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Nine-year bird community development on Radovesická spoil heap: impacts of restoration approach and vegetation characteristics

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A Correction to this article was published on 16 December 2023

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Abstract

Worldwide environmental effects of anthropogenic land modification have made apparent the urgent need of ecological restoration. However, the methods employed in restoration of post-industrial sites vary across different regions. This study aims to examine the outcomes of different restoration approaches by examining avian communities inhabiting a vast spoil heap in Central Europe (1200 ha). Observations were conducted in 2012, and from 2019 to 2021. We built generalized mixed-effect linear models with spatial covariance structures to consider confounding effects of spatial autocorrelation. As restoration proceeded on the site, management techniques were employed that led to increases in bird abundances, diversity, and rarity. Forestry restoration involved tree planting and was associated with higher vegetation productivity and increased cover of understory and canopy layers. It facilitated increased bird diversity as it was preferred by many species that typically inhabit forests and shrublands. However, it attracted rare species only in areas with increased understory cover. Conversely, agricultural restoration (based on sowing of grasses) was associated with increased herb cover and attracted a species-poor, but valuable group of rare grassland birds. Some areas on the site were also left to spontaneous vegetation succession, which facilitated an increase in bird species richness and bird rarity and attracted wetland species. Given the historical context of the surrounding landscape, management that maintains the unique bird groups associated with each management type is recommended. This involves allowing spontaneous succession to proceed undisturbed, preserving shrub cover by introducing disturbances, and preventing the replacement of valuable grasslands with planted forests.

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Funding

The Funding was provided by Jihočeská Univerzita v Českých Budějovicích [Grant no. SGA 2021].

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Branišovská 1760, 370 05, České Budějovice, Czech Republic

    Kryštof Korejs & Jan Riegert

  2. Department of Ecology, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129165 00, Praha-Suchdol, Czech Republic

    Miroslav Šálek, Vladimír Bejček & Petr Musil

  3. Czech Society for Ornithology, Na Bělidle 252/34150 00, Prague-Smíchov, Czech Republic

    Karel Šťastný

  4. Ametyst Association, Lindauerova 140/21, 301 00, Pilsen, Czech Republic

    Ondřej Volf

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  1. Kryštof Korejs
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  2. Miroslav Šálek
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  3. Vladimír Bejček
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Correspondence to Kryštof Korejs.

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Korejs, K., Šálek, M., Bejček, V. et al. Nine-year bird community development on Radovesická spoil heap: impacts of restoration approach and vegetation characteristics. Landscape Ecol Eng 20, 89–102 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11355-023-00582-6

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