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Title: Secondary plant succession on disturbed sites at Yucca Mountain, Nevada

Abstract

This report presents the results of a study of secondary plant succession on disturbed sites created during initial site investigations in the late 1970s and early 1980s at Yucca Mountain, NV. Specific study objectives were to determine the rate and success of secondary plant succession, identify plant species found in disturbances that may be suitable for site-specific reclamation, and to identify environmental variables that influence succession on disturbed sites. During 1991 and 1992, fifty seven disturbed sites were located. Vegetation parameters, disturbance characteristics and environmental variables were measured at each site. Disturbed site vegetation parameters were compared to that of undisturbed sites to determine the status of disturbed site plant succession. Vegetation on disturbed sites, after an average of ten years, was different from undisturbed areas. Ambrosia dumosa, Chrysothamnus teretifolius, Hymenoclea salsola, Gutierrezia sarothrae, Atriplex confertifolia, Atriplex canescens, and Stephanomeria pauciflora were the most dominant species across all disturbed sites. With the exception of A. dumosa, these species were generally minor components of the undisturbed vegetation. Elevation, soil compaction, soil potassium, and amounts of sand and gravel in the soil were found to be significant environmental variables influencing the species composition and abundance of perennial plants on disturbed sites. Themore » recovery rate for disturbed site secondary succession was estimated. Using a linear function (which would represent optimal conditions), the recovery rate for perennial plant cover, regardless of which species comprised the cover, was estimated to be 20 years. However, when a logarithmic function (which would represent probable conditions) was used, the recovery rate was estimated to be 845 years. Recommendations for future studies and site-specific reclamation of disturbances are presented.« less

Authors:
; ; ;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
EG and G Energy Measurements, Inc., Las Vegas, NV (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
114521
Report Number(s):
EGG-11265-1118
ON: DE96000185; TRN: 95:023152
DOE Contract Number:
AC08-93NV11265
Resource Type:
Technical Report
Resource Relation:
Other Information: PBD: Dec 1994
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; 05 NUCLEAR FUELS; YUCCA MOUNTAIN; VEGETATIVE PROPAGATION; SITE CHARACTERIZATION; PLANTS; MATHEMATICAL MODELS; REMEDIAL ACTION; ENVIRONMENT; Yucca Mountain Project

Citation Formats

Angerer, J.P., Ostler, W.K., Gabbert, W.D., and Schultz, B.W. Secondary plant succession on disturbed sites at Yucca Mountain, Nevada. United States: N. p., 1994. Web. doi:10.2172/114521.
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Angerer, J.P., Ostler, W.K., Gabbert, W.D., & Schultz, B.W. Secondary plant succession on disturbed sites at Yucca Mountain, Nevada. United States. doi:10.2172/114521.
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Angerer, J.P., Ostler, W.K., Gabbert, W.D., and Schultz, B.W. Thu . "Secondary plant succession on disturbed sites at Yucca Mountain, Nevada". United States. doi:10.2172/114521. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/114521.
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@article{osti_114521,
title = {Secondary plant succession on disturbed sites at Yucca Mountain, Nevada},
author = {Angerer, J.P. and Ostler, W.K. and Gabbert, W.D. and Schultz, B.W.},
abstractNote = {This report presents the results of a study of secondary plant succession on disturbed sites created during initial site investigations in the late 1970s and early 1980s at Yucca Mountain, NV. Specific study objectives were to determine the rate and success of secondary plant succession, identify plant species found in disturbances that may be suitable for site-specific reclamation, and to identify environmental variables that influence succession on disturbed sites. During 1991 and 1992, fifty seven disturbed sites were located. Vegetation parameters, disturbance characteristics and environmental variables were measured at each site. Disturbed site vegetation parameters were compared to that of undisturbed sites to determine the status of disturbed site plant succession. Vegetation on disturbed sites, after an average of ten years, was different from undisturbed areas. Ambrosia dumosa, Chrysothamnus teretifolius, Hymenoclea salsola, Gutierrezia sarothrae, Atriplex confertifolia, Atriplex canescens, and Stephanomeria pauciflora were the most dominant species across all disturbed sites. With the exception of A. dumosa, these species were generally minor components of the undisturbed vegetation. Elevation, soil compaction, soil potassium, and amounts of sand and gravel in the soil were found to be significant environmental variables influencing the species composition and abundance of perennial plants on disturbed sites. The recovery rate for disturbed site secondary succession was estimated. Using a linear function (which would represent optimal conditions), the recovery rate for perennial plant cover, regardless of which species comprised the cover, was estimated to be 20 years. However, when a logarithmic function (which would represent probable conditions) was used, the recovery rate was estimated to be 845 years. Recommendations for future studies and site-specific reclamation of disturbances are presented.},
doi = {10.2172/114521},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1994},
month = {Thu Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1994}
}
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Technical Report:
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DOI:  10.2172/114521
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