Plant Community, Soil and Microclimate Attributes after 70 Years of Natural Recovery of an Abandoned Limestone Quarry

With globally more than 100,000 km2 impacted by surface mining at present, and with increasing demand for surface-mined products, land managers are challenged to address landscape degradation of decommissioned quarries, especially in urban areas. In this study, soil, microclimate, vegetation community data were collected from geomorphologically distinct locations (quarry floor, platform pond, quarry top, highwall edge) within an limestone abandoned 70 years ago without reclamation central Missouri, USA. Results compared two nearby reference sites bookend conditions the quarry, including a recently closed forest. study showed that abiotic legacies gave rise communities comprising 74 native species but also 21 non-native species. Species richness was increased near persistent edges (cliff edge, pond approached lower range found natural areas region. The results case congruent growing body studies about spontaneous succession on mines worldwide (vs. managed) revegetation can lead species-rich, near-natural communities. This finding may justify revision current legislation requiring technical mines, where favorable substrate, such as limestone, is conducive swift onset revegetation. To improve ecological value areas, provision funding long-term invasive management should be considered.