An investigation of chloride Ion levels In coarse colliery discards was undertaken because modem British Coal practice is to restore discard tips and lagoon embankments at an early stage in construction, commonly before much leaching has taken place. High chloride ion concentrations result in physiological drought and the failure of vegetation cover. Sites at two collieries were studied using grid and traverse (depth) sampling procedures. Results Indicate downward leaching of chloride ions into the embankment during Winter months and an increase in chloride levels towards the surface of the discard during dry, summer months. Salt hotspots occur on embankment surfaces during Summer months. These high chloride/sulphate concentrations represent the desiccation of seepages, most of which are related to embankment construction inadequacies, rather than to lagoons incorporated into the structure. Chlorides within the discard originate from formation waters intimately associated with Coal Measures sequences. In the eastern coalfields in particular, high chloride ion concentrations in the coal and waste rock from deep underground excavations are not removed by the coal washing processes. Consequently, they are retained in fresh colliery discards. Seasonal movements of chloride ions are associated with an increase In (negative) suction pressures within the near-surface layers of a colliery embankment. Suction pressures were monitored experimentally in two experimental tips and in the field at a third colliery site (Bilsthorpe Colliery). On an annual basis, suction pressures become operative early in April, reversing to residual negative or small positive pore pressures in mid-September. The leaching of chlorides from discard embankments is a function of the drainage characteristics of the materials and in clayey discards leaching to low levels is shown to take 5 to 7 years. Hotspots do not decrease significantly. The results of the present investigation can be applied to current embankment restoration schemes. In particular, the sowing of an embankment during the Autumn window, when electrolytes move downwards into the structure, would enable young vegetation to become established before being subjected to the higher Summer chloride concentrations. Hotspots require individual field drainage treatment.

The aim of the study was to compare different types and ages of restoration from the small mammal biodiversity perspective. In 2004, three linear and two quadratic trappings of small terrestrial mammals were performed at the Velká podkrušnohorská spoil heap. Linear trappings were repeated in 2009 and quadratic were repeated in 2010. In 2004, 174 small mammals in the linear trappings and 199 small mammals in the quadratic trappings were captured. We found, that the wetland localities were the richest in small mammal diversity, the forestry restored areas were second ones, and the agriculturally restored areas were the poorest ones. During the repeated trappings, 45 small mammals in linear trappings and 64 small mammals in quadratic trappings were captured. A decrease of both abundance and biodiversity was recorded in the both types of trappings. The highest biodiversity was on wetland and forestry restored areas. The lowest biodiversity was on agriculturally restored areas. The highest abundance was on forestry sites during the linear trappings. The wetland areas were second ones and the lowest abundance was on agriculturally restored areas. Value of abundance in quadratic trappings was almost the same in wetland and forest habitats, whilst the abundance of agricultural areas was significantly lower. The results show the importance of wetland habitats, which are very important part of restoration and have a positive impact on the overall biodiversity in the landscape.

The aim of my thesis was to describe the biodiversity and try to outline the population dynamics of small terrestrial mammals on the Great podkrušnohorská spoil heap. We captured small mammals six times during the 2009 and 2010 seasons. We used the standard capture-mark-release method (CMR) with live traps in quadrates at five sites with different restoration type- wetland, forestry (alderwood and pinewood), agricultural and controlled succession. The observed data were processed in Microsoft Office Excel and by canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) in Canoco for Windows. In 2009 a total of 67 individuals of five small mammals´species were captured: Apodemus flavicollis, Microtus arvalis, M. agrestis, Myodes glareolus and Sorex araneus. The highest biodiversity (3 species) was recorded in wetland restoration. The highest abundance (20 individuals) was recorded in alderwood forestry restoration. In 2010 258 individuals of 7 species were captured: Apodemus flavicollis, A. sylvaticus, Microtus arvalis, M. agrestis, Myodes glareolus, S. araneus and Micromys minutus. As in 2009 the highest abundance was recorded in alderwood forestry restoration(60 individuals) and the highest biodiversity (7 species) was recorded in wetland restoration.

In this thesis the influence of existing vegetation, the distance from the north border of the spoil heap, animal grazing, terrain bumpiness, and soil pH on the distribution and rooting of European Beech (Fagus sylvatica) at spoil heap Velká podkrušnohorská výsypka (50ř14'09 N, 12ř39'05 E) was examined. To accomplish this, beech seedlings within chosen areas overgrown by spontaneous succession or alder restoration were mapped using GPS. A rooting position on the wave-like terrain was recorded for a proportion of the total number of seedlings. Soil pH was also measured on the wave-like terrain. The majority of seedlings (183) were found at the succession sites; only one seedling was found in the alder restoration site. The GLM analysis proved significantly more seedlings in succession sites compared to alder restoration sites (p = 0.0169) and the negative dependence on distance from the north border of the heap (p < 0.0001). Within the wave-like terrain, 46% of seedlings were growing on the north slopes. In 2009, small seedlings were planted into the fresh restoration site and the adjacent succession site, in both cases inside the fencing and outside of it. The seedlings were growing significantly better in the succession site compared to the restoration site, and they were growing better inside the...

Common problems and characteristics of sites affected by the mining are land occupation, pollution, land degradation, hydrologic changes and landscape change what belong to the major environmental problems in many countries. Despite the regulation prescribed by the Mining Act which brought significant progress in post mining land reclamation, emphasise mostly in recovery of production capability of landscape, many recent studies state it may not be so effective in restoration of diversity and ecosystem services. In order to properly assess newer approaches in spoil heaps recultivation our research is focused on the restoration of species rich meadows using near-nature methods, specifically the transfer of turves and seeds-containing hay transfer supported by management (mowing and mowing with mulching). Additionally, the research is focused on influence of the plot size on restoration success and on effect of management on soil development. Both of the applied near-nature methods of species rich meadow recultivation are effective in species provisioning and thus succession acceleration. More successful is the method of transferred turves where it was possible to establish more than 60% of the species from the donor site. The species richness on sites and its spreading is dependent on implemented...

Les terrils du bassin minier de Provence sont implantés dans le paysage et demeurent à proximité des habitations de la métropole Aix-Marseille. Les terrils les plus anciens ont été naturellement colonisés par la végétation et des sols s’y sont développés avec une vitesse remarquable. Cette étude vise à comprendre les processus pédogénétiques en cours depuis 55 ans sur les terrils miniers. Nous avons étudié l’impact du lignite sur les caractéristiques physico-chimiques et microbiologiques d’un Rendosol naturel. Deux sols similaires, dont l’un est traversé par l’affleurement naturel d’une veine de lignite et l’autre pas, ont donc été comparés afin de caractériser les variables impactées par le lignite. L’étude du terril Armand a permis de comprendre les facteurs responsables de la formation et de la variabilité des caractéristiques des sols observés sur le terril. L’abondance de composés carbonés récalcitrants dans les sols enrichis en lignite affecte les niveaux d’activité des microorganismes responsables des processus biologiques dans les sols sans induire d’effets néfastes. Le lignite semble intervenir comme un facteur de dilution du carbone organique, diminuant ainsi la quantité de carbone disponible et donc la vitalité d’expression des fonctions microbiennes. Les activités biologiques sont diminuées en présence de lignite, mais les changements induits sur les propriétés physico-chimiques semblent améliorer la fertilité du sol. Les sols du terril Armand demeurent cependant encore à un stade d’évolution trop jeune pour préjuger de leur évolution future. / Spoil heaps are scattered over the coal basin of Provence: they are inserted in the landscape and often located close to urban areas of the Aix-Marseille Metropole. The oldest spoil heaps have been naturally colonized by local vegetation and soils have simultaneously quickly developed. This study aims at understanding the processes involved in soil forming on undisturbed lignite-rich spoil heaps since 55 years. We studied the impact of lignite on the physico-chemical and microbiological characteristics of an undisturbed soil: we compared two similar Rendosols, except that one was developed in a natural lignite outcrop. Then we studied on the 55-year-old Armand spoil heap the factors responsible for soil genesis and variability of soil characteristics. Recalcitrant carbon compounds found in soils enriched with lignite modify microbial activity but do not induce negative effects. It seems that lignite acts as a diluting factor of the organic carbon that decreases the available carbon pool and consequently on the vitality of the expression of the microbial functions. Enzymatic activities and basal respiration decrease while changes observed on physico-chemical properties tend to improve soil fertility. Some characteristics of the soils developed on the spoil heap are similar to those of the soil developed from the lignite outcrop, while others are more related to the way the spoil heap was set up. Although these results have shed light on some of the processes involved in soil formation on spoil heaps in a carbonated environment, soils on Armand spoil heap are still at an early stage of development that precludes conclusion on their future evolution.