Soil biota and upper soil layer development in two contrasting post-mining chronosequences

0206299 - UPB-H 20013136 RIV NL eng J - Journal Article
Frouz, Jan - Keplin, B. - Pižl, Václav - Tajovský, Karel - Starý, Josef - Lukešová, Alena - Nováková, Alena - Balík, Vladimír - Háněl, Ladislav - Materna, Jan - Düker, Ch. - Chalupský, Josef - Rusek, Josef - Heinkele, T.
Soil biota and upper soil layer development in two contrasting post-mining chronosequences.
Ecological Engineering. Roč. 17, - (2001), s. 275-284. ISSN 0925-8574. E-ISSN 1872-6992
R&D Projects: GA MŠMT ME 076; GA ČR GA526/98/P156
Institutional research plan: CEZ:AV0Z6066911
Keywords : succession * coal mining * soil formation
Subject RIV: EH - Ecology, Behaviour
Impact factor: 0.601, year: 2001

Density and community composition of a wide spectrum of soil organisms (fungi, algae, testate amoebae, nematodes, enchytraeids, lumbricids, oribatid mites, diplopods, terrestrial isopods, collembolans and dipteran larvae), direct counts of bacteria, rate of cellulose decomposition and microstructure of upper soil layers were studied in two chronosequences of plots reclaimed from open-coast coal mining near Cottbus (Germany) and near Sokolov (Czech Republic). German plots were characterised by acidic sandy soils and afforested with pine, while the Czech plots possessed alkaline clay soils and were afforested with alder. In both chronosequences, density and species richness in most of investigated groups of soil biota gradually increased with increasing succession age. Typical pioneer species were found in initial stands of both chronosequences. Nevertheless, the initial stands supported poorer assemblages of soil biota in the Cottbus area than did those in the Sokolov area. The Cottbus area was characterised by a moor type of humus and by gradual uniform increase of abundance and species numbers of most studied groups of soil biota. On the contrary, moder type of humus and a more variable pattern of soil biota development during the course of succession were found in the Sokolov area. Slower development of soil biota in initial stages of succession in Cottbus is caused by unfavourable physical and chemical conditions of heap substrates, and by lower input and poor quality of litter in pine plantations.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0101894