Incorporating rock in surface covers improves the establishment of native pioneer vegetation on alkaline mine tailings

Cross, Adam T.; Zhong, Hongtao; Lambers, Hans

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145373

Cited by 11 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 115 publications

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“…Arctic environments naturally have diverse microtopography that supports a variety of vascular and nonvascular species (Peterson & Billings 1980; Sohlberg & Bliss 1984). Adding microtopography to post mining surface substrates creates heterogeneous microsites which have improved vegetation establishment and growth in North America and Australia (Melnik et al 2018; Cross et al 2021; Miller et al 2021). Similarly for nonvascular species, Roturier et al (2007) found differences in fragment movement and reestablishment of Cladonia arbuscula ssp .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assisted dispersal and retention of lichen‐dominated biocrust material for arctic restoration

Ficko

Haughland

Naeth

2022

Restoration Ecology

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Arctic biocrust loss due to industrial activity can have long-lasting ecological impacts, highlighting the importance of restoring disturbed tundra environments. This research focused on biocrust establishment on substrates of by-product materials from diamond mining (crushed rock, lake sediment, processed kimberlite), inoculant dispersal (dry placement, slurry), habitat amelioration (erosion control blanket, tundra soil, woody debris), and containment (jute mat), over three field seasons at Diavik Diamond Mine, Inc., Northwest Territories. Three years after inoculation, lichens were detected on 100% of inoculated plots and 70% of uninoculated plots (likely blown in from inoculated plots). Uninoculated plots had significantly lower species richness and vegetation cover than inoculated plots. Biocrust retention was highest on plots with erosion control blanket, containment, woody debris, and crushed rock; larger scale application of these treatments should be assessed in future. Plots with processed kimberlite, no habitat amelioration or tundra soil, and no containment had the lowest cover, species richness, and individual species abundance in year 3. This research suggests that active restoration techniques using lichen biocrust inoculation and habitat amelioration is required for successful biocrust revegetation outcomes on substrates of mining by-products in the arctic.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assisted dispersal and retention of lichen‐dominated biocrust material for arctic restoration

Ficko

Haughland

Naeth

2022

Restoration Ecology

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“…The large differences in seedling emergence and establishment according to species highlights the need to advance in the knowledge of species selection for direct seeding in arid land restoration. This can improve the ethical use of seeds by omitting unfavorable species in a given restoration substrate before seeding as proposed by Cross (2021).…”

Section: Direct Seeding Performance In the Sector Of Highest Seedling...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The heterogeneity of germination sites imposed by land use, different degradation levels or soil surface manipulation is closely related to success or failure outputs, as it has been demonstrated in studies that focused on soil‐seeds interaction (Chambers 2000; Bosco et al 2015). Research on seedling emergence and establishment from direct seeding show a clear benefit of soil amelioration through ripping, holes, or adding materials, including rocks, litter or top‐soil (Chambers 2000; Commander et al 2019; Cross et al 2021). Thus, improvements in microsite conditions such as temperature and water availability seem to be key determinant factors for seedling recruitment (Kildisheva et al 2016; Lewandrowski et al 2021; Veblen et al 2022).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

From seed germination to established seedlings: a comparative evaluation in five shrub species and implications for seed‐based restoration in arid lands

Pérez

2023

Restoration Ecology

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In a context of global desertification, direct seeding of native species is emerging as a hopeful technique to achieve large‐scale arid land restoration. Although low percentages of establishment have been reported for direct seeding in arid lands, it has been more cost‐effective than outplantings for some species. Therefore, in order to determine the most suitable species for direct seeding we evaluated potential germination in laboratory trials (ex situ), and seedling emergence and establishment in the field (in situ) for five shrub species from the most arid region of Argentina called “Monte.” Direct seeding was performed in three alternative environmental conditions: (1) abandoned oil‐drilling platforms, (2) bare soil patches, and (3) under the canopy of shrubs patches in cattle ranching areas. In the three cases, four soil treatments were applied: hydrogel, soil enrichment with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, and clay pot irrigation. Seedling emergence and establishment after the first period of extreme weather conditions (summer) were higher in severely degraded sites (oil‐drilling platforms). In this particular condition, seedling emergence and establishment presented the highest values for Ephedra ochreata (64.8–82.8% and 26.8–46.4%, respectively) and the lowest values for Larrea divaricata (6.78–24.8% and 2.8–6.4%, respectively). These results show that direct seeding offers potential possibilities to restart processes of assisted succession in arid lands and that species selection is a key stage/phase in direct seeding success.

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“…Maireana species are successful pioneer plants on tailings storage facilities, both on a tailings dam at mine site and in glasshouse trials (Cross et al, 2021). However, it is puzzling how Maireana species can grow in pure tailings, since tailings did not contain detectable levels of N (Table 1).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exceptional nitrogen-resorption efficiency enables Maireana species (Chenopodiaceae) to function as pioneers at a mine-restoration site

Zhong

Zhou

Wong

et al. 2021

Science of The Total Environment

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Incorporating rock in surface covers improves the establishment of native pioneer vegetation on alkaline mine tailings

Cited by 11 publications

References 115 publications

Assisted dispersal and retention of lichen‐dominated biocrust material for arctic restoration

Assisted dispersal and retention of lichen‐dominated biocrust material for arctic restoration

From seed germination to established seedlings: a comparative evaluation in five shrub species and implications for seed‐based restoration in arid lands

Exceptional nitrogen-resorption efficiency enables Maireana species (Chenopodiaceae) to function as pioneers at a mine-restoration site

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