Successive processes at quarry waste dumps of various ages

This work is dedicated to the study of the succession processes in quarries of different ages in the territory of the Russian Federation and neighbouring countries, namely, Kazakhstan and Ukraine. In selected soil samples from the areas studied, certain physical and chemical properties, the quantitative composition of microbial communities and the diversity of floral species from the quarries were studied. The pH values for the Kuzbass area were found to decrease to 4.8, and in the area of the younger quarries – Inguletsky and Sokolovsky – higher pH values were recorded. The basal soil respiration rate of the Kuzbass quarry was approximately 0.2 mg CO2/g/h. The CO2 carbonate content ranged from 0.05% to 0.6%. The microbial biomass in Kuzbass soil was from 0.87 to 5.10 μg C/g soil, while its quantity in other quarries was 6 times lower, which is associated with the relatively young age of these sites. The study of the diversity of floral species in the Kuznetsk coalfield identified 120 species of upper plants belonging to 34 families. Among them, cereals, legumes and mosses, lichens and algae were predominant. In the territory of Inguletsky and Sokolovsky quarries, the diversity of plant species was much poorer. In this regard, further research will focus on increasing the rate of succession and maintaining ecosystem stability by increasing the share of microorganisms. Also, the study of the possibility to accelerate the restoration of younger flora in the discharges of age careers at the expense of the mycorrhizal communities formation is of high relevance.

Fifteen years of habitat, floristic and vegetation change on a pioneer sand-dune and slack system at Ainsdale, north Merseyside, UK

Changes in habitat, floristics and vegetation between 2005 and 2019 were studied on 2.9 ha of sandy foreshore near Ainsdale-on-Sea, north Merseyside. Named the ‘New Green Beach’, the site initially supported saltmarsh vegetation but, within five years, a 30-35 m-wide embryo dune ridge had formed, eventually 3.5 m high, backed by a 300 x 30 m seasonally flooded, calcareous dune-slack. The latter was colonised by pioneer slack plants, after which it rapidly developed areas of tall-herb fen and Alnus/Salix carr, while saltmarsh plants declined. During succession, species recorded as ‘rare’ became fewer in number while a higher frequency of ‘abundant’ taxa was recorded. The number of vascular plants listed annually increased from one in 2005 to 154 in 2019, though the rate of addition of new plants fell after 2010. Overall, 246 taxa were identified during the study. Only 9% of these were non-native, 17% being regionally or nationally notable, including 16 Red-listed species. Very poor statistical fits were obtained to recognised UK National Vegetation Classification vegetation types. Analysis of Ellenberg Indicator Values for salinity, nitrogen, moisture and reaction showed that the plant community became progressively adapted to low salinity, lower fertility, drier conditions and a less basic soil. The findings are discussed in relation to comparable studies elsewhere in Britain and Northern Europe. The rate of succession on the New Green Beach seems remarkably high, while evidence of declining soil fertility over time was unexpected.

USING MEDIUM-RESOLUTION SATELLITE IMAGES TO ASSESS IMPACT OF VOLCANIC EXPLOSIONS ON ECOSYSTEMS

Activation of volcanic processes can lead to catastrophic consequences for ecosystems, loss of life and significant material damage. Territory of the Kuril Islands and the Kamchatka territory is a risk zone. Therefore, research in this direction is extremely important. The aim of the study was to determine the pattern degradation of ecosystem during explosions and the rate of succession in the affected territories using medium-resolution Landsat and Sentinel satellite images. The paper presents results of an area-based assessment of impact on ecosystems of the North-Western part of Atlasov Island (Kuril Islands) of eruption of volcano Alaid in 1972. Based on use of 1972-2019 medium-resolution satellite images of Landsat and Sentinel systems, NDVI values were calculated in geoinformation system, which allowed tracing dynamics and nature of successions of affected area. It was found that multi-zone images of medium resolution allow determining the essence of processes occurring on territories where solid products of eruptions fell out quite qualitatively.

Vegetation differentiation and secondary succession on abandoned agricultural large-areas in south-eastern Poland

In Poland, the largest stretches of abandoned agricultural areas were formed at the end of the 1980s, along western and eastern borders, among others, in Przemyśl Foothills (Pogórze Przemyskie). Therefore, the research on the diversity of plant communities from abandoned agricultural areas as well as main directions and the rate of succession after the cessation of management was undertaken in the vicinity of twelve municipalities in south-eastern Poland. This research revealed that the dominating direction of changes of the abandoned agricultural area vegetation was vanishing of plant groups with segetal and meadow species and spreading of shrub communities. A general increase in the forestation rate of the researched abandoned agricultural areas from 10-40% of the area in 1970-1971 to about 30-70% in 2003-2004 may be the evidence of the occurrence intensity of those phenomena.

Encroachment of woody species on a drained transitional peat bog in ‘Mszar Bogdaniec’ nature reserve (Western Poland)

One of the most important threats for open peat bog ecosystems is encroachment of woody species, which causes transformation of habitat conditions and leads to retreat of specialised species. Drainage increases the rate of succession. The aim of study is the assessment of human-accelerated succession in a transitional bog. The study was conducted in ‘Mszar Bogdaniec’ nature reserve (W Poland). The structure of vegetation and tree stands was described and compared using ordination methods. Near the peat bog border, tree stands of Betula pubescens developed. Towards the middle part of the peat bog, the number, cover and height of trees decreased. The central part of the peat bog was covered by Sphagno recurvi–Eriophoretum vaginati in dryer parts and Sphagno recurvi–Eriophoretum angustifolii in wetter parts. The study showed that the successional sequence in these conditions differs from the classical bog succession scheme. Despite high propagule pressure of Pinus sylvestris, the most important woody species was B. pubescens, which performed better than other species. Erechtites hieracifolia, an alien invasive herb species, which previously was rarely recorded in bogs, appeared when the bog was dried by drainage. In this study, it reached high frequency and abundance, which shows that it may be a next serious threat to disturbed wetland ecosystems.

Responses of Antarctic Tundra Ecosystem to Climate Change and Human Activity

Over the last couple of years the Antarctic Peninsula region has been one of the fastest warming regions on the Earth. Rapidly proceeding deglaciation uncovers new areas for colonisation and formation of Antarctic tundra communities. The most evident dynamics, i.e. changes in both biodiversity and structure of tundra communities, are observed in the forefields of retreating glaciers. This paper presents examples of changes in biodiversity and in the direction and rate of succession changes taking place due to climate warming compounded by synanthropization in the maritime Antarctic