Abstract
An early successional wetland complex on a reclaimed surface coal mine in southern Illinois was studied 1985–1987. Seasonally, biomass was low, with above-ground values of 10–210g m−2 and below-ground biomass of 1.5–2435 g m−2. Biomass peaked in spring and did not vary much throughout the remainder of the growing season. Stem densities were high (179–1467 m−2) because large numbers of seedlings became established as falling water levels exposed large areas of mudflats. Fluctuating water levels led to a lack of community zonation. Species diversity (H′) was low to moderate over all sites with diversity values ranging between 1.86 and 3.27.
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Cole, C.A. Wetland vegetation ecology on a reclaimed coal surface mine in southern Illinois, USA. Wetlands Ecol Manage 2, 135–142 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00215320
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00215320