Vectors of Autogenic Successions of Vegetation in a Granite Quarry Under Drilling and Blasting Operations

Purpose. To conduct a comprehensive analysis of the impact of drilling and blasting operations on the formation, structure, and dynamics of vegetation cover in quarry areas, using the Shamraivske granite deposit as a case study. This will make it possible to identify patterns of autogenic succession and vegetation self-recovery under conditions of long-term technogenic pressure and to assess the role of blasting operations as a specific ecological factor.

Methodology. The methodological framework of the study is based on field geobotanical methods, syntaxonomic analysis, and a synphytoindication approach. Geobotanical relevés were carried out on sample plots, followed by data processing in the software environments of Turboveg and JUICE using cluster analysis (TWINSPAN). Methods of synphytoindication were applied to assess environmental factors, the level of anthropogenic transformation, and the natural dynamics of vegetation. In addition, a hydrochemical analysis of the quarry’s water bodies was performed.

Findings. It was established that drilling and blasting operations significantly affect the conditions of vegetation formation, determining the species composition, structure, and successional pathways of phytocenoses. The formation of derivative plant communities adapted to technogenic substrates and increased inputs of biogenic elements was revealed. It was shown that the combination of physical disturbance with chemical and hydrological changes can contribute to the acceleration of certain stages of autogenic succession.

Originality. For the first time, the possibility of using active granite quarries with regular drilling and blasting loads as model objects for studying vegetation dynamics under conditions of intensive explosive disturbance has been substantiated. The understanding of the role of blasting operations in shaping successional trajectories of quarry ecosystems has been expanded.

Practical value. The obtained results can be used for ecological assessment of quarry areas, forecasting vegetation self-recovery processes, substantiating reclamation measures and management of disturbed landscapes, as well as for extrapolation to other areas exposed to intensive explosive impacts, including those of technogenic and military origin.