Dynamic of self-regeneration of vegetation cover of coal mine dumps of different ages on the steppe zone of Tuva (Russia)

Abstract

The article discusses the results of studying the natural vegetation restoration of different-age dumps of the Kaa-Khem coal deposit in the Republic of Tyva (Russia). Flora and vegetation, geographical and ecological spectra, ecological and cenotic groups, plant life forms of reclaimed dumps are analyzed. It was revealed that the basis of the vegetation cover of the dry steppes in the study area is the steppe type of vegetation. The flora of vascular plants is dominated by the Poaceae, Asteraceae and Chenopodiaceae families; The geographical spectrum consists of groups of species with Eurasian and Asian ranges; the ecological spectrum is dominated by xerophytes; weed species dominate at the initial stage of restoration, the number of zonal steppe plants gradually increases, but the proportion of weeds is high; herbaceous polycarpics predominate in the biomorphological structure. Vegetation restoration on coal mine dumps in the steppe zone of Tuva is characterized by a delay in the pioneer stage, significant adventization of communities on 20-50-year-old dumps. Communities of different age dumps are at one of the advanced stages of succession, quite far from the terminal level. The purpose of the study is to study the vegetation cover during self–healing of different-age dumps of the Kaa-Khemsky coal mine.