Determining the footprint of mines on plant diversity: integrating enigmatic impacts and the mine life cycle

PhD Project of Xiangbo Yin

Director: Nicole Fenton (UQAT-FIR)
Codirector: Christine Martineau (Laurentian Forestry Centre - Canadian Forest Service)
Collaborators: Isabelle Demers (UQAT-RIME) and Nathan Basiliko (Laurentian University)

Land-use changes caused by human activities are the main causes of changes in ecosystem structures and functions. Mining activities are one of those human activities that result in changes in uses and cover in the boreal forest. Large quantities of tailings have been produced, some of which are characterized by low pH and high heavy metal concentrations, and these represent a significant source of contamination for surrounding ecosystems. In spite of this, the influence of the mines on the forest ecosystems is little studied, and this, globally. In addition, there is a great lack of knowledge about enigmatic impacts of mines, which extend beyond mining sites.

This project aims to determine the mine footprint on the ecosystem (beyond its land footprint) by analyzing the plant composition (vascular plants, bryophytes, and lichens) as an indicator. Several mining sites will therefore be analyzed at different stages of their life cycle (in operation, closed, restored). This project is divided into three chapters:

1. Determining the spatial footprint of mines during their life cycle;
2. Analysis of interactions between plant and bacterial communities of soils affected by this spatial footprint of mines in operation;
3. Determination of the spatial footprints of roads on roadside vegetation, with particular attention to alien invasive species.

A better understanding of how mines affect vegetation is essential to develop adequate mitigation measures in order to reduce mine impacts on biodiversity throughout their life cycle.