Abstract
The study was aimed to evaluate the selected improvements of nature restoration in a depleted gravel pit. The study site consisted of four water reservoirs of different shapes and sizes, flooded after the gravel extraction ended. Ecological succession monitoring, conducted by the Warsaw University of Life Sciences students associated in the Student Scientific Association of Animal Sciences Faculty since the completion of mining, have focused on amphibians. A twofold approach upheld amphibian species population dynamics, as well as selected habitat elements. The restoration practices dedicated to habitat conditions enhancing have been proved to be definitely effective and useful for similar sites.
Highlights
The areas under intensive mining activity are characterized by severe environment degradation, some changes caused by the human activity may lead to formation of new ecosystems strictly dependent on that activity and in some respects exceeding the value of previous ecosystems (Kasprzyk 2009; Kasztelewicz 2010; Parusel and Karkosz 2012)
Majority of abandoned surface-mined terrains in Central Europe are renovated into forest habitats (Korjus et al 2014; Pietrzykowski 2008) and into aquatic ecosystems with water reservoirs created as a result of post-mining terrains reclamation (Kasprzak and Raszka 2009)
The study area divided into seven pieces—1A, 1B, 2, 3A, 3B, 3C, and 4—according to water reservoir depth, shoreline shape, and vegetation (Fig. 2) have been assessed according to its suitability for selected amphibian species by use of habitat quality indexes (MakomaskaJuchniewicz and Baran 2012) based on habitat suitability index (HSI) constructed for the great crested newt (Oldham et al 2000)
Summary
The areas under intensive mining activity are characterized by severe environment degradation, some changes caused by the human activity may lead to formation of new ecosystems strictly dependent on that activity and in some respects exceeding the value of previous ecosystems (Kasprzyk 2009; Kasztelewicz 2010; Parusel and Karkosz 2012). Majority of abandoned surface-mined terrains in Central Europe are renovated into forest habitats (Korjus et al 2014; Pietrzykowski 2008) and into aquatic ecosystems with water reservoirs created as a result of post-mining terrains reclamation (Kasprzak and Raszka 2009). They may become a suitable habitat for rare animal species connected with wetlands, enhancing their regional habitat conditions (Kasztelewicz 2010). This environmentally fragile group of animals (influenced by both aquatic and terrestrial habitats, as well as being a predator on a high level of ecological food chain) is a sensitive bioindicator of habitat changes
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