Experimental Research on the Remediation Ability of Four Wetland Plants on Acid Mine Drainage

Recognising the role of ruderal species in restoration of degraded lands

Ruderal plants are an important component of plant communities that develop on the range of anthropogenically degraded lands. Yet they were highly neglected and not recognised as desirable for restoration purposes. The aim of this study was to analyse the potential for using ruderal species in restoration processes and to identify preliminary criteria for species selection that could be included in ecological restoration of degraded man-made habitats under future conditions of increased human disturbance and climate changes. The desirable characteristics of the species depend primarily on the type of habitat to be restored, with plant height, specific leaf area, rooting depth and seed characteristics being the most important traits. The recognised ecosystem services of the species analysed show that the provisioning and regulating services are well represented, particularly erosion control, pollination, phytoremediation and other soil quality improvements. Most of the dominant and diagnostic ruderal species from the man-made habitats of the north-western Balkan Peninsula are sensitive to climate change and their potential distribution range is expected to decrease at the European scale. Higher certain ecological indicator values, as well as values for disturbance severity, frequency and soil disturbance indices were found for species that are expected to increase their range. Ruderal species are becoming increasingly important for restoration purposes, as the focus shifts to the significance of early successional species. The inclusion of ruderal species in the restoration of degraded sites should be based on criteria such as: non-invasiveness, plant traits favourable for colonisation (height, SLA, seed traits, rooting depth), values of ecological and disturbance indices, provision of ecosystem services, and change of distribution range under changing climate conditions.

A review: The formation, prevention, and remediation of acid mine drainage

In abandoned open-pit coal mines, surface water and groundwater form acidic waters with high concentrations of metal ions due to chemical interactions with ores such as pyrite, and the formation of acid mine drainage (AMD) is one of the major sources of pollution of world concern. For this reason, this paper reviews the formation mechanisms and influencing factors of AMD. It also describes the prediction, prevention, and remediation techniques for AMD, identifying key research gaps. It also discusses the current challenges and shortcomings faced globally in the management of AMD. The formation of AMD is mainly caused by the oxidation of pyrite in mines, but it is mainly influenced by history, climate, topography, and hydrogeology, making the formation mechanism of AMD extremely complex. Currently, the remediation technologies for AMD mainly include active treatment and passive treatment, which can effectively neutralize acidic wastewater. However, the prediction technology for AMD is blank, and the source treatment technology such as passivation and microencapsulation only stays in the experimental stage. This leads to the high cost of treatment technologies at this stage and the inability to identify potential risks in mines. Overall, this review provides remediation tools for AMD from predicting root causes to treatment. Geophysical technology is an effective method for predicting the motion path and pollution surface of AMD in the future, and resource recovery for AMD is a key point that must be paid attention to in the future. Finally, integrated treatment technologies that deserve further exploration need to be emphasized.