The effects of surface heterogeneity on erosion and sedimentation and their implications for of soil properties at postmining sites.

Erosion is often mentioned as a serious problem namely in vegetation free areas such as post mining soils. Much less attention has been paid to the role of erosion and deposition on habitat formation. Study describes the effect of erosion and deposition on soil chemical and physical properties in sites with various topography using an array of artificial postmining catchments located near Sokolov (Czech Republic).

Monitoring the formation of structures and patterns during initial development of an artificial catchment.

The objective of this paper is to present observations, results from monitoring measurements, and preliminary conclusions about the development of patterns and structures during the first 5 years of development of an artificial catchment starting from point zero. We discuss the high relevance of initial system traits and external events for the system development and draw conclusions for further research. These investigations as part of a Collaborative Research Center, aim to disentangle and understand the feedback mechanisms and interrelationships of processes and their co-development with spatial and temporal structures and patterns by studying an initial, probably less complex ecosystem.