Reclamation Sites Research Articles

MINERAL PRODUCTION AND ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION IN NIGERIA

This study empirically determined the effect of mineral production on environmental pollution in Nigeria from 1985 to 2022. The research utilised time series data obtained from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) data bulletin and the World Development Indicators (WDI) of the World Bank. The data analysis methodologies utilised include descriptive statistical analysis, ADF Unit Root test, ARDL Bound Co-integration test, and ARDL methodology. The result of the ADF unit root test indicated the presence of a combination of stationary and non-stationary elements. That is a mixture of I(0) and I(1). Furthermore, the ARDL limits co-integration test has shown the presence of a long-term link between the variables. Finally, the ARDL estimation revealed that crude petroleum and natural gas production, likewise mining and quarrying had significant and positive implication on emission of CO2 in both long and short runs. Coal production had positively significant impact on CO2 emission in the long run but positively insignificant impact in the short run. In addition, metal ores positively and insignificantly impacted on CO2 emission in both the long and short runs. The study's results indicated that mineral mining in Nigeria resulted in a rise in environmental contamination. The report proposed that the Nigerian government should thoroughly evaluate and revise current environmental laws and regulations in order to effectively address the environmental consequences of mineral development. This should include establishing clear standards, guidelines, and permits for mining operations, waste management, pollution control, and rehabilitation of mining sites. KEYWORDS: Mineral Production, Environmental Pollution, CO2 Emission

Examining Post Hip Fracture Bone Protection At 30 days After Admission To An Irish Hospital

Abstract Background The Irish Hip Fracture Database (IHFD) includes a national standard of bone assessment during the acute episode of care. Furthermore, IV Zoledronic Acid (IVZ) is now recommended after hip fracture to provide longer term bone protection. It is not known however, how many patients commence appropriate bone therapy, by 30 days after admission. This audit aimed to examine commencement of bone protection medication for hip fracture patients across one acute hospital and its associated rehabilitation sites. Methods A retrospective audit was conducted. Consecutive patients admitted between December 2022 and December 2023, with hip fracture to a single acute hospital were included. Patients that did not meet IHFD inclusion criteria, were excluded. Patients were contacted in-person or by telephone by a physiotherapist to ask about bone-protection medication at 30 days after hip fracture admission, as part of a broader follow-up. Results A total of 146 patients were included for follow-up at 30 days after hip fracture admission. Of these patients, n=13 (9%) had died within this time and n=7 were not contactable at 30 days. A further n=8 (5%) did not receive bone-health follow-up. Only n= 3 patients contacted were not started on bone medication because it was contraindicated. While it is known that many patients were given IVZ as inpatients, it was not possible to determine this information accurately from patient report or current information recorded in the IHFD. Conclusion Most participants were administered bone protection medication by day 30 post hip fracture admission, however in some cases this was difficult to determine. The process of conducting the audit has improved commencement and recording of specific medication, in particular IVZ. The introduction of long-term outcomes into the IHFD should facilitate our hospital to benchmark our bone protection coverage nationally.

Assessing feasibility and sex-related inequity in the cardiac rehabilitation quality indicators in Manitoba.

The cardiac rehabilitation quality indicators (CRQIs) developed by the Canadian Cardiovascular Society provide a means to standardize program assessment and identify sex-related inequities. No formal evaluation of the CRQIs has been conducted in Manitoba. An environmental scan for the CRQIs was performed using data in the electronic medical record at two cardiac rehabilitation (CR) sites in Winnipeg for 2016-2019 referrals. Of the 8116 referrals, 7758 (5491 males and 2267 females) had geographical access and were eligible for CR. The Manitoba Centre for Health Policy Data Quality Framework informed the data quality assessment. Thirteen CRQIs were available; four were considered high quality; nine demonstrated moderate to significant missing data. In addition to missing values, potential misclassification of risk (CR-4) and physiologically implausible and invalid dates were assessed and identified (CR-13 and CR-17). Each site had a physician medical director (CR-31) and a documented emergency response strategy (CR-32). Only high-quality data were evaluated for sex-related differences using chi-square and median tests. Women had lower enrollment (CR-3), and more women enrolled after the median of 41 days (CR-2b). Engagement with CR partners, including frontline staff, and utilizing strategies to assess and limit physiologically implausible values and dates will enhance data capture and quality.

Remote sensing reveals trends in vegetative recovery and land cover transformation post-reclamation at tar creek superfund site

The harmful effects of mining waste on human and ecosystem health make reclamation of former mine sites an environmental management priority. However, field-based monitoring of reclamation requires significant investments of time, labor, and money. Remote sensing offers a less expensive alternative to field-based monitoring, but work is still needed to determine which metrics can be reliably estimated using remote sensing techniques. This study uses remote sensing to examine over 20 years of reclamation efforts at Tar Creek Superfund Site and to assess revegetation after site restoration. Using the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), we quantify key factors affecting vegetation recovery and stability after reclamation across 123 surface mining waste cleanup locations within Tar Creek. Leveraging long-term imagery from Landsat and high-resolution PlanetScope imagery, we combine time series analysis of vegetation regrowth and landcover change detection for a comprehensive picture of recovery at each site. Across all reclamation sites, the average recovery duration was 3.5 years, and average recovery rate was 0.1 NDVI year−1. After vegetative growth had plateaued, reclaimed sites had an average NDVI of 0.70. All reclamation areas were converted from majority barren landcover to vegetated landcover classes after reclamation, and vegetative stability at reclamation sites was high (70% of reclaimed area saw continuous vegetative cover from 2017 to 2023). These results demonstrate a strong potential for multi-method remote sensing techniques in tracking and explaining vegetation recovery after reclamation and represent a cost-effective approach for real-time monitoring of reclamation progress and outcomes.

Factors Affecting Standing and Walking Outcomes for Individuals with Spinal Cord Injury during In-patient Rehabilitation: a Qualitative Study on the Perspectives of Physiotherapists

Purpose: Standing and walking outcomes following spinal cord injury (SCI) vary across rehabilitation centres and therapists. Much of this variation has been attributed to individual patient characteristics. However, insight from frontline health care providers, as well as exploration of comprehensive contributing factors, have been under investigated. This study aimed to explore the perspectives of physiotherapists on factors affecting standing and walking recovery and outcomes during in-patient SCI rehabilitation. Methods: An exploratory qualitative study was conducted using semi-structured focus group interviews. Our qualitative approach was grounded in interpretive description and used reflexive thematic analysis. Results: Ten physiotherapy representatives of seven different in-patient SCI rehabilitation sites across Canada participated. Dosage, organizational culture, length of stay, staffing, equipment, relationships, atmosphere, and mindset were the key factors identified. Our findings also highlight that how factors impact a site may differ, but perspectives on which factors influence standing and walking outcomes were similar. Factors beyond the individual and the relationship of these factors on training dosage were emphasized. Conclusion: Future work is needed to better understand the role of institutional culture, to design and implement potential ways to address key contributing factors, and to evaluate if such initiatives lead to improvements in standing and walking outcomes.

Evidence-based early rehabilitation for children with cerebral palsy: co-development of a multifaceted knowledge translation strategy for rehabilitation professionals.

Cerebral palsy (CP) is the most common childhood physical disability. Early and evidence-based rehabilitation is essential for improving functional outcomes in children with CP. However, rehabilitation professionals face barriers to adopting evidence-based practices (EBP)s. The objective of this project is to develop a knowledge translation (KT) strategy to support CP-EBP among pediatric rehabilitation professionals. We follow an integrated KT approach by collaborating with clinician- and patient-partners. Partners engaged in co-design through team meetings and content review via email. The KT strategy comprises two components: (1) An electronic (e)-KT toolkit was created from summarized evidence extracted from randomized clinical trials on early rehabilitation for children with CP, and (2) a multifaceted online KT training program developed with guidance from a scoping review exploring effective KT strategies. The e-KT toolkit summarizes twenty-two early interventions for children with or at risk for CP aged 0-5 years. Each module features an introduction, resources, parent/family section, and clinician information, including outcomes, intervention effectiveness, and evidence level. The KT training program includes three 10-15 min video-based training modules, text summaries, quizzes, and case studies. Site champions, identified as qualified rehabilitation professionals, were onboarded to support the site implementation of the training program. A champion-training booklet and 1-hour session were designed to equip them with the necessary knowledge/resources. The tailored, multifaceted, and co-designed KT strategy aims to be implemented in pediatric rehabilitation sites to support professional's uptake of CP-EBPs. Lessons learned from its development, including the co-development process and multifaceted nature, hold potential for broader applications in rehabilitation.

A comparative analysis of landfill practice between Poland and Indonesia

This research addresses the global challenge of waste management (WM) by comparing landfill management practices in Poland (Radiowo landfill) and Indonesia (Kebon Kongok landfill) to define the differences in landfill WM systems and analyse the main challenges in implementing effective landfill management WM systems in Poland and Indonesia. The data was analysed by employing the rapid impact assessment matrix (RIAM). The analysis focused on three critical areas: gas management, leachate management and landfill reclamation. The results showed that the Polish landfill demonstrated high efficacy, particularly in leachate management with water quality impact (96), gas emissions control with methane extraction (96), and site reclamation for site restoration (96). For these purposes, the landfill uses advanced leachate treatment technologies and drainage systems. Conversely, Indonesian landfill practices show severe inefficiencies, with negative scores in almost all sectors. The lowest score was in leachate management with water quality impact (–48), gas emissions with air quality impact (–48), and site reclamation in community space development (–48). The study contributes to the sustainable waste management discourse, providing actionable insights for policymakers and environmental managers.

Chemodiversity of dissolved organic matter and its association with the bacterial community at a zinc smelting slag site after 10 years of direct revegetation

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) plays a critical role in driving the development of biogeochemical functions in revegetated metal smelting slag sites, laying a fundamental basis for their sustainable rehabilitation. However, the DOM composition at the molecular level and its interaction with the microbial community in such sites undergoing long-term direct revegetation remain poorly understood. This study investigated the chemodiversity of DOM and its association with the bacterial community in the rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere slags of four plant species (Arundo donax, Broussonetia papyrifera, Cryptomeria fortunei, and Robinia pseudoacacia) planted at a zinc smelting slag site for 10 years. The results indicated that the relative abundance of lipids decreased from 18 % to 5 %, while the relative abundance of tannins and lignins/CRAM-like substances increased from 4 % to 10 % and from 44 % to 64 % in the revegetated slags, respectively. The chemical stability of the organic matter in the rhizosphere slag increased due to the retention of recalcitrant DOM components, such as lignins, aromatics, and tannins. As the diversity and relative abundance of the bacterial community increased, particularly within the Proteobacteria, there was better utilization of recalcitrant components (e.g., lignins/CRAM-like compounds), but this utilization was not invariable. In addition, potential preference associations between specific bacterial OTUs and DOM molecules were observed, possibly stimulated by heavy metal bioavailability. Network analysis revealed complex connectivity and strong interactions between the bacterial community and DOM molecules. These specific interactions between DOM molecules and the bacterial community enable adaptation to the harsh conditions of the slag environment. Overall, these findings provide novel insights into the transformation of DOM chemodiversity at the molecular level at a zinc smelting slag sites undergoing long-term revegetation. This knowledge could serve as a crucial foundation for developing direct revegetation strategies for the sustainable rehabilitation of metal smelting slag sites.

Visiting mine reclamation: How field experience shapes perceptions of mining.

Recognizing the prevailing negative public opinion on mining, it is important to understand how firsthand encounters with mining activities might influence these perceptions. This study investigates how field trips to open pit coal mines and their reclamation sites in the Czech Republic affected the attitudes of 148 university students toward mining and mine reclamation. Using pre and post trip questionnaires, we observed significant changes: Students became less neutral about mining, saw it as a temporary disruptive activity, expressed reduced concern for social conflicts in mining areas, and showed increased support for the ecological restoration of post mining sites. These findings underscore the transformative impact of direct engagement with mine reclamation activities on shaping attitudes. Understanding these effects offers promise for positively shifting public perceptions of mining practices, emphasizing the potential for constructive changes in attitudes through field experiences with reclamation efforts in the Global North.

An ensemble learning paradigm for subsurface stratigraphy from sparse measurements and augmented training images

The performance of computer vision-based techniques for stratigraphic modeling relies heavily on qualified training images to capture the complex stratigraphic connectivity. In geotechnical engineering, only limited training images are available for a specific site. Stochastic simulation modelling based on limited training data may be biased as the collected images that reflect prior geological knowledge may not encompass all potential stratigraphic patterns. Therefore, it is crucial to establish a high-quality, domain-specific training image database for effective stratigraphic modelling. In this study, an ensemble learning paradigm is proposed to tackle this issue and develop subsurface geological cross-sections from sparse data by reconstruction and redistribution of stratigraphic statistics revealed from limited training images. A domain-specific training image database is first established using generative adversarial networks (GAN) that enable the generation of arbitrary sized image samples from a single training image. Subsequently, multiple qualified image samples that are compatible with site-specific data are adaptively selected and utilized for the ensemble learning of geological cross-sections. The performance of the proposed framework is demonstrated using real geological cross-sections collected from a reclamation site and a tunnelling project in Hong Kong. The results indicate that the proposed method can effectively generate diverse image samples that encompass stratigraphic features beyond those reflected in a single training image. More importantly, the ensemble learning framework can capture the complex spatial stratigraphic connectivity of soil layers with enhanced prediction accuracy.

Different Mangrove Rehabilitation Statuses Effects to Benthic Bacterial Structure Community in the Northern Area of Java Island

The study proposed identifying the changes in bacterial community and diversity and exploring the potential correlations among sediment parameters and benthic bacterial communities under different mangrove ecosystem rehabilitation statuses. Three sites were investigated, 1. Kampung Blekok (KB) as the long rehabilitation period site; 2. Banyuurip Mangrove Center (BMC) as the short rehabilitation period site; 3. Pulau Lusi (PL) as the reclamation site. The physicochemical parameters and benthic bacteria from the mangrove sediment of the three locations were observed. The data were analyzed statistically to determine the sites' variation and the correlation between parameters. The results found that the physicochemical parameters among restoration sites varied. Soil organic matter (SOM) in long and short-rehabilitation period sites was more than 1.5-fold higher than those in the reclamation site. Cation exchange capacity (CEC), calcium and potassium ions, and soil conductivity of the restoration site have higher values and can reach more than 1.3 fold compared to the other sites. According to diversity indices and taxa richness, benthic bacteria in the restoration were the most diverse. Proteobacteria dominated in natural and restoration sites; meanwhile, Firmicutes dominated in the reclamation site. Sulfurovum aggregans were found abundant in the long and short rehabilitation sites; meanwhile, Mesobacillus subterraneus was the dominant species in the reclamation site. Furthermore, the bacterial taxa richness was positively correlated with SOM and the bacterial diversity was correlated with CEC and conductivity.

Phytoremediation of technogenically disturbed soils of coal mines

The use of joint planting of tree species with different life strategies, annual growth rates, but with a complementary reaction to co-growth in reclamation sites makes it possible to more effectively use ecological niches and ensure the formation of species-rich forest communities with higher biological productivity. At each age stage of planting, a certain category of woody plants "works" on carbon accumulation, which generally provides an increased deposition effect compared to single-species plantations. Modern recommendations on forest reclamation are focused on the creation of monocultures that are insufficiently stable, do not create a nature-like structure of plant communities and are not sustainable for a long period of time. Currently, technologies have been developed taking into account the sustainability of forest plantations on landfills.

ВЛИЯНИЕ ВЫСОТЫ СЪЕМКИ И ЗЕНИТНОГО УГЛА СОЛНЦА НА ВЕГЕТАЦИОННЫЕ ИНДЕКСЫ ПШЕНИЦЫ ПО ДАННЫМ БПЛА

The purpose of the study is to assess the influence of the survey altitude and the solar zenith angle on the color and spectral vegetation indices (VI) of wheat obtained from survey data from a UAV in the arid climate of Transbaikalia. Tasks: to perform multi-altitude aerial photography of the experimental field at different positions of the Sun; to calculate the VI and conduct a comparative statistical analysis of the obtained data. The study was carried out at the training and reclamation site of the Buryat State Agricultural Academy named after V.R. Filippov in the suburbs of Ulan-Ude on August 12, 2023. An experimental field with an area of 600 m2 is sown with Selenga wheat variety, bred for the arid conditions of the Republic of Buryatia. The field is divided into 4 strips with different levels of irrigation and rainfed option. Each lane is represented by 3 NPK experiments in triplicate. The assessment of dependencies was carried out within one variant, divided into 20 identical segments in order to maintain sample homogeneity. The survey of a section of the experimental field was carried out at altitudes from 40 to 200 m at solar zenith angles from 36.5 to 74.5° using UAVs equipped with RGB and multispectral cameras. Color and spectral VIs were calculated. The groups of color VIs ExG-ExGR-GLI and ExR-NDI-VARI and spectral VIs NDVI-RVI and SAVI-DVI are mutually interchangeable due to their high pairwise correlation (more than 0.99). The results of the Wilcoxon test generally showed the similarity of the average VI values of GLI, ExG, ExGR, as well as NDVI and SAVI during the period from 14:10 to 17:30, which is optimal for surveying. The average VI va¬lues decrease with height and differ significantly, so the surveying altitude should be taken into account when monitoring the condition of crops. It is necessary to develop the scientific foundations of unmanned agricultural monitoring in various climatic conditions.

Native plant species growing on the abandoned Zaida lead/zinc mine site in Morocco: Phytoremediation potential for biomonitoring perspective.

This study aims to assess the level of metal contamination and the ecological risk index at the abandoned Zaida Pb/Zn mining site in eastern Morocco and identify native plant species found on the site that can be used in site rehabilitation through phytoremediation strategies. Samples from seven native and abundant plant species at the site, along with their rhizospheric soils, were collected and analyzed using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) to determine the concentrations of various metal(loid)s, including As, Cu, Ni, Cd, Sb, Zn, and Pb. Indicators of soil pollution and ecological risks were also assessed, including the enrichment factor (EF), pollution index (PI), and ecological risk index (ERI). The Biological Accumulation Coefficient (BAC), Translocation Factor (TF), and Biological Concentration Factor (BCF) of plant samples were calculated. The results reveal polymetallic soil contamination, with notably higher concentrations of Pb, Cu and Zn, reaching respectively 5568 mg kg-1 DW, 152 mg kg-1 DW, and 148 mg kg-1 DW, indicating a significant potential ecological risk. The enrichment factor (EF) was also assessed for each metal(loid)s, and the results indicated that the metal contamination was of anthropogenic origin and linked to intensive mining activities in Zaida. These findings are supported by the pollution index (PI) ranging from 1.6 to 10.01, which reveals an extremely high metal(loid)s pollution level. None of the plant species exhibited a hyperaccumulation of metal(loid)s. However, Artemisia herba alba demonstrated a strong capacity to accumulate Pb in its aboveground parts, with a concentration of 468 mg kg-1 DW. Stipa tenacissima, Retama spherocarpa, and Astragalus armatus, showed a significant Pb accumulation in their roots reaching 280, 260, and 256 mg kg-1 DW.respectively. Based on BAC, TF, and BCF, Stipa tenacissima exhibited potential for Ni and Cd phytostabilization, as well as the ability for Zn phytoextraction. Additionally, Artemisia herba alba displayed the capability to phytoextract Cd and had a high propensity to translocate all the studied metal(loid)s. Astragalus armatus has the potential to be used in the phytostabilization of Zn and Ni, as well as for the phytoextraction of As and Sb. These native species from the Zaida site, although not hyperaccumulators, have the potential to contribute significantly to the phytoextraction or phytostabilization of potentially toxic elements (PTEs). Moreover, they can serve as vegetative cover to mitigate the erosion and dispersion of metal(loid)s.

Multi-Attribute Analysis for Sustainable Reclamation of Urban Industrial Sites: Case from Damascus Post-Conflict

Multi-Attribute Analysis for Sustainable Reclamation of Urban Industrial Sites: Case from Damascus Post-Conflict

Mining Law in Cameroon: A Blueprint for Investors in the Sector

Cameroon is currently at an important crossroads as far as the development of the mining sector is concerned. In recent times, the mining sector has undergone series of legislative reforms with the aim to spur the interest of investors in this sector of the economy. These legislative reforms have also been in line with the country’s vision to become emergent by 2035, with the mining sector been one of those sectors to spur the realization of this vision. This paper therefore aims at examining the extent to which the Cameroonian mining law has become a tool to attract investors in this sector of the economy which in the past decades has witnessed a downturn of investors. The paper makes use of the qualitative research methods. Despite significant strides that the Cameroonian government has made to make to lure the interest of investors, inadequacies of the mining law, lack of transparency and accountability, discrimination in terms of obtaining certain mining licences and political instability are the major setbacks that has hindered the continuous growth of the sector. It is in this light that the research recommends both nationals and non-nationals should be involved in artisanal mining, tax and customs incentives should not only be limited to holders of semi mechanized and industrial mining permits or licences, transparency and accountability should be strengthened through continuous publication of mining data and declaration of revenue obtained from this sector, and rehabilitation of the mining sites should be effectively supervised by the concerned body.

Insect Abundance and Richness Response to Ecological Reclamation on Well Pads 5–12 Years into Succession in a Semi-Arid Natural Gas Field

Natural gas extraction is a critical driver of the economy in western North America. Ecological reclamation is important to ensure surface disturbance impacts associated with natural gas development are not permanent and to assist native biota. Previous studies in semi-arid natural gas fields within Sublette County, Wyoming, USA have shown insects respond favorably to 1–3-year-old well pads undergoing reclamation compared to older successional reference vegetation communities dominated by Wyoming big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata spp. Wyomingensis). Here, we examined well pads which were initially seed 5, 8, 10, 11, and 12 years prior to our study. We used a free, image-based software called SamplePointv. 1.60 to quantify vegetation on these well pads and adjacent reference areas from cell phone camera photographs. Insects were collected with a sweep net and identified to the family and morphospecies level. Statistical analyses were conducted to compare both vegetation and insect communities between reclamation sites and their paired reference area. We found little statistical difference between vegetation communities across our study but found significantly more insect abundance on reclaimed well pads than reference areas in 3 of 5 years and significantly higher family and morphospecies richness on reclaimed well pads in 4 of 5 years. A total of 2036 individual insects representing 270 species from 71 families across 11 orders were identified across this study. A total of 1557 individuals (76.5%) were found on reclamation sites, whereas 479 (23.5%) were found in reference areas across the entire study. A total of 233 species (86.3% of total) were found on reclamation sites, whereas 121 species (44.8% of total) were found in reference areas across the entire study. A total of 67 families (94.4% of total) were found on reclamation sites, whereas 45 families (63.4% of total) were found in reference areas across the entire study. All 11 orders found in the study were found on reclamation sites, whereas 9 orders were found in reference areas across the entire study. Our results suggest reclamation of natural gas well pads within an old successional stand of sagebrush continues to support higher levels of insect biodiversity and abundance for at least 12 years. As insects are the most diverse group of animals on Earth and because they provide a wide array of ecosystem services, our findings suggest ecological reclamation plays an important role in returning biodiversity and ecosystem functionality to a semi-arid and old successional sagebrush–steppe ecosystem.

A Novel Hybrid Fuzzy Multiple-Criteria Decision-Making Model for the Selection of the Most Suitable Land Reclamation Variant at Open-Pit Coal Mines

The expansion of the open-pit exploitation of mineral raw materials, and especially the energy resources of fossil fuels, makes open-pit coal mines spatially dominant objects of large mining basins. Exploitation activities are accompanied by negative ecological impacts on the environment, which requires the integral planning, revitalization, reclamation, and rehabilitation of the disturbed area for human use in the post-exploitation period. The post-exploitation remediation and rehabilitation of open-pit mining areas and disposal sites, i.e., space disturbed by mining activities and accompanying facilities, are complex synthetic multidisciplinary multiphase engineering project tasks. In this paper, a hybrid fuzzy MCDM model (Multiple-Criteria Decision-Making) was developed for the selection of a reclamation solution for the Tamnava-West Field open-pit mine. IMF SWARA (Improved Fuzzy Stepwise Weight Assessment Ratio Analysis) was applied to define the weights of 12 criteria of different structures used in the evaluation of reclamation solutions. The Fuzzy ROV (Range of Value) method was applied to select the reclamation solution from a total of 11 solutions previously obtained using a process approach. The results of the hybrid IMF SWARA—Fuzzy ROV model show that forestry is the best solution for the Tamnava-West Field open-pit mine. After the results had been obtained, verification analyses of the proposed model were performed and the best stable proposed reclamation solution was determined.

Design and Validation of a Stratified Shear Model Box for Seismic Response of a Sand-Blowing Reclamation Site

The global increase in building collapses and damage on soft-soil sites due to distant significant earthquakes poses similar challenges for sand-blowing reclamation (SBR) sites on soft-soil layers. This study was initiated to capture the vibration characteristics of the SBR sites and to provide fresh insights into their seismic responses. Initially, considering the heterogeneity and layered structure of soil at SBR sites, we developed a novel stratified shearing model box. This model box enables the simulation of the complex characteristics of soil layers at SBR sites under laboratory conditions, representing a significant innovation in this field. Subsequently, an innovative jack loading system was developed to apply active vertical pressure on the soil layer model, accelerating soil consolidation. Furthermore, a new data collection and analysis system was devised to monitor and record acceleration, pore water pressure, and displacement in real time during the experiments. To verify the model box’s accuracy and innovation, and to examine the seismic response of SBR sites under varying consolidation pressures, four vibration tests were conducted across different pressure gradients to analyze the model’s predominant period evolution due to consolidation pressures. The experimental results demonstrate that the model box accurately simulates the propagation of one-dimensional shear waves in soil layers under various consolidation pressures, with notable repeatability and reliability. Our experiments demonstrated that increasing consolidation pressure results in higher shear wave speeds in both sand and soft-soil layers, and shifts the site’s predominant period towards shorter durations. Concurrently, we established the relationship between the site’s predominant period and the input waves. This study opens new paths for further research into the dynamic response properties of SBR sites under diverse conditions through shaking-table tests.

Equivalent mating system parameters in post‐mining and undisturbed native plant populations confirms restitution of bird‐pollinator function

Abstract The restoration of diverse self‐sustaining ecosystems requires re‐establishment of functional interactions among species. For plant communities, pollinators are usually essential for pollination, seed set and seed quality. A common assumption in ecological restoration for plants pollinated by animals is one of ‘build it and they will come’, which is rarely tested. Beyond seed set, there may be negative genetic consequences for seed quality if pollinators and their behaviour do not reflect those in reference populations. Here, we conduct an ecological genetic assessment of seed quality via mating system parameters in Lambertia multiflora (Proteaceae), a species dependent on nectar‐feeding birds for pollination. Four populations of L. multiflora in disturbed sites that were rehabilitated following mineral sands mining were compared with four native reference populations, near Eneabba, Western Australia. In each population, approximately 10 offspring from each of 10 maternal plants were genotyped with 11 highly polymorphic microsatellite markers. From these data, genetic diversity and mating system parameters were assessed, and found to be equivalent across all populations. Mean allelic diversity and heterozygosity across loci were very high. All populations were completely outcrossing with no bi‐parental inbreeding. Mean correlated paternity, sibship and effective population size estimates for restored and natural populations were not significantly different and reflected uniformly high paternal diversity and wide outcrossing. Equivalent genetic results for restored and natural reference populations indicate successful restitution of bird‐pollinator services for L. multiflora in these post‐mining rehabilitation sites. Synthesis and applications. Reviewing our results with other published studies to date suggests a resilience of bird‐pollinator services in restored plant communities. These findings provide some reassurance to restoration practitioners working in these global south systems where bird pollination is a feature, at least for similar landscape scenarios. Our study also highlights the global contribution of ecological genetics to the objective assessment of functional species interactions in ecological restoration, an increasingly important goal of land managers and regulators seeking to improve restoration standards.