Bryophytes and revegetation of coal spoils in southern Iowa. [14 refs]

Technical Report · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1976

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/7312764· OSTI ID:7312764

Carvey, K; Farrar, D R; Glenn-Lewin, D C

Strip mining of coal in southern Iowa has left many scattered areas of coal spoils which provide a type of habitat unique to the region. The occurrence and distribution of 29 mosses and 2 liverworts on these spoils was determined and related to the general process of spoil revegetation. The spoil bryophyte flora was compared with Conard's (1956) list of bryophytes for the region. An increase in per cent cover and in species diversity of bryophytes was observed with increasing age of spoils, and was correlated with increased vascular plant cover. Dicranella heteromalla and Ceratodon purpureus were found to be common throughout the spoils, whereas all other species were limited to more protected sites, especially on north-facing slopes. Mosses did not appear to colonize very exposed areas on the spoils, but were limited to areas with some protection provided, especially by vascular plants. Several disjunct or highly localized moss populations were found including one new state record and thirteen new county records.

• Research Organization: Iowa State Univ. of Science and Technology, Ames (USA). Energy and Mineral Resources Research Inst.
• OSTI ID: 7312764
• Report Number(s): IS-ICP-41
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010900* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Environmental Aspects
012000 -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Mining
510500 -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Site Resource & Use Studies-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
BIOMASS
COAL MINING
ENERGY SOURCES
IOWA
LAND RECLAMATION
MIDWEST REGION
MINING
MOSSES
NORTH AMERICA
PLANTS
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
REVEGETATION
SPOIL BANKS
SURFACE MINING
USA