Biological activity of soils from reclaimed open-cast coal mining areas in Upper Lusatia using testate amoebae (protists) as indicators

Abstract

Immigration and colonisation of reclaimed open-cast coal mining areas in Lusatia (Eastern Germany, mainly the Görlitz region) by soil testate amoebae (protists) was investigated during the period 1996–1998. Colonisation took place within a few months depending on substrate quality and exposure (humus- and organism-free Pleistocene substrate or minicontainers filled with sterile, oven-dried poplar litter). Abundances and biomasses in two up to 46-year-old afforested mine soils were in the same order (or even higher) as in undisturbed forest soils, but typical humus-inhabiting, large-sized testate amoebae were lacking or occurred only rarely. Six ubiquists out of 48 taxa found contributed 61–87% to the overall abundance ( Centropyxis sphagnicola, Corythion dubium, Euglypha rotunda, Phryganella acropodia, Trinema complanatum, T. lineare). Generally, all test sites revealed a distinct testacean community, whose structure depended on age, substrate and stocking.