Successional Changes in Vegetation Communities near Mine Pits

Abstract

This study investigates demutational changes in plant communities of phosphorite mines between 2005 and 2021. A total of 23 plant species were initially found in the surveyed areas in 2005, while 68 species were identified in spring 2021. The plant communities were categorized into five different groups, with the older communities (No. I and II) exhibiting richer vegetation and greater diversity. Community No. III comprised various cereals, legumes, orchid plants, and mosses. Dominant species in community No. I included Betula pubescens, Carpinus betulus, Quercus robur, and Picea obovata, while community No. II featured Juniperus communis, Larix sibirica, Pinus sylvestris, and Abies sibirica. Erosion was observed in community No. V on slopes of different ages. The study also found changes in physicochemical indices, such as increased organic matter concentration and decreased pH value (4.9). The basal respiration rate of the pit soil was low (around 0.4 mg CO2/m2/h), and carbonate content ranged from 0.06 to 0.9%. This study presents novel data on the dynamics of species composition, plant community structure, and physicochemical soil parameters in human-altered habitats, thereby contributing to the expansion of our knowledge of vegetation recovery and evolution in such environments.

Land Use and Land Cover Trends and Their Impact on Streamflow and Sediment Yield in a Humid Basin of Brazil’s Atlantic Forest Biome

“…Forested areas, especially in tropical regions, play a critical role in attenuating peak streamflows during rainy seasons due to their low runoff coefficients and high rates of evapotranspiration [78]. In a study conducted by [79], it was noted that alterations in land use have a modulating effect on the hydrological cycle. Specifically, the increase in deforestation activities directly impacts both mean and peak streamflows.…”