SHORT COMMUNICATION
GIS Methods in Monitoring Succession Processes
in Limestone and Dolomite Quarries
Oimahmad Rahmonov1, Małgorzata Gajos2, Rafał Czuban1, Tomasz Parusel1
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1Faculty of Earth Sciences, University of Silesia,
2Faculty of Computer Science and Materials Science, University of Silesia,
Będzińska 39, 41-200 Sosnowiec, Poland
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2014;23(2):647-653
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
The complete destruction of primary vegetation and soil cover as a result of human activity is the most
drastic example of disturbances in ecosystem functioning. Despite the fact that inactive limestone and
dolomite quarries are relatively common in the southern part of the Silesian Upland (the Jaworzno Hills
mesoregion), there are not many studies on the processes of transformation of landscape within them. The aim
of our paper is to present preliminary results of research on overgrowing processes in the select objects using
applied GIS methods. The studies show that differentiation of overgrowing processes in investigated quarries
depend on the time that passed from the end of exploitation and of the type of surrounding landscapes. The
major fragments of quarries were overgrown by species with a wide ecological spectrum, both herbaceous
species (e.g. Calamagrostis epigejos) and pioneering trees (e.g. Betula pendula, Salix caprea). Additionally,
especially on the edge of investigated quarries, plant communities form class Rhamno-Prunetea and grasses
from Cirsio-Brachypodion pinnati union formed. In total, 145 species of vascular plants were identified,
including 2 strictly protected and 7 partially protected taxons. Research is based on archival aerial photographs
and the latest orthophotomaps from the 1950s to 2009. All cartographic materials were calibrated and registered
in Poland CS92 coordinate system (EPSG: 2180). Registration and digitalization of vegetation patch
ranges were conducted with applied MapInfo Professional software.