The aim of this study was to evaluate restoration methods used in a revegetation project for the heavily disturbed area around the abandoned underground mine Stekenjokk, located in an alpine area in Västerbotten County, Sweden. The studies were initiated in 2013 by Enetjärn Natur AB on behalf of Boliden Mineral AB and several methods were adopted in the purpose of investigating the feasibility of different restoration methods. Seeding, plantation of adult plants and transplantation of vegetation turfs were performed in combination with addition of organic matter. In addition, ‘safe sites’ were created either by addition of cobbles to the surface, creation of holes in the ground or by putting out coconut mats. All plant material, e.g. seeds, plantation of adult plants and transplantation of vegetation turfs, resulted in new establishment of plants in the area. Spontaneous establishment of plants was also observed in several of the examined plots. Several of the methods used are probably suitable for restoration of the old industrial area in Stekenjokk. However, the success varied among different methods and there was a tendency for higher survival of plants in experimental plots to which soil had been added. A combination of addition of plant material (seeds or adult plants), addition of organic matter and creation of ‘safe sites’ seemed most effective in accelerating revegetation in the heavily degraded area in Stekenjokk. However, sample sizes were small and more studies should be conducted to confirm the generality of this conclusion.

Revegetation of riparian tree species along the lower Colorado River is currently a major activity for federal and state agencies. Revegetation methods for Fremont cottonwood (Populus fremontii), Goodding's willow (Salix gooddingii), and coyote willow (S. exigua) have historically consisted of cutting collection and vegetative propagation. If direct seeding could be implemented, large cost-savings could be realized while enhancing restoration results due to increased genetic and structural diversity. The following documents laboratory, greenhouse, and field studies conducted to establish seed storage practices, irrigation techniques, and seeding methods and rates which maximize germination and growth rates of these riparian tree species. Experimental seed storage study results indicated that seed viability was maintained for at least a two-year window by freezing, during which seed can be utilized for direct seeding or seedling production. Greenhouse study results include: (1) seed cleaning resulted in higher tree establishment; (2) adverse soil conditions reduced growth rates; (3) organic fertilizer amendment mitigated negative effects of sandy soil for Fremont cottonwood but not for willow; (4) mixed seeding resulted in cottonwood dominance, indicating that reduced rates or separate seeding of this species might be required to improve success of willow species seeding. Small-scale field study results include the following: (1) Fremont cottonwood establishment averaged 7% of pure live seed rates, whereas willow species establishment was less than 1%; (2) sprinkler irrigation did not affect establishment, and decreased tree growth rates; (3) hydroseeding resulted in higher canopy cover, establishment, and above-ground biomass compared to broadcast seeding for all three species; (4) furrow or border irrigation did not affect Fremont cottonwood or coyote willow establishment, but furrow irrigation resulted in higher Goodding's willow establishment. Volunteer species were abundant, with grasses dominating cover and biomass after one growing season despite application of grass specific herbicide. Saltcedar (Tamarix ramosissima) also established in abundance, but grew slower than Fremont cottonwood during the first growing season. Monitoring after three growing seasons indicated higher growth rates and survival of Fremont cottonwood compared to volunteer species. Larger-scale seeding studies are required to refine establishment rates and determine the cost-effectiveness of direct seeding for large-scale Salicaceae species revegetation.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:31:01Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2009-02-27Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T18:41:25Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 klein_j_dr_botib.pdf: 464105 bytes, checksum: a5a7f19019acd7bf085f6e55562af753 (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / A luz pode ser considerada um dos principais fatores ambientais no controle da germinação e desenvolvimento de diferentes espécies, principalmente em plantas nativas. Tendo em vista a importância da espécie Peltophorum dubium para a utilização no re-povoamento de áreas degradadas, arborização e paisagismo, avaliou-se o comportamento fisiológico de suas sementes analisando a influência da luz eo efeito de um protetor físico com diferentes filtros no processo germinativo, emergência, crescimento inicial e trocas gasosas de suas plântulas. Para tanto, frutos maduros de canafístula foram coletadas em diversas matrizes em setembro de 2007. Após a coleta, os frutos foram levados para o Laboratório de Interações Tróficas do Departamento de Botânica do Instituto de Biociência da Unesp/Botucatu onde foram beneficiadas e escarificadas. Desta forma, instalou-se os seguintes tratamentos: T 1- gerbox transparente; T2- gerbox transparente + celofane transparente; T3- gerbox preto; T4- gerbox preto + celofane transparente; T5- gerbox transparente + celofane azul e T6- gerbox transparente + celofane vermelho. Foram avaliadas as seguintes características: porcentagem de germinação, IVG, comprimentos de radícula, de epicótilo, de cotilédone e da plântula, massa seca, clorofilas a, b, totais e relação a/b. Em um segundo experimento realizado na área aberta do Departamento de Botânica (22° 52' de latitude, 48 ° 26' de longitude), no Instituto de Biociências, Unesp, Botucatu - SP, utilizando-se um protetor físico constituido por garrafas do tipo P.E.T. (Polietileno Teraftalato) com volume de 2500 mL sem fundo e sem tampa. Diferentes comprimentos de ondas luminosas foram obtidos acoplando as garrafas do tipo P.ET. com duas camadas de papel celofane com diferentes tonalidades (transparente, azul e vermelho). Desta forma, obtiveram-se os seguintes tratamentos: T1, ausência... / Light is considered one of the major environmental factors controlling the germination and development of different species, mainly native ones. Based on the importance of the species Peltophorum dubium for revegetation of degraded areas, tree planting and landscaping, this study evaluated germination, emergence, initial growth and gas exchanges of canafistula seedlings under light influence by using physical protectors presenting different filters. Thus, the following treatments were adopted: T1, transparent germination box; T2, transparent germination box + transparent cellophane; T3, black germination box; T4, black germination box + transparent cellophane; T5, transparent germination box + blue cellophane; T6, transparent germination box + red cellophane. The evaluated characteristics were: germination percentage, germination velocity index (GVI), radicle, epicotyl, cotyledon and seedling ngth, dry matter, total chlorophylls and their fractions a and b, and the ratio a/b. A second experiment was carried out in an open area from the Department of Botany (22° 52' S, 48 ° 26' W), Institute of Biosciences, Sao Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, Sao Paulo State, Brazil, in which physical protectors corresponding to polyethylene terephthalate (PET)-type bottles (2500 mL) without lid and bottom were used. Different wavelengths were obtained when two layers of cellophane paper of different colors (transparent, blue and red) were added to the PET-type bottles. Thus, the following treatments ere established: T1, absence of physical protector (APP); T2, transparent physical protector (TPP); T3, transparent physical protector + blue cellophane (BPP); and T4, transparent physical protector + red cellophane (RPP). The experimental design was completely randomized, with 4 treatments x 6 evaluation times and 5 replicates. Emergence velocity index (EVI), seedling emergence, survival... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Continued expansion of the gold and nickel mining industry in Western Australia during recent years has led to disturbance of larger areas and the generation of increasing volumes of waste rock. Mine operators are obligated to rehabilitate all disturbed surfaces and reconstructed landforms, and considerable effort and expense is now applied to the achievement of this objective. Associated with increasing rehabilitation effort is the requirement to accurately judge rehabilitation success through the development of completion criteria. Completion criteria are rehabilitation performance objectives set as conditions of approval for each stage of rehabilitation and for the project as a whole. They provide standards against which the success of rehabilitation can be measured, or more broadly the point at which responsibility for rehabilitation is complete. The current research project tackles the development of completion criteria by investigating ecosystem function within a variety of rehabilitation trials at four mine sites located in arid and semi-arid Western Australia, and also within surrounding 'natural' vegetation complexes undisturbed by mining, termed analogue sites. Six specific objectives were identified as part of the study: 1. To establish an appropriate end point land use for each mine site where field trials were established; 2. To examine long-term ecosystem development through the assessment of revegetation at a variety of rehabilitation sites; 3. To examine functional components within analogue communities and make appropriate comparisons with rehabilitation trials; 4. To record the potential reproductive capacity of revegetation progeny, and determine how this relates to ecosystem function; / 5. To provide a better understanding of ecosystem function by investigating the relationship between state factors, interactive controls, and ecosystem processes at rehabilitation and analogue sites; and 6. To develop a methodology for establishing realistic environmental completion criteria at mine sites situated in arid and semi-arid Western Australia. Field trials were established at four mine sites located within three subtly different bioclimatic zones that extend through the arid / semi-arid shrubland belt of Western Australia; Northeastern Goldfields (Granny Smith Gold Mine, Sunrise Dam Gold Mine), Eastern Goldfields (Black Swan Nickel Mine), and Northeastern Wheatbelt (Westonia Gold Mine). 1 The re-establishment of a self-sustaining vegetation cover integrated with the surrounding ecosystem, was the common end land use objective at the four mine sites selected for this study. For three sites located in the Northeastern Goldfields and Eastern Goldfields of Western Australia, sheep were grazed on surrounding rangeland; the fourth site located in the Northeastern Wheatbelt of Western Australia, and was surrounded by Crown Land. 2 To better understand ecosystem function, the dynamic behaviour and interaction of plant biodiversity parameters was monitored regularly at 19 post-mining rehabilitation sites up to 11 years after direct seeding. For functional ecosystems, plant biodiversity parameters changed rapidly during the initial five years after seeding following predictable trends, after which time they remained within a relatively stable range. / The stabilising of parameters over time was identified as a key indicator of rehabilitation success, however the point at which the parameters stabilised was influenced by numerous variables and was difficult to accurately predict. Prolific seed germination resulted in high seedling density during the initial growing season. Plant density then progressively decreased in response to competition, before stabilising within a range approximately five years after seeding. Revegetation cover was typically low during the first growing season, increasing rapidly there after before also stabilising in line with plant density. Maximum species richness was generally achieved during the first and second year when annual Atriplex species were prominent. Perennial Atriplex species established more slowly during the early stages of revegetation development, but eventually replaced the annual component as the dominant taxa. Perennial Maireana species required up to three years before germinating in the field and establishing themselves in the revegetation; in many cases they replaced perennial Atriplex as the prominent taxa. The presence or absence of cyclonic rainfall during the first growing season was a major determinant of the ecosystem trajectory, controlling revegetation structure and composition. The germination and successful establishment of hard seeded species, including Acacia and Senna, was reliant on heavy summer rainfall during the early stages of ecosystem development to break seed dormancy and extend the length of the first growing season. This provided an important competitive advantage against faster growing Atriplex species, which possessed greater drought tolerance. / The intensity of summer rainfall was also beneficial in leaching surface salts from the upper profile and hence, reducing salinity within the rooting zone. In the absence of heavy summer rainfall during the first growing season, the establishment of a low chenopod dominated vegetation cover was favoured, total species richness for the rehabilitation tended to be lower, and the variety of plant life forms was restricted to low and mid stratum shrubs. Increasing water stress resulted in progressively higher rates of local species extinction, with fewer taxa possessing the drought tolerance adaptations required to survive. For established revegetation, cyclonic rainfall increased productivity (as measured by % foliage ground cover) and stimulated the establishment of new taxa, which in many cases were brought in from adjacent unmined vegetation complexes (analogue sites). While the benefits of summer cyclonic rainfall were undoubtedly important to ari and semi-arid ecosystems, the occurrence of drought was also important in buffering the ecosystem against large-scale change by acting as a negative feedback to constrain cumulative productivity. Parent waste rock material varied considerably between rehabilitation sites, affecting the soil resource supply and associated functional components. Extreme salinity was a typical limitation of the rehabilitation medium, reducing the variety of salt tolerant species and favouring annual Atriplex during the early stages of ecosystem development. The cover of annual species present during early stages of ecosystem development contributed to decreasing salinity in the plant rooting zone, by reducing surface temperature and hence capillary rise of salts during summer months. / Annual Atriplex species were replaced by perennial Atriplex in line with decreasing surface salinity. Fundamental to successful revegetation of the post-mining rehabilitation site was the requirement that reconstruction and contouring focus on maximising water retention and reducing salinity within the upper soil profile. Once the initial vegetation community established and plant parameters became relatively stable, change continued to occur, albeit slowly. One factor contributing to this change was the immigration rate of biota from adjacent revegetation or more commonly from surrounding analogue complexes. Linking rehabilitation areas to surrounding functional ecosystems ensured the movement of plants and animals, and ultimately increased the rate of recovery. The sustainability of post-mining rehabilitation was enhanced where these links were established early, allowing for the provision of additional seed and the migration of displaced species. The life cycle pattern of keystone species in the revegetation was found to be an important determinant in long-term sustainability of the plant cover, particularly for chenopod shrublands where one species was typically dominant. The senescence and death of large numbers of a dominant revegetation species together, had the ability to significantly alter the revegetation structure and composition. The impact for rehabilitation where a number of dominant taxa co-exist was less pronounced. Thus it follows that a minimum level of species richness was important to long-term rehabilitation sustainability, as was the development of an age-class structure in the rehabilitation. / The most common disturbances encountered at the rehabilitation trial sites were drought, overgrazing and weed infestation. All three disturbances decreased the plant biodiversity parameters measured. Ecosystem recovery following disturbance was dependent on effective rainfall, but occurred rapidly with plant parameters returning to pre-disturbance levels within one to two growing seasons. The recovery of plant biodiversity parameters followed the same trends identified at functional rehabilitation sites during the initial five years following direct seeding. 3 Assessment of plant biodiversity parameters occurred at 15 analogue sites supporting native vegetation undisturbed by mining. It was anticipated that data from analogue sites could be used as a 'reference' against which to compare developing rehabilitation. However, analogue vegetation complexes were less dynamic in comparison to rehabilitation sites. Minor seasonal changes were recorded for plant biodiversity parameters, but overall annual change was minimal. Significant and sudden changes within analogue communities only occurred following disturbance, such as severe overgrazing, and recovery to pre-disturbance levels was rapid following the removal of the disturbance and return of effective rainfall. A major difference between rehabilitation and analogue sites related to their age. Rehabilitation sites were 'juvenile systems' assessed against a time frame much shorter than had been required for natural processes to achieve the developmental state represented at analogue sites. / Hence, it was important not to model one specific analogue site too closely, but instead model the desired revegetation structure and species composition on a variety of local analogue complexes occurring in parent materials 'matched' closely to those of the rehabilitation site. Data from analogue sites should be utilised extensively during rehabilitation planning, but cautiously when interpreting the rehabilitation outcome. For mine sites in arid and semi-arid Western Australia, the application of specific numeric targets for plant biodiversity parameters as a measure of rehabilitation success was not recommended. A number of factors and controls in the developing ecosystem together determined the rehabilitation outcome. These factors were site and time specific; minor changes in any number of variables led to significantly different rehabilitation outcomes, making them difficult to accurately predict. 4 Quality and germination testing confirmed progeny seed from a number of rehabilitation trials was of similar or higher viability than the maternal seed originally sown. This was further confirmed by field responses at trials in the Northeastern Goldfields one year after the 1994 drought, when elevated plant density was recorded following the return of above average rainfall. The ability of rehabilitation to show an immediate response to rainfall following a seven-month drought, and for vegetation parameters to subsequently recover to pre-disturbance levels within one to two years, provided an indication that the revegetation cover was resilient. The relationship between plant production and rainfall was dependent on a 'carryover' effect between seasons or following drought years, and 'pulses' mediated, for instance, by the amount of seed in the soil store. / The 'reserve' component in and ecosystems was responsible for both the memory of the system between pulses and for its long-term resilience. 6 The analysis of time series data collected from 19 rehabilitation trials emphasized the importance of planning and implementation of best practice techniques to subsequent rehabilitation success, and reinforced the difficulty associated with accurately predicting the final rehabilitation outcome. The large spatial heterogeneity of undisturbed vegetation complexes across the landscape of arid and semi-arid Western Australia, provided the foundation on which site-specific rehabilitation scenarios could be modelled, albeit with caution. The translation of data into useful completion criteria was dependent on the realisation that successful rehabilitation requires the implementation of best practice rehabilitation techniques, as determined by technically prescriptive (design) based standards, as much as the identification of a successful rehabilitation outcome, as determined by performance (outcome) based standards. With this in mind, completion criteria were developed as part of a robust theoretical framework incorporating the larger mine plan, and were not simply based on numbers generated as stand-alone performance standards. The broad methodology generated could be adopted by any mine site across the mining industry, however the criteria and, more specifically, the standards for each criterion should always remain site specific. / The methodology designed for developing completion criteria has been addressed in three stages: 1. Planning, 2. Operational and Monitoring, and 3. Post-Mining Hand-Over. Within each stage three parameters are addressed: 1. Criteria, 2. Process, and 3. Standard. 'Planning' is the most important stage in the development of completion criteria. It is the stage when an appropriate end land use is determined, analogue sites are assessed, a rehabilitation plan developed along with specified design standards ensuring implementation of best practice techniques, and a process of risk assessment implemented. The 'Operational Monitoring Stage' focuses on rehabilitation success during the period of ecosystem development. This stage is concerned largely with rehabilitation monitoring, from which performance standards can be developed to gauge rehabilitation success for specific periods during revegetation development. The initial task in Stage 2 is to ensure all aspects of the rehabilitation plan have been implemented as specified in Stage 1, and meet agreed design standards. The final stage of the completion criteria process, 'Post Mining Hand Over', is to ensure the rehabilitated site is safe, and able to successfully revert to the end land use. / While plant biodiversity parameters formed the focus of the current study, a variety of other functional ecosystem components may also make sound assessment criteria for determining rehabilitation success. Increasing the knowledge base for other functional components in arid and semi-arid ecosystems would further increase the ability to accurately determine rehabilitation success.

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The mode of propagation of a plant species may influence its success in recolonizing a successional forest following agricultural disturbance. It is hypothesized that plants with animal-borne or broadcast-dispersed seed will successfully recolonize, while plants which rely upon vegetative propagules may not repopulate the disturbed area. This hypothesis was tested by comparing vascular, herbaceous plant communities of two forests (one old-growth and one successional) in east-central Indiana. Populations of vascular, herbaceous plant species were inventoried in both forests, and the soil characteristics (organic matter and pH) of both areas were analyzed. The two forests had similar soil organic matter profiles, but the pH of the disturbed forest was significantly lower than that of the undisturbed area. Most vegetatively-propagated plant species were, as predicted, significantly more abundant in the undisturbed forest; the disturbed area had been effectively recolonized by animal-borne and broadcast-dispersed seed plants. This perspective has implications for long-term management of east-central Indiana forests. / Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management

Revegetation is employed to mitigate the spread of mine tailings in the environment by ameliorating tailings with organics to promote plant cover. Revegetation has proven to be successful in establishing plant cover, but the long-term effects are largely unknown. A field study was conducted to evaluate the success of four artificially revegetated tailings from Manitoba by comparing plant cover and diversity. Central Manitoba, Flin Flon, and Thompson had moderate cover while cover was low in Lynn Lake. All four sites had low diversity and were composed of early-successional species. The results suggest that while current revegetation methods promote plant growth on tailings, it is currently difficult to determine if and how the vegetation will progress from a grass-legume community to a boreal forest. In addition, while various amounts of effort were invested into each site, the results indicate the degree of remediation does not affect overall success.

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