Elsevier

Ecological Engineering

Volume 36, Issue 12, December 2010, Pages 1666-1671
Ecological Engineering

Macro-arthropod succession in grassland growing on bauxite residue

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2010.07.006Get rights and content

Abstract

Ecosystem functions such as nutrient cycling are crucial components of revegetation programmes for bauxite residues and other tailings. Whilst vegetation establishment on bauxite residue is well studied, little is known about the development of the soil-biota. Macro-arthropod assemblages have been used to monitor and evaluate restoration success on a variety of mine spoils, but there is no information on its presence in bauxite residues.

In order to understand the colonization and community development of macro-arthropods in revegetated residue, we compared species from two revegetated residues with an unamended site using pitfall and pan trap techniques. Whilst relatively few immobile species were present in the unamended site, high diversity was recorded for the revegetated sites. A number of species representative of predatory and carnivorous trophic structure were identified for the two vegetated sites. Additionally, many species identified are indicative of later stages of succession.

These findings indicate that bauxite residues can be successfully restored to a functioning grassland type ecosystem. Monitoring of key arthropod species is recommended as part of the restoration evaluation process.

Introduction

Revegetation (restoration of vegetation cover) on mine wastes can fulfil the objectives of stabilization, pollution control and visual improvement (Wong, 2003) and has been demonstrated on bauxite residues in a number of locations (Fuller et al., 1982, Courtney and Timpson, 2005, Wehr et al., 2006).

Traditionally, physical and chemical soil analyses and visually distinguishable above ground indicators, such as vegetation, formed the foundation for the majority of management decisions in rehabilitation (Classens et al., 2008). Crucial to the formation of a natural cover on mine residues is the formation of soil with its typical biota (Biederman et al., 2008). Whilst most studies on revegetation of mine tailings have focused on techniques for vegetation establishment, little attention has been paid to the processes of below ground development (Shu et al., 2005). Increasingly, in the face of increasing demands for ecologically sustainable development, the goal of mine site rehabilitation has moved away from simple revegetation to more comprehensive ecosystem reconstruction (Van Hamburg et al., 2004). If the aim of rehabilitation is to create a self-sustaining ecosystem with all its attributes, then the return of various components of the fauna is critical (Williams, 1993).

Invertebrates are responsible for a number of tasks such as facilitating in aerating and draining the soil, litter decomposition, pollination, and seed dispersals as well as providing food for other vertebrate predators (Majer et al., 2006).

Knowledge of invertebrate recolonization in post-mining landscape is considered essential in efforts to meet the restoration objectives of establishing self-sustaining ecosystems (Gardner, 2001). A number of studies have investigated the rehabilitation of mine sites on the basis of single families. Ant species have been utilised for assessing rehabilitation success after bauxite mining in Western Australia (Majer et al., 2007) and in coal mining dumps in Germany (Holec and Frouz, 2005). Whilst Topp et al., 2001, Topp et al., 2009 have assessed beetle communities in lignite mine spoil.

However, no information is available on the arthropod succession in fine textured, alkaline bauxite residues. The objectives of the present study were to compare arthropod assemblages from bauxite residues sites that had been revegetated and compare them to a bare residue site. We aimed to assess whether presence of certain arthropod groups may indicate the ecological function of revegetated residue and can be used for monitoring restoration success.

Section snippets

Site description and sampling

Sampling took place at the Aughinish Alumina Ltd. bauxite residue disposal area (BRDA) (52°37′06″N, 9°04′19″W) in Co. Limerick, southwest Ireland. Here we examined arthropod community development on revegetated bauxite residues. The predominant fraction produced (red mud) is an alkaline, sodic, silty-clay residue and is stored in a BRDA of 104 ha.

Amendment of the red mud residue for revegetation involved the application and incorporation of 25% process residue sand w/w, gypsum (45–90 t/ha) and

Soil properties in bauxite residue treatments

Values for the residue treatments are shown in Table 2. Residue properties for Site 3 exhibited the greatest sodicity (ESP), pH and salinity (EC), together with the lowest levels of phosphorus and carbon.

Revegetated residues (Sites 1 and 2) differed significantly from Site 3 (Table 2). These treatments displayed significantly lower Na, EC and pH whilst nutrients (Ca, Mg, K, P and N) were greatly increased. There was no significant difference between these amended sites. With the exception of

Discussion

Unamended bare bauxite residue displays alkaline, sodic properties with minimal inherent nutrient content and poor soil structure, and as such, can limit soil biological properties. Arthropod colonization of other mine spoils has been highlighted (Holec and Frouz, 2005, Kielhorn et al., 1999, Mrzljak and Wiegleb, 2000, Topp et al., 2009). Mine spoils, compared to process residues, are heterogeneous in nature, compared to the fine particle size associated with bauxite residue. Additional

Conclusion

Revegetated bauxite residue can support a wide variety of arthropod groups; this is reflected in the groups sampled in the study displaying different features such as feeding and preference of different layers. This is supported by diversity in plant composition and structure with improved substrate conditions. Species associated with advanced succession were identified and can be included in future monitoring work on restoration success. Future restoration of mine wastes should adopt

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Aughinish Alumina Ltd. for their financial support for this research. We would also like to thank Veronica Santorum for her assistance with trapping equipment.

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