Ground beetle communities on reclaimed mine spoil: Effects of organic matter application and revegetation

On a study site in the Lusatian lignite mining region (Germany), sandy mine spoil was ameliorated with either sewage sludge, compost or mineral fertil izer. Plots were sown with the grass Secale multicaule and planted with pin e seedlings except for a control that was not meliorated and not revegetate d. Pitfall catches of ground beetles in 1996/97 yielded high numbers of spe cies and individuals directly after revegetation. The dominant beetles were xerophilic species, known to prefer open sandy sites. Catches in different plots were positively correlated with the amount of vegetation cover and d eclined as follows: amelioration with sewage sludge > compost > mineral fer tilizer > untreated control. Even beetles characteristic of open sandy site s showed a distinct preference for plots with high vegetation cover treated with organic waste. For the dominant species, an attraction to shelter and a more balanced, humid microclimate is assumed. A year-to-year comparison showed an increase in beetles typical of dry grasslands and ruderal sites i n the second year, while characteristic species of open sandy sites decreas ed. Application of organic waste combined with revegetation led to an immed iate increase in beetle numbers. In the long term, revegetation would be ex pected to reduce suitable habitats for endangered ground beetles which pref er open sites with poor sandy soils.