Community Succession Analysis of Naturally Colonized Plants on Coal Gob Piles in Shanxi Mining Areas, China

Data were collected simultaneously at different succession stages using a space-for-time substitution, and were analyzed using the quantitative classification method (Twinspan) and the ordination technique (DCA). The community succession analysis of naturally colonized plants on coal gob piles in Shanxi mining areas was as followings: Assoc. Setaria viridis + Amaranthus retroflexus [rightward arrow] Assoc. Tribulus terrester + Setaria viridis [rightward arrow] Assoc. Setaria viridis + Artemisia annua [rightward arrow] Assoc. Bothriochloa ischaemum + Artemisia capillaries [rightward arrow] Assoc. Bothriochloa ischaemum + Artemisia scoparia [rightward arrow] Assoc. Periploca sepium - Artemisia gmelinii [rightward arrow] Assoc. Periploca sepium + Lespedeza daurica - Artemisia gmelinii [rightward arrow] Assoc. Periploca sepium + Vitex negundo var. heterophylla - Bothriochloa ischaemum [rightward arrow] Assoc. Ailanthus altissima - Lespedeza daurica - Artemisia gmelinii [rightward arrow] Assoc. Robinia pseudoacacia - Vitex negundo var. heterophylla - Bothriochloa ischaemum. This established a model of the recovery of natural vegetation on coal gob piles in Shanxi mining areas. The structure, composition and life-forms changed significantly during succession. Six indices of species diversity were used to analyze changes in the richness, evenness and heterogeneity of species during the succession process. As the succession progressed, the richness of plant communities increased significantly, the evenness increased slightly and the heterogeneity increased obviously. The plant development could obviously increase the organic content in the surface layer of coal gob piles. Pioneer species of Setaria viridis, Amaranthus retroflexus, Tribulus terreste, Artemisia gmelinii, Bothriochloa ischaemum, Periploca sepium, Lespedeza daurica, Vitex negundo var. heterophylla, Ailanthus altissima and Robinia pseudoacacia, etc. could colonize successfully and play important roles on the vegetation restoration of coal gob piles.