The ‘terril’ effect: Coal mine spoil tips select for collembolan functional traits in post-mining landscapes of northern France

Abstract

We sampled collembolan communities in 11 coal mine spoil tips (locally called 'terrils') from the North of France, and their surroundings, in various stages of vegetation development (bare soil, herb, shrub and tree vegetation). We wondered whether species, functional trait (Community Weighted Mean trait or CWM) composition and trait diversity (Rao's quadratic entropy) responded to the particular environment of coal mine spoil tips (here called 'terril' effect) and to successional effects and which of these three sets was the best indicator of soil and vegetation effects, taking into account that spoil tips were spatially distant and idiosyncratic (e.g. varying in height, area, past

Functional structure and composition of Collembola and soil macrofauna communities depend on abiotic parameters in derelict soils

“…Collembola and macrofauna communities can be both affected by surrounding environment and vegetation in derelict soils (Cortet et al, 2013;Baranova et al, 2014;Vanhee et al, 2017). Although no geostatistical analyses were performed in the present study, some hypotheses might be suggested on species traits selection.…”

“…Firstly, the OM content was associated with the presence of Collembola Lepidocyrtus lanuginosus and Isotomiella minor, found at high densities in soils with high OM contents (Santorufo et al, 2014) and in coal mine spoil tip soils (Vanhee et al, 2017). These species are considered as forest-inhabiting species (Heiniger et al, 2015).…”

“…For example, in urban soils, the proportion of Collembola with a sexual reproduction type was positively correlated with total Cu and Ni concentrations, and the proportion of pigmented Collembola was positively correlated with total Cr, Pb and Zn concentrations (Santorufo et al, 2015). The proportion of Collembola living belowground (with the following trait attributes: small size, reduced or absent sensorial organs and furca, non-sexual reproduction type) in coal mine spoil tip soils was found associated to a coarser soil texture and higher nitrogen and organic matter concentrations (Vanhee et al, 2017). In parallel, the proportion of macroinvertebrates with a soft body decreased when metal contamination increased (Hedde et al (2012), and the body size of ants was found driven by soil granulometry (Costa-Milanez et al (2017).…”

Differences in collembola species assemblages (Arthropoda) between spoil tips and surrounding environments are dependent on vegetation development

“…For soil restoration, the objective is to maintain the functional ecology, providing essential functions and ecosystem services. In light of this, the functional diversity approach must be promoted 9 , with an interest on functional traits rather than species 10 . However, for soil biodiversity conservation, environmental actions should promote the importance of local, natural heritage and hence should consider the site effect on species composition.…”

Move or change, an eco-evolutionary dilemma: The case of Collembola

“…The active motility of collembolan species is highly variable, depending on whether animals are adapted to subterranean or aerial life and whether they possess organs making them able to walk or jump (Vanhee et al 2017). By active movement they are able to select habitats within a circle of up to 200m, above which dispersal limitation is commonly observed at community level (Ponge and Salmon 2013).…”