Wer andern eine Grube gräbt...: Bergbauliche Abgrabungsstellen

Mining activities on sand, gravel, clay or diverse loose volcanites generally result in pits which allow for special insights into geological structures, but mostly add considerable damage to the overall appearance of the landscape. Hence they are often recultivated for agri‐or silvicultur. However, at closer inspection it turned out that pits of all kinds represent higly differentiated habitats with respect to exposure and physical features of the opened substrates. They offer a wide range from wet to extreme dry conditions and consequently are colonized by a surprising array of species, many of them ranging in the Red Data Books. This short overview discusses some of the major ecological features of such areas particularly in the light of natural conservation and species protection in the modern cultural landscape.