Factors affecting succession in abandoned mines

Extraction of limestone in protected landscape areas is a huge phenomenon and problem at the moment. Need of its quantity and quality constantly rise. The pressure to expand mining areas, which are located on places with considerable landscape and culture wealth, is rising as well. Returning of damaged territories back to natural cycle from which they have been forcibly extracted is even a bigger problem. The great unknown is whether it is better to proceed by means of reclamation or let the territory to its own evolution - spontaneous succession. In my thesis I am going to deal with the problems of spontaneous succession and factors affecting it. It is important to find out how plants can spread to left and open areas after mining, where they are going to be the first inhabitants. The fieldwork take place Cerinka quarry in Czech Karst. The aim of the study is to collect informations how plants can spread from maternal habitats and try to find out if there are any hurdles, which could hinder plants in the expansion. By doing this it should be possible to identify why how to support spreading of the target species to the site. The research is based on regular collection of phytosociological relevés at the site. Key words: spontaneous succession, quarries, Czech karst, mining, reclamation, factor