long-term development of China. Large-scale mining has a considerable impact on the landscape, and it is a long-term heritage of industrialization unique to the Anthropocene. We investigated the macrozoobenthos and water in nine mining subsidence wetlands at different developmental stages (3–20 years) in North China. A total of 68 species were found, and the macrozoobenthos community in the newly formed wetlands showed high diversity. We believe that this high diversity is not random; rather, the high diversity was because of the special origin and development of the wetland. We used three time slices from the timeline of the development of the newly formed wetlands and compared them. It was found that the macrozoobenthos community was significantly affected by the change in the subsidence history. We emphasize that coal mining subsidence should not be merely identified as secondary man-made disasters, as they are often secondary habitats with high conservation value, and their conservation potential lies in the fact that these secondary habitats can replace rapidly decreasing natural wetlands.

Responses of Natural Microorganisms to Land Reclamation and Applications of Functional Microorganisms in Biorestoration of Coal Mining Area

“…However, mining can also create more complex Diversity 2024, 16, 86 2 of 17 habitats with the potential for high conservation value. These secondary habitats have the potential to replace rapidly disappearing natural wetlands, which further complicates conservation efforts [6].In addition, coal mining activities also have profound effects on soil characteristics and the microbial community. During surface mining, all the surface layers (topsoil, subsoil, and overburden rock) are removed.…”

Assessment on coal mining land subsidence by using an innovative comprehensive weighted cloud model combination PSR conceptual model

“…The mining of coal resources is of great strategic signi cance to China's long-term development. However, the excessive exploitation of underground coal resources has caused serious secondary disasters, which have had a huge impact on the landscape and ecological environment of the mining area (Zhang et al, 2019). Geological disasters such as surface deformation, fracture, and collapse caused by mining have destroyed a large number of farmland, vegetation, water resources and surface buildings, severely damaged the ecological environment of the mining area, and threatened the sustainable development of the coal industry (Akcin, 2021;Zheng et al, 2020).…”

Study on soil pollution caused by heavy metals in coal mining areas and vegetation restoration in surrounding areas

“…Coal mine is an important resource for social development, which has very important economic value [1]. It is distributed in China widely but unevenly, and it concentrates in areas with a fragile ecological environment in Northwest China [2].…”