Chronosequence of former kaolinite open cast mines suggests active intervention is required for the restoration of Atlantic heathland

Atlantic lowland heath (ALH) is a priority conservation habitat in Western Europe, but restoration efforts have met with mixed success due to the complexity associated with replicating establishment conditions. By virtue of their impoverished, often acidic soils and geographic location in areas naturally occupied by ALH communities, former kaolinite mine sites may offer an excellent opportunity for heathland restoration. Using a chronosequence of former open cast kaolinite mines in South West England (0, 2, 27, and 150 years since mining ceased), we determined the ability of ALH vegetation and soils to reestablish naturally and in addition, for the three youngest sites, how the reinstatement of stored overburden affected heathland regeneration. Analysis of soil characteristics revealed major differences in the levels of acidity, organic content, and fertility between abandoned kaolinite sites and a nearby natural reference heath. Even 150 years after mining ceased, concentrations of all major soil nutrients and organic content were lower, and pH higher, than undisturbed ALH. The reinstatement of overburden did little to improve soil quality, since all former kaolinite sites were dominated by mesotrophic grasses, rather than species characteristic of the target ALH community. We conclude that to maximize the potential of former open cast kaolinite sites for ALH reestablishment, changes in pre‐ and postrestoration management are required. These include modification of how overburden is stockpiled, while the addition of organic material, microbial communities, and sulfur (to reduce soil pH) to reinstated overburden are likely also essential interventions to facilitate successful ALH establishment.     

Small-mammal recolonization of open-forest following sand mining

Changes during regeneration after sand mining for heavy minerals were studied on an area that previously supported open-forest on the Holocene high dune system in Myall Lakes National Park. Sixteen study areas, on which topsoil was replaced 0.5–10 yr ago, provided information on changes to be expected on any one site over that time period. A number of environmental variables was used in a linear multiple regression analysis to determine which of them is important in accounting for the variance and patterns observed in the biomass of two rodent species colonizing the regenerating areas. The first small-mammal colonist is the introduced house mouse (Mus musculus), an opportunistic species present on all sites. Its population density increases rapidly to a maximum at 3 yr after which it declines. Three environmental variables: percentage of bare sand, hardness of the soil in the first 30 cm, and a vegetation structure variable, account for 73% of the variance in M. musculus biomass. The native New Holland mouse (Pseudomys novaehollandiae) first appears between 4 yr and 5 yr after topsoil replacement and peaks between 8 yr and 9 yr, after which it also declines. A highly significant multiple regression accounts for 69% of the variance in P. novaehollandiae biomass using five significant variables: the proportíon of heath plants present, two vegetation structure variables, the amount of dead plant cover, and the topsoil depth. The species replacement observed confirms the succession indicated by previous work and suggests competitive interaction between these species. This study confirms the seral positions of rodent species in successions following both mining or fire. There is a stretched time axis for the mining succession following the more complete disruption of the substrate so regeneration more closely approximates primary rather than secondary succession. The non-linearity of the parameters makes it impossible to predict a recovery time and verifies our previous prediction that recovery estimates from heathland should not be extrapolated to forest.     

干旱砾漠区露天采煤对草地植物群落特征及其稳定性影响

露天煤炭开采对区域地形地貌、水文循环和土壤植被等生态环境因子产生了较大干扰,但干旱砾漠区露天开采对周边植物群落及其稳定性的影响范围和程度仍有待深入研究,这个问题的探明才能为矿区植被恢复的精准施策提供科学依据。该文通过定量比较距露天开采区不同距离植物群落组成、多样性、生产力和稳定性变化特征,分析干旱砾漠区露天采煤对植物群落的影响范围和程度,并结合土壤性状和微气象因子的测量,探究影响干旱矿区植物群落特征的主导因子。结果表明:(1)干旱砾漠区露天开采排土场原始植被消失殆尽,开采区外围0~500 m范围内原优势物种重要值降低,伴生物种重要值增加,500 m后随着距开采区距离的增加优势植物重要值逐渐增加,至开采区800 m外植物群落组成趋于稳定;(2)开采区外围0~500 m范围内植物群落地上生物量、多样性和群落稳定性较5000 m处分别平均下降了53%、70%和37%,开采区500 m以外上述群落指标整体上变化不明显,而植被覆盖度在开采区外围不同距离并未表现出显著变化趋势;(3)土壤水分、有机质、有效氮磷钾、可溶性盐与植物群落地上生物量、多样性和稳定性呈正相关关系,而土壤pH、光照强度和地表温度与上述植物群落指标呈负相关关系。因此干旱砾漠区露天开采排土场及开采区外围0~500 m范围是矿区生态修复过程中重点考虑区域,同时研究表明干旱砾漠区植被主要分布在砾漠戈壁浅沟和季节性河道等生境相对良好的凹陷微地形条件下,综合可得出干旱砾漠区植被修复过程中可通过微地形塑造、土壤改良和乡土物种繁殖促进,以实现干旱矿区生态系统的稳定和可持续发展。     

Restoration and management for cliff‐nesting birds in Mediterranean mining sites: the Sand Martin case study

Habitat enhancement for birds is frequently implemented during mine site restoration. Cliff‐nesting birds often colonize anthropogenic environments such as mining areas (aggregate sites and quarries for aggregate and cement production). Mining activity can compromise breeding success, causing cliff‐nesting birds to depend on the management and restoration of mining areas. The objective of our study is to assess the importance of mine site habitats for Sand Martin conservation and reconcile mining activity with breeding success in Mediterranean environments. We studied Sand Martin breeding habitat preferences in mining areas at three spatial scales. At the mining site scale, we compared 10 mining sites with Sand Martin burrows with 19 mining sites without burrows. At the colony scale (vertical structures with colonies), we evaluated the relationships between the number of breeding pairs, number of burrows, and colony characteristics within 30 distinct Sand Martin colonies. At the burrow scale, we compared the characteristics of the available vertical structure with the areas used by Sand Martins. At the mining site scale, Sand Martins preferred more surface of water bodies, shorter distances to flowing water, older sites, and mining sites which produce aggregates instead of cement. At the colony scale, Sand Martins preferred southwest orientations and stockpiles to vertical extraction faces. At the burrow scale, birds preferred the most vertical areas of the face. Our results support the need for effective habitat restoration and improved management for more effective Sand Martin conservation within mining areas. Simple interventions can enhance habitat quality and conservation of cliff‐nesting birds.     

Soil moisture dynamics and restoration of self‐sustaining native vegetation ecosystem on an open‐cut coal mine

Post‐mining landscape reconstruction on open‐cut coal mines aims to support restoration of self‐sustaining native vegetation ecosystems that in perpetuity require no extra inputs relative to unmined analogs. Little is known about the soil moisture retention capacity of the limited layer of topsoil replaced (often <30 cm deep), impacts of deep ripping of the profile, and the combined impacts of these on plant available water during the mine restoration process. We examined changes in soil moisture parameters (soil water potential, Ψ, and soil water content, Θ) daily using automated soil sensors installed at 30 and 45–65 cm depths on mine restoration sites aged between 3 and 22 years and on adjacent remnant vegetation sites following heavy rainfall events at Meandu mine, southeast Queensland, Australia. Consistent patterns in soil moisture attributes were observed among rehabilitated sites with generally marked differences from remnant sites. Remnant site soil profiles had generally higher Θ after drying than rehabilitated sites and maintained high Ψ for extended periods after rain events. There was a relatively rapid decline of Ψ on reconstructed soil profiles compared with remnant sites although the times of decline onset varied. This response indicated that vegetation restoration sites released soil moisture more rapidly than remnant sites but the rate of drying decreased with increasing rehabilitation age and increased with increasing tree stem density. The rapid drying of mine rehabilitated sites may threaten the survival of some remnant forest species, limit tree growth, and delay restoration of self‐sustaining native ecosystem.     

The vegetation of metalliferous and non-metalliferous grasslands in two former mine regions in Central Slovakia

We investigated the composition of the vegetation in two former mining regions in Central Slovakia: Banská Štiavnica with predominant Pb-Zn contamination and Staré Hory with a very high Cu content in the soil. Old heaps rich in heavy metals are covered with specific vegetation. On the Cu-rich spoil heaps, species-poor plant communities with prevailing Agrostis stolonifera, Avenella flexuosa, Acetosella vulgaris, Arabidopsis arenosa, Silene dioica, and S. vulgaris occur. Species such as Agrostis capillaris, Acetosella vulgaris, Arabidopsis arenosa, and Thlaspi caerulescens appear frequently on Pb-Zn mine wastes. Several differences in the vegetation structure were detected between the Pb-Zn and Cu mine heaps; higher amounts of vascular plants and fewer lichen species covered the Pb-Zn mine heaps. For the Cu mine heaps, on the contrary a small number of vascular species but a high number and coverage of lichen species, especially Ceratodon purpureus and Cladonia arbuscula subsp. mitis were typical. The non-metalliferous meadows in the vicinity of the mines showed uniform structure but a higher species diversity.     

Manipulation of vegetation communities on the Abu Dhabi rangelands. I. The effects of irrigation and release from longterm grazing

The effect on vegetation communities of release from grazing by camels and goats has been investigated in the Baynunah region of Abu Dhabi emirate, in The United Arab Emirates, by the study of an exclosure established 11 years previously. Also the effect of sprinkle irrigation (in the absence of grazing) on the rangeland vegetation was investigated. Perennial species richness was significantly lower outside the exclosure compared with inside on both sand and gravel substrata. Annual species richness however was not significantly different. Perrenial percentage covers were lower outside the exclosure compared with inside, especially on sand substrata. The perennial grass Stipagrostis plumosa (L) showed the greatest difference in percentage cover in this respect. The species richness of annuals and perennials was not significantly different between irrigated and non-irrigated areas within the exclosure. The perennial percentage cover was much greater on sprinkle irrigated sand and gravel substrata. The perennial which benefited the most was Zygophyllum hamiense, Scweinf. Annual percentage cover was lower in irrigated quadrats. Suggestions are made about the effect of intensive grazing on the vegetation communities at Baynunah and on the effectiveness of irrigation as a tool for increasing the quality of the rangeland for livestock and wildlife.     

Two‐tiered methodology for the assessment and projection of mine vegetation rehabilitation against mine closure restoration goal

Reinstatement of a ‘self‐sustaining native ecosystem’ is an increasingly common revegetation goal for open‐cut mines in Australia. This is usually applied as a regulatory requirement for mine closure, with some mines aiming for a high standard of ‘ecological restoration’. There is a growing appreciation that ecological restoration outcomes of mine rehabilitation are unachievable within the life of a mine and that assessment methodologies are subjective and inadequate to provide the high degree of confidence needed for mine closure. Here we elaborate on the integration of the BioCondition assessment and the Ecosystem Dynamics Simulator (EDS) trajectory methodologies. We also demonstrate an alternative early relinquishment assessment criteria similar to that used for early recruitment of regrowth native vegetation that exhibit structural characteristics of undisturbed native vegetation into remnant status in Queensland. We used ten age cohorts of rehabilitation ranging from three to 22 years at Meandu coal mine, south‐east Queensland. All the sites gained average BioCondition scores ranging from 19 to 44 out of possible score of 65. Growth trajectories indicated decline in species and basal area on all sites in the next three decades as the dense stock of short‐lived acacia species senesce and die. None of the sites are projected to meet self‐sustaining status by 2072, but there is evidence in some of a progression. All the sites except two (K2.3 and SW2) are projected to achieve remnant vegetation status by 2062. Applying the remnant vegetation criteria results in shorter timeframes and robustly evaluates whether sites are progressing towards the self‐sustaining ecosystem mine closure goal.     

Plant communities,species richness and their environmental correlates in the sandy heaths of Little Desert National Park,Victoria

Plant community composition and its likely environmental controls were investigated for 200 sample plots (each 100 m²) from Mediterranean-type vegetation in the Little Desert National Park, Victoria. TWINSPAN classification revealed four readily identifiable vegetation types; mallee-broombush, heathland, stringybark open woodland, and an assemblage intermediate between mallee-broombush and heathland referred to here as broom-heath. Mallee-broombush was found on Parilla Sands characterized by high Ca levels relative to heathland and stringybark open woodlands on unconsolidated Lowan Sands. The first axis of a 2 dimensional non-metric MDS ordination also divided heathlands (high axis scores) from mallee-broombush (low scores), while the second separated these vegetation types from stringybark woodlands and broom-heath. Vector-fitting revealed significant correlations between the locations of samples in ordination space and exchangeable soil Ca, soil colour, aspect and Shannon–Weiner diversity. Highest species richness/diversity was associated with the ecotonal area between Parilla and Lowan Sands (i.e. broom-heath) where a number of species characteristic of different assemblages had overlapping ranges. The fire-sensitive conifer, Callitris rhomboidea, was preferentially located in stringybark woodland and broom-heath vegetation types. Its presence was positively associated with high species richness and aspects having a southerly component. Four Callitris stands sampled for population structure were all > 40 years old and showed evidence of interfire recruitment from seeds released by old, serotinous cones. Overall, results suggest that variations in plant community composition and structure in the eastern block of the Little Desert are primarily due to variations in soil properties associated with the distribution of the two dominant substrate types, Parilla Sand and Lowan Sand. However, the interplay of topography and fire behaviour has probably been more important than substrate type in determining the distribution and population structure of longer-lived, fire-sensitive species such as Callitris rhomboidea.     

Hibernacula selection by Townsend's big-Eared bat in southwestern Colorado

In western United States, both mine reclamations and renewed mining at previously abandoned mines have increased substantially in the last decade. This increased activity may adversely impact bats that use these mines for roosting. Townsend's big-eared bat (Corynorhinus townsendii) is a species of conservation concern that may be impacted by ongoing mine reclamation and renewed mineral extraction. To help inform wildlife management decisions related to bat use of abandoned mine sites, we used logistic regression, Akaike's information criterion, and multi-model inference to investigate hibernacula use by Townsend's big-eared bats using 9 years of data from surveys inside abandoned mines in southwestern Colorado. Townsend's big-eared bats were found in 38 of 133 mines surveyed (29%), and occupied mines averaged 2.6 individuals per mine. The model explaining the most variability in our data included number of openings and portal temperature at abandoned mines. In southwestern Colorado, we found that abandoned mine sites with more than one opening and portal temperatures near 0°C were more likely to contain hibernating Townsend's big-eared bats. However, mines with only one opening and portal temperatures of ≥10°C were occasionally occupied by Townsend's big-eared bat. Understanding mine use by Townsend's big-eared bat can help guide decisions regarding allocation of resources and placement of bat-compatible closures at mine sites scheduled for reclamation. When feasible we believe that surveys should be conducted inside all abandoned mines in a reclamation project at least once during winter prior to making closure and reclamation recommendations. © 2010 The Wildlife Society.     

Comparison of Post-Mine Rehabilitated and Natural Shrubland Communities in Southwestern Australia

Following mineral sand mining near Eneabba, southwestern Australia, rehabilitation managers have the difficult task of restoring shrubland communities of exceptional plant species richness. Species diversity, composition, structure, and key functional attributes in four mined sites rehabilitated 8 (R8) to 24 (R24) years ago were compared with those of typical nearby natural areas classified on the basis of substrate type (Low and High sand Dunes, shallow sand Swales, sand over Laterite, and sand over Limestone). The rehabilitated sites (except R8) had more species (about 140) than natural sites (about 100) in 40 × 40–m plots, with 12–37% species in common with natural sites. Rehabilitated sites were more similar in composition to each other than they were to the natural sites, with two strong colonizers, the fire-killed Acacia blakelyi and the fire-tolerant Melaleuca leuropoma , universally present. Dendrograms and ordinations based on composition and cover showed that rehabilitated sites grouped with each other before they did with the Dune and Swale sites (physically closest), and last with the Laterite and Limestone sites. Plant densities for R16 and R24 were about half those of the High Dune and Limestone, and about a quarter those of the Swale and Laterite. Fire resprouters were under-represented in the rehabilitated sites. Growth form distribution in rehabilitated sites was most similar to those of the dunes, with some woody shrubs up to 2.5 m tall present. Total iron and soil hardness (penetrability) were the only soil factors consistently different (higher) in the rehabilitated sites.     

内蒙古锡林河流域不同生境中蝗虫种类组成的分析

本文对内蒙古锡林河流域不同生境中蝗虫种类发生的情况进行了分析。经过系统取样和大面积扫网调查,共采集到蝗虫21种,这些种类在各生境中出现的情况,与生境的复杂程度存在很大的关系。在复杂的生境中,蝗虫种类最丰富。根据锡林河流域不同生境中蝗虫种类发生的情况,经过比较分析,我们认为在该区域存在的沙带生境是典型草原的“蝗虫库”。“蝗虫库”的存在,对牧业生产构成一定的潜在威胁。经存在度分析表明,一些常见的种类,生态分布幅度宽,同时,它们又是当地的优势种害虫,为害大,是重点防治对象。     

基于规划目标的京津风沙源治理区生态保护与修复效应

为改善和优化京津及周边地区生态环境状况,减轻风沙危害,2003年启动实施了京津风沙源治理工程。基于工程规划目标评估了京津风沙源治理区生态保护与修复效应,结果表明:(1)草地和林地作为京津风沙源治理区绿色生态屏障的主要组成,分别占治理区面积的57.3%和9.7%,而风沙策源地的耕地和沙地分别占17.2%和6.4%。(2)2003—2017年,京津风沙源治理区草地、耕地、沙地面积减少,而林地和其他类型面积增加。治理区植被覆盖度平均提高了2.3%,其中林地提高了4.3%,草地提高了2.4%。(3)沙尘天气发生的春季,治理区土壤风蚀量减少了54%。在防风固沙服务总量的贡献中,草地和沙地贡献了71%。因此,草地和沙地生态系统的植被恢复,对治理区生态系统防风固沙服务的提高发挥了最为重要的作用。(4)除治理区植被有所恢复外,由于气候整体变暖,近15年风场强度有所减弱,特别是沙尘天气易发生的春季风场强度减弱近45%,也是影响京津风沙源治理区风蚀量下降的一个重要原因。     

The effect of herbivores and humans on the Sand Forest species of Maputaland,northern KwaZulu-Natal,South Africa

Sand Forest in the Maputaland region of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa is deemed the most valuable, but also probably the most complex vegetation type of this part of the Maputaland–Pondoland–Albany hotspot of biodiversity. However, Sand Forest is under threat from the current human population growth in that region as well as from uncontrolled increases in wild herbivore numbers in conservation areas. The present study compares the impacts of herbivores and humans on the state of woody resources between two sites under differing utilisation regimes. Sand Forest was found to be a complex association of tree assemblages defined by different canopy and subcanopy properties. Although marked differences in the abundance of selected species were noted at the two sites, the Sand Forest remained dominated by fine-grained species under both utilisation regimes. The fine-grained nature of Sand Forest implies that regeneration depends on the creation of small canopy gaps either by natural processes, humans or elephants, while the creation of large gaps could transform it into woodland. Management of conservation areas where Sand Forest occurs should therefore concentrate efforts on regulating animal populations to levels that provide gap properties that favour forest regeneration.     

Taxonomic composition and distribution of the echinoderms associations in the littoral ecosystems from the Colombian Pacific

This paper examines published information and gray literature about taxonomy and ecology of echinoderm species of the Colombian Pacific Coast. Unpublished collection data of specimens kept in the Marine Sciences Museum of the University of Valle are also considered. Sixty-six species are found in coastal ecosystems and shallow bottoms of ten geographical, coastal and insular localities of the Pacific coast of Colombia. Main habitats having echinoderms are: rocky cliffs and shores, coral reefs, sand beaches, mud substrates, mangroves, and shallow bottoms of mud, sand, gravel and rocks. Regular Echinoidea and Asteroidea are the most diverse and abundant groups, mainly in subtidal rocky shallow bottoms and coral reefs. Ophiuroidea are abundant below rocky boulders. Irregular Echinoidea are abundant on sand beaches. The relatively high number of species shows that this geographical area presents a high diversity of echinoderms compared with other tropical shallow and littoral zones of the world. Rocky substrates and coral reefs are the ecosystems with the highest numbers of echinoderm species and individuals. A conservation status assessment is difficult because the lack of periodical sampling and few data about deep zones. In general, the species reported in the last 25 years, have not experimented important changes in their populations, although in some specific places, populations may decrease because human activities in coastal areas increase sedimentation rates change some rocky substrates to mud or sand.     

Incidence of leaf mining in different vegetation types across rainfall,canopy cover and latitudinal gradients

Abstract Leaf miners are insects whose larval stages live between layers of leaf epidermis, feeding on mesophyll and lower epidermis to create mine‐like cavities. Little is known about the ecology or distribution of leaf miners in Australia. We investigated the incidence of leaf miners in relation to aridity, vegetation types, host plant taxonomy, leaf traits, canopy cover and latitude. We surveyed leaf miners at 15 sites in NSW, eastern Australia, situated along a rainfall gradient from 300 to 1700 mm per annum and a latitudinal gradient of 28°S to 33°S, within four vegetation types (mallee, heath, woodland and rainforest). Leaf mining was recorded from 36 plant species, 89% of which had no previous record of mining. The proportion of mined plant species at each site varied, but there was no significant difference between vegetation types. Leaf mining presence was positively correlated with both total leaf length and leaf thickness. No significant correlations were found between the proportion of mined species at a site and rainfall, latitude or foliar projected cover. We conclude that leaf mining is a widespread type of insect herbivory whose distribution patterns are more likely to be influenced by biotic than abiotic factors.     

Autumn olive (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Elaeagnus umbellata</Emphasis>) presence and proliferation on former surface coal mines in Eastern USA

Invasive plants threaten native plant communities. Surface coal mines in the Appalachian Mountains are among the most disturbed landscapes in North America, but information about land cover characteristics of Appalachian mined lands is lacking. The invasive shrub autumn olive (Elaeagnus umbellata) occurs on these sites and interferes with ecosystem recovery by outcompeting native trees, thus inhibiting re-establishment of the native woody-plant community. We analyzed Landsat 8 satellite imagery to describe autumn olive’s distribution on post-mined lands in southwestern Virginia within the Appalachian coalfield. Eight images from April 2013 through January 2015 served as input data. Calibration and validation data obtained from high-resolution aerial imagery were used to develop a land cover classification model that identified areas where autumn olive was a primary component of land cover. Results indicate that autumn olive cover was sufficiently dense to enable detection on approximately 12.6 % of post-mined lands within the study area. The classified map had user’s and producer’s accuracies of 85.3 and 78.6 %, respectively, for the autumn olive coverage class. Overall accuracy was assessed in reference to an independent validation dataset at 96.8 %. Autumn olive was detected more frequently on mines disturbed prior to 2003, the last year of known plantings, than on lands disturbed by more recent mining. These results indicate that autumn olive growing on reclaimed coal mines in Virginia and elsewhere in eastern USA can be mapped using Landsat 8 Operational Land Imager imagery; and that autumn olive occurrence is a significant landscape vegetation feature on former surface coal mines in the southwestern Virginia segment of the Appalachian coalfield.     

Abandoned metalliferous mines: ecological impacts and potential approaches for reclamation

The lack of awareness for timely management of the environment surrounding a metal mine site results in several adverse consequences such as rampant business losses, abandoning the bread-earning mining industry, domestic instability and rise in ghost towns, increased environmental pollution, and indirect long-term impacts on the ecosystem. Although several abandoned mine lands (AMLs) exist globally, information on these derelict mines has not been consolidated in the literature. We present here the state-of-the-art on AMLs in major mining countries with emphasis on their impact towards soil health and biodiversity, remediation methods, and laws governing management of mined sites. While reclamation of metalliferous mines by phytoremediation is still a suitable option, there exist several limitations for its implementation. However, many issues of phytoremediation at the derelict mines can be resolved following phytostabilization, a technology that is effective also at the modern operational mine sites. The use of transgenic plant species in phytoremediation of metals in contaminated sites is also gaining momentum. In any case, monitoring and efficacy testing for bioremediation of mined sites is essential. The approaches for reclamation of metalliferous mines such as environmental awareness, effective planning and assessment of pre- and post-mining activities, implementation of regulations, and a safe and good use of phytostabilizers among the native plants for revegetation and ecological restoration are discussed in detail in the present review. We also suggest the use of microbially-enhanced phytoremediation and nanotechnology for efficient reclamation of AMLs, and identify future work warranted in this area of research. Further, we believe that the integration of science of remediation with mining policies and regulations is a reliable option which when executed can virtually balance economic development and environmental destruction for safer future.     

Effects of Montane Heathland Restoration on Leafhopper Assemblages (Insecta: Auchenorrhyncha)

At the beginning of the 20th century, many montane heathlands were abandoned and became subject to natural succession or afforestation by humans. Thus, the formerly large montane heathlands slowly degraded into small and isolated patches. In this study, we evaluate the influence of restoration measures on leafhopper (Auchenorrhyncha) assemblages of montane heathland ecosystems in Central Europe. Our analyses comprised three different site types that were adjacent to each other: (1) montane heathlands, (2) restoration sites, and (3) control sites. Leafhoppers showed a clear response to montane heathland restoration. Thus, after 4–5 years since implementation of restoration measurements restoration sites were characterized by the highest species richness. However, detailed analyses of leafhopper diversity, species composition, and environmental parameters on the three site types revealed that restoration sites were rather similar to control sites and significantly differing from montane heathlands. We conclude that leafhoppers are excellent bioindicators for restoration measurements because they reflected environmental differences between the three site types. Restoration measurements might only be a useful instrument to promote typical montane heathland leafhopper communities in the long run. Colonization by leafhoppers is, however, dependent on many different factors such as leafhopper mobility, vegetation structure, microclimate, and the establishment of ericaceous dwarf shrubs. Practitioners should establish a management regime (grazing and sod‐cutting) that creates a mosaic of different habitat structures and increases typical heathland vegetation, thus, favoring the colonization of typical heathland leafhoppers.