Quantification of landform heterogeneity and its relationship with ecological patterns in broad-scale post-mine rehabilitation

Abstract

Abstract:Broad-scale surface mining of minerals and quarrying for construction material is usually associated with significant alteration of topography and substantial disturbance to ecological systems. Post-mining ecological rehabilitation typically starts with reconstruction of topography. A fairly common industry practice has been to use landform elements such as plateaus, terraces, and gentle slopes to assist with stabilizing unconsolidated mine waste material. However, this approach often leads to the generation of uniform landform features that do not typically reflect those in natural landscapes. Previous research in undisturbed and agricultural landscapes shows that ecological attributes and diversity is positively correlated with landform heterogeneity. The objective of this thesis was to investigate if those findings were still valid in post-mining rehabilitated landscapes using information and knowledge captured from a history of sites mined for heavy mineral sands on North Stradbroke Island