##  [Abandoned Pit and Quarry Sites: Living Experiments](/resource/abandoned-pit-and-quarry-sites-living-experiments) 

Organization

[Canadian Land Reclamation Association (CLRA)](/organization/canadian-land-reclamation-association-clra)

[Government of Ontario (GoO)](/organization/government-ontario-goo)

 

 

Project

[National CLRA Conference Papers](/project/national-clra-conference-papers)

 

Resource Type

[Report](/taxonomy/term/38)

 

 

Author(s)

Mark Browning

 

 

Resource Date:

1998

 

Page Length

16

 

 

The Ministry of Natural Resources’ pit and quarry rehabilitation research has concentrated on determining the potential that extraction sites have to support different types of wildlife communities and identifying the critical factors for success in the establishment of specific habitats or ecosystems.

Important sources of information for this research are the numerous abandoned extraction sites scattered across southern Ontario. These can really be considered as living experiments that were begun at the time of abandonment. Botanical surveys are being carried out at a variety of such abandoned pit and quarry sites in southern Ontario. Randomly located transects and quadrats on these sites provide a description of vegetation patterns. Associated physical variables such as hydrology, topography and soil characteristics are also measured . These are being correlated with the plant patterns to suggest underlying mechanisms.

Initial results from this study are showing that a wide variety of habitat types are possible. Developing marsh, fen, swamp, alvar, and prairie ecosystems have all been found on old extraction sites. Some examples of these are described and the important environmental factors controlling their development discussed.

Finally, data from current field trials set up to test techniques for speeding these natural regeneration processes are presented with emphasis on establishing tallgrass prairie and red oak stands.