Search Results (5)

The paper presents the first report and morphological description of aphids feeding on the mycoheterotrophic plant Monotropa hypophegea Wallr. of the family Ericaceae. This is the first known case of aphids feeding on a mycoheterotrophic plant, additionally involved in mutualistic relation with ants Lasius niger (Hymenoptera, Formicinae). This observation took place on an overgrown, postmining spoil tip in southern Poland (Europe). Barcode COI sequencing and morphological examination indicated that the collected specimens of aphids belong to A. fabae s. lat., a group of closely related species. The discussion focuses on taxonomic issues concerning the species identity of the collected aphids and the ecological interactions between insects, plants, and fungi involved in the observed association. The presence of ants attending aphids indicates the possibility of ants serving as pollinators of M. hypophegea. Full article

Legacy colliery spoil tip failures pose a significant hazard that can result in harm to persons or damage to property and infrastructure. In this research, the 2020 Wattstown tip landslide caused by heavy rainfall was examined to investigate the likely mechanisms and developmental factors contributing to colliery spoil tip failures in Welsh coalfields. To achieve this, an integrated method was proposed through the combination of remote sensing mapping, stability chart analysis, 2D limit equilibrium (LE) modelling, and 3D finite difference method (FDM) analysis. Various water table geometries were incorporated into these models to ascertain the specific groundwater condition that triggered the occurrence of the 2020 landslide. In addition, sensitivity analyses were carried out to assess the influence of the colliery spoil properties (i.e., cohesion, friction angle, and porosity) on the slope stability analysis. The results indicate that the landslide was characterised by a shallow rotational failure mode and spatially constrained by the critical water table and an underlying geological interface. In addition, the results also imply that the landslide was triggered by the rise of water table associated with heavy rainfall. Through sensitivity analysis, it was found that the properties of the colliery spoil played an important role in confining the extent of the landslide and controlling the process of its development. The findings underscore the detrimental effects of increased pore pressures, induced by heavy rainfall, on the stability of colliery tips, highlighting the urgent needs for local government to enhance water management strategies for this region. Full article

The project SUBproducts4LIFE is a LIFE-funded research project that aims to demonstrate innovative circular economy concepts by repurposing industrial subproducts/waste (coal ash and gypsum from coal power plants, blast furnace slag, and steelmaking slag from steel factories) for the remediation of contaminated soils and brownfield areas associated with Hg mining on a large scale. Within the project, one of the objectives is related to worker safety by developing protocols and elaborating a guide of good practices to work under in these highly contaminated areas. The present research aims to assess the working conditions in an abandoned mine facility in terms of gaseous mercury in the environment, evaluating the main areas of the mine to ensure the health and safety of all workers and visitors. The study developed an empirical model for estimating the gaseous mercury concentration at any temperature with the target of scheduling the work to avoid occupational hazards. The research concluded that working without restrictions for temperatures under 15 °C in all the mine’s facilities is possible. Full article

The main purpose of this paper was to outline a novel approach for the use of industrial by-products generated in coal mines and coal-fired power plants as the components for artificial soils. Several coal combustion by-products, coal mine waste and organic waste materials were tested at laboratory scale for use in the reclamation of areas degraded by coal mining activity. The role of artificial soils was the land rehabilitation of the high acidic waste heap. The results revealed that the amounts of organic matter (14.87–25.01%) and nutrients in the soil substitutes were sufficient to support plant growth, i.e., N (0.37–0.51%), P (0.23–0.47%), K (1.78–3.17%), Ca (4.93–8.39%) and Mg (1.16–1.71%). A phytotoxicity test using white mustard (Sinapis alba) seeds under laboratory conditions showed good germination results (56–66%) for three soil substitutes that did not contain fly ash from biomass combustion, compared to the reference soil (84%). The relationships established for the aqueous leachate parameters of soil substitutes vs. the Sinapis alba germination revealed negative correlations with electrical conductivity (r = −0.88), SO₄²⁻ (r = −0.91) and Cl⁻ (r = −0.70) ions; the two latter ones were responsible for the salinity which hampered the germination process of the soil substitutes. Moreover, quite similar correlations were obtained between the germination of Sinapis alba and the trace elements of the soil substitutes: Fe (r = −0.69), Cd (r = −0.72), Cu (r = −0.80), Pb (r = −0.78) and Zn (r = −0.74). However, negative and significant correlations in aqueous leachates were shown only with Ni concentration (r = −0.73). The relevance of these results for the effect of salinity on germination and the early growth of S. alba was discussed in detail and was confirmed with the Principal Component Analysis (PCA). The study proved that the physicochemical characteristic of recycled wastes exhibited their potential usefulness for the reclamation of affected areas such as mine waste heaps. Full article

The spatial distribution pattern of vegetation is of great significance to the prevention and control of soil erosion in spoil tips. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of spatial distributions of grass strips on soil erosion in spoil tips. A field runoff plot (20 m long, 1 m wide, and 0.5 m deep) was used for inflow simulation experiments under four inflow rate patterns (even, rising, falling, and rising–falling) and five grass strip patterns (patterns I–V). Results showed that the runoff reduction benefit (RRB) and soil loss reduction benefit (SLRB) of grass strip patterns were 12.23–49.62% and 12.92–80.54%, respectively. The optimal grass strip pattern was when the grass strips were distributed on a slope in bands (pattern V). In this pattern, the soil and water conservation effects were best, with RRB and SLRB of 43.87% and 58.09%, respectively. The grass strip patterns exhibited a significant time-limited effect on controlling soil erosion. The maximum amount of soil loss reduction for patterns II, III, IV, and V was 93.02, 84.30, 65.86, and 98.26 kg, respectively. Soil loss reduction caused by decreasing runoff (SR_R) for grass strip patterns was the main factor controlling erosion. The efficiency coefficient of soil loss reduction caused by decreasing runoff for pattern V was higher than that for the other patterns. The grass strip pattern V (i.e., grass strips were distributed on a slope in bands) should be considered a priority in the prevention of soil erosion in spoil tips. This study can guide the configuration of vegetation control measures for soil and water loss in spoil tips. Full article