Acta Univ. Agric. Silvic. Mendelianae Brun. 2017, 65(1), 151-166 | DOI: 10.11118/actaun201765010151

Relations between Biotic and Abiotic Diversity in Abandoned Basalt Quarry and Its Relevance for Ecological Restoration (Radobýl Hill, Northern Czechia)

Pavel Raška1, Jiří Riezner1, Richard Pokorný2, Michal Holec2, Martin Raška3
1 J. E. Purkyně University, Faculty of Science, České mládeže 8, Ústí nad Labem, 400 96, Czech Republic
2 J. E. Purkyně University, Faculty of Environment, Králova výšina 7, Ústí nad Labem, 400 96, Czech Republic
3 Czech Land Survey and Cadastre Office, branch Sokolov, Boženy Němcové 1932, 356 01, Sokolov, Czech Republic

The ecological value of abandoned quarries has gained increasing scientific attention in the last few decades, resulting in a paradigm shift in restoration programs regarding the use of natural processes. The linkages between biotic and abiotic diversity, such as landform and microclimatic diversity have been analyzed only slightly, however. In this paper, we use an interdisciplinary approach that includes vegetation mapping, geomorphological mapping, microclimatic measurements and modeling to reveal the specific two-way linkages between abiotoc and biotic diversity. The present case study shows that in only 60 years landform diversity allowed the development of nine distinct biotopes with 134 identified species. At the same time, the vegetation diversity at these human-induced biotopes is of high ecological value as it displays significant similarities with natural biotopes in the region (e.g., scree slope and rock cliff biotopes). Based on the results presented, the paper aims to contribute to current restoration programs involving processes of spontaneous succession and landforming.

Keywords: quarry, biotope, vegetation patterns, landform diversity, microclimate
Grants and funding:

The research has been supported by research project SGS UJEP (2010-2011), SGS UJEP (2013-2014) and MZP VaV SP/2d3/4/07.

Prepublished online: February 28, 2017; Published: March 1, 2017  Show citation

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Raška, P., Riezner, J., Pokorný, R., Holec, M., & Raška, M. (2017). Relations between Biotic and Abiotic Diversity in Abandoned Basalt Quarry and Its Relevance for Ecological Restoration (Radobýl Hill, Northern Czechia). Acta Universitatis Agriculturae et Silviculturae Mendelianae Brunensis, 65(1), 151-166. doi: 10.11118/actaun201765010151
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