Abstract:

Through the field investigation and laboratory analysis, this paper describes the regular pattern of community succession on the deserted land of Shizishan copper tailings in Tongling City. There are 49 species of natural colonized plants on the wasteland, which are subordinate to 15 families and 38 genera. The main families are Compositae (12 species), Gramineae (11 species), Leguminosae (8 species) and Hippochaete ramosissimum, which belong to Equisetaceae. The extreme soil infertility and excessively concentration of heavy metals (especially Cu and Cd) are the main limiting factors to plants colonization. The vegetation on the deserted land of copper tailings is distributed in spot piece and scattered mainly with fewer species of plant, with lower species diversity. Annual and biennial herbs and grasses are dominant components. Cynodon dactylon, Imperata cylindrica var. major, Lespedeza chinensis, Erigeron annuus and H. ramosissimum etc. have a higher summed dominance ratio. The natural formation of plant community on the deserted land of copper tailings usually goes through seeds spread, invasion, ecesis, aggregation and species competition. After several years of primary natural restoration, 14 communities were formed. According to their community composition and structure level, the 14 communities are divided into three primary succession stages, namely monodominant, subdominant and codominant species communities. With the formation and succession of these communities, species were enriched and diversity increased, the margin of summed dominance ratio of species in each community decreased, and the composition or structure of community became complex.

Key words: deserted land of copper tailings, ecological restoration, vegetation succession, pattern