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This study will examine plant community development
following disturbance at Tomago, within a framework of vegetation
successional theory, with the aim of providing greater confidence
in trends towards self-sustaining rehabilitation, which may assist
in mine lease relinquishment.
Specific objectives are:
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To compare the current composition and structure of
rehabilitated communities with unmined reference or target communities
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Using historical monitoring data to construct models
of plant community development along temporal gradients, and elucidate
the impacts of initial establishment conditions on development
trajectories
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To investigate the use of plant life history
attributes as indicators of future community development
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To examine the soil seed bank within different
successional states, and its potential role in community development
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To determine the response of successional states to
disturbance by fire (resilience)
Anticipated outcomes of the study
include:
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Capitalising on the rare opportunity of
longer-term documented vegetation community development following mining
disturbance, test and expand our general understanding of ecological
succession
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Definition of robust criteria for
evaluating successful sustainable rehabilitation, based on a clearer
understanding of successional trends with known starting points
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