The impact of abandoned kaolin quarries on macromycetes assemblages

Post-mining sites represent important secondary refuges for invertebrates as well as for fungal species, often providing biodiversity hotspots in homogenous landscapes. Our study focuses on assemblages of carabid beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae), spiders (Araneae), and macromycetes (Fungi: Basidiomycota, Ascomycota) in abandoned kaolin quarries and their immediate surroundings in the Pilsen region, Czech Republic. We studied mined and unmined sites and the impact of past mining, the vegetation composition of the sites, cover of herb and tree layers, and the amount of dead wood on the target groups. In total, we confirm the occurrence of 54 carabid beetle, 147 spider, and 139 macromycetes species, including several Red-listed species across the given groups. Carabid beetles and spiders, as well as the all Red-listed species, tend to prefer early successional open habitats. The fungal species displayed affinity to dead wood. Our results indicate that not only the invertebrates, but also macromycetes species prefer open post-mining sites, which are a substitute for endangered habitats such as natural wetlands or xerophilic grasslands.