DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17523269
title: Environmental dataset from a restored mine slope in Northern Spain: comparative analysis of grassland, shrubland, and native oak forest

description: This dataset provides valuable environmental information from a case study conducted in northern Spain, examining two vegetation patches (grassland and shrubland) on the same restored mine slope, eleven years after restoration, together with an adjacent native oak forest. The study includes a network of forty-two sampling points distributed across seven transects along the slope gradient (3 for grassland, 3 for shrubland, and 1 for forest). Each transect, approximately 75m long and spaced 25m apart, contained six sampling points located about 15m from each other. At each point, two consecutive vegetation inventories were performed, one undisturbed soil core was collected, and one composite disturbed soil sample was prepared from six subsamples of the first mineral horizon. Additionally, data on altitude, slope steepness, and the thickness of the first mineral horizon were recorded at each sampling point. A characterization of the vegetation, topography of the slope, and physicochemical soil parameters of the soil is provided.

The file contains information about the 163 environmental variables studied in the forty-two plots.

Plot: Plot identification (G11: plot in transect 1 - position 1 in grassland community; G21: plot in transect 2 - position 1 in grassland community; G31: plot in transect 3 - position 1 in grassland community; G12: plot in transect 1 - position 2 in grassland community; G22: plot in transect 2 - position 2 in grassland community; G32: plot in transect 3 - position 2 in grassland community; G13: plot in transect 1 - position 3 in grassland community; G23: plot in transect 2 - position 3 in grassland community;G33: plot in transect 3 - position 3 in grassland community; G14: plot in transect 1 - position 4 in grassland community; G24: plot in transect 2 - position 4 in grassland community; G34: plot in transect 3 - position 4 in grassland community; G15: plot in transect 1 - position 5 in grassland community; G25: plot in transect 2 - position 5 in grassland community; G35: plot in transect 3 - position 5 in grassland community; G16: plot in transect 1 - position 6 in grassland community; G26: plot in transect 2 - position 6 in grassland community; G36: plot in transect 3 - position 6 in grassland community; S11: plot in transect 1 - position 1 in shrubland community; S21: plot in transect 2 - position 1 in shrubland community; S31: plot in transect 3 - position 1 in shrubland community; S12: plot in transect 1 - position 2 in shrubland community; S22: plot in transect 2 - position 2 in shrubland community; S32: plot in transect 3 - position 2 in shrubland community; S13: plot in transect 1 - position 3 in shrubland community; S23: plot in transect 2 - position 3 in shrubland community; S33: plot in transect 3 - position 3 in shrubland community; S14: plot in transect 1 - position 4 in shrubland community; S24: plot in transect 2 - position 4 in shrubland community; S34: plot in transect 3 - position 4 in shrubland community; S15: plot in transect 1 - position 5 in shrubland community; S25: plot in transect 2 - position 5 in shrubland community; S35: plot in transect 3 - position 5 in shrubland community; S16: plot in transect 1 - position 6 in shrubland community; S26: plot in transect 2 - position 6 in shrubland community; S36: plot in transect 3 - position 6 in shrubland community; F11: plot in transect 1 - position 1 in forest community; F12: plot in transect 1 - position 2 in forest community; F13: plot in transect 1 - position 3 in forest community; F14: plot in transect 1 - position 4 in forest community; F15: plot in transect 1 - position 5 in forest community; F16: plot in transect 1 - position 6 in forest community.

Community: Patch community (G: grassland; S: shrubland; F: forest).

Transect: Transect to which the plot belongs (1: Transect 1; 2: Transect 2; 3: Transect 3).

Position: Position in the slope to which the plot belongs (1: Position 1; 2: Position 2; 3: Position 3; 4: Position 4; 5: Position 5; 6: Position 6).

Stones: Percentage of coarse soil material (> 2 mm) of the first soil horizon in %.

Sand: Percentage of sand content of the first soil horizon determined by the pipette method (MAPA 1994) according to Soil Survey Staff (2022) in %.

Silt: Percentage of silt content of the first soil horizon determined by the pipette method (MAPA 1994) according to Soil-Survey-Staff (2022) in %.

Clay: Percentage of clay content of the first soil horizon determined by the pipette method (MAPA 1994) according to Soil-Survey-Staff (2022) in %.

pD: Particle density of the first soil horizon according to MAPA (1994) in g/cm3.

bD: Bulk density of the first soil horizon according to MAPA (1994) in g/cm3.

Poro: Porosity of the first soil horizon according to MAPA (1994) in %.

FC: Field capacity of the first soil horizon according to MAPA (1994) in %.

PWP: Permanent wilting point of the first soil horizon according to MAPA (1994) in %.

AW: Available water of the first soil horizon according to MAPA (1994) in %.

WHC: Water holding capacity of the first soil horizon according to López-Marcos et al. (2019) in g/cm2.

pH: pH (1:2.5 H2O) of the first soil horizon according to MAPA (1994).

EC: Electrical conductivity of the first soil horizon according to MAPA (1994) in dS/m.

oxC: Easily oxidizable carbon of the first soil horizon according to Walkley (1947) in g/kg.

TOC: Total organic carbon of the first soil horizon analysed with a LECO-CHN 2000 elemental analyzer in g/kg.

N: Total nitrogen of the first soil horizon analysed with a LECO-CHN 2000 elemental analyser in g/kg.

avP: Available phosphorus of the first soil horizon according to Olsen and Sommers (1982) in mg/kg.

OxC/C: Ratio of easily oxidizable carbon to total organic carbon of the first soil horizon.

C/N: Ratio of total organic carbon to total nitrogen of the first soil horizon

TOCstock: Total organic carbon stock of the first soil horizon according to López-Marcos et al. (2019) in Mg/ha.

TNstock: Total nitrogen stock of the first soil horizon according to López-Marcos et al. (2019) in Mg/ha.

avPstock: Available phosphorus stock of the first soil horizon according to López-Marcos et al. (2019) in g/ha.

CEC: Cation exchange capacity of the first soil horizon according to Mehlich (1953) in cmol+/kg.

Thickness: Thickness of the first soil horizon in cm.

Altitude: Plot elevation above sea level, numeric integer in m a.s.l.

Steepness: slope (gradient) of the plot in %

Bare: Percentage of bare soil in %.

Stoniness: Percentage of surface stoniness in %.

Cover: Percentage of total plant cover in %

Thero: Therophyte cover based on Raunkiær’s life-form classification (1934) expressed as %.

Hemi: Hemicryptophytes cover based on Raunkiær’s life-form classification (1934) expressed as %.

Cham: Chamaephytes cover based on Raunkiær’s life-form classification (1934) expressed as %.

Phan: Phanerophytes cover based on Raunkiær’s life-form classification (1934) expressed as %.

Geoph: Geophytes cover based on Raunkiær’s life-form classification (1934) expressed as %.

Annual: annual plant cover expressed as %.

Perennial: perennial plant cover expressed as %.

Woody: woody plant cover expressed as %.

Apia: Cover of plant species belonging to the Apiaceae family, expressed as percentage (%).

Aqui: Cover of plant species belonging to the Aquifoliaceae family, expressed as percentage (%).

Betu: Cover of plant species belonging to the Betulaceae family, expressed as percentage (%). 

Bora: Cover of plant species belonging to the Boraginacea family, expressed as percentage (%).

Bras: Cover of plant species belonging to the Brassicaceae family, expressed as percentage (%). 

Campa: Cover of plant species belonging to the Campanulaceae family, expressed as percentage (%).

Cary: Cover of plant species belonging to the Caryophyllaceae family, expressed as percentage (%). 

Comp: Cover of plant species belonging to the Compositae family, expressed as percentage (%).

Cype: Cover of plant species belonging to the Cyperaceae family, expressed as percentage (%).

Dryo: Cover of plant species belonging to the Dryopteridaceae family, expressed as percentage (%). 

Euph: Cover of plant species belonging to the Euphorbiaceae family, expressed as percentage (%).

Faba: Cover of plant species belonging to the Fabaceae family, expressed as percentage (%).

Faga: Cover of plant species belonging to the Fagaceae family, expressed as percentage (%). 

Gera: Cover of plant species belonging to the Geraniaceae family, expressed as percentage (%). 

Junc: Cover of plant species belonging to the Juncaceae family, expressed as percentage (%). 

Lami: Cover of plant species belonging to the Lamiaceae family, expressed as percentage (%).

Lili: Cover of plant species belonging to the Liliaceae family, expressed as percentage (%).

Malv: Cover of plant species belonging to the Malvaceae family, expressed as percentage (%).

Orob: Cover of plant species belonging to the Orobanchaceae family, expressed as percentage (%).

Papa: Cover of plant species belonging to the Papaveraceae family, expressed as percentage (%).

Pina: Cover of plant species belonging to the Pinaceae family, expressed as percentage (%).

Plan: Cover of plant species belonging to the Plantaginaceae family, expressed as percentage (%).

Poac: Cover of plant species belonging to the Poaceae family, expressed as percentage (%).

Poly: Cover of plant species belonging to the Polygonaceae family, expressed as percentage (%).

Rosa: Cover of plant species belonging to the Rosaceae family, expressed as percentage (%).

Rubi: Cover of plant species belonging to the Rubiaceae family, expressed as percentage (%).

Scro: Cover of plant species belonging to the Scrophulariaceae family, expressed as percentage (%).

Thym: Cover of plant species belonging to the Thymelaeaceae family, expressed as percentage (%).

Vale: Cover of plant species belonging to the Valerianaceae family, expressed as percentage (%).

Viol: Cover of plant species belonging to the Violaceae family, expressed as percentage (%).

Ana cla: cover of Anacyclus clavatus (Desf.) Pers. expressed as percentage (%).

Ant arv: cover of Anthemis arvensis L. expressed as percentage (%).

Aph mic: cover of Aphanes microcarpa (Boiss. & Reut.) Roth expressed as percentage (%).

Art lam: cover of Arcticum lampa L. expressed as percentage (%).

Ave ste: cover of Avena sterilis L. expressed as percentage (%).

Bel per: cover of Bellis perennis L. expressed as percentage (%).

Bro mol: cover of Bromus mollis L. expressed as percentage (%).

Cam pat: cover of Campanula patula L. expressed as percentage (%).

Cap bur: cover of Capsella bursa-pastoris (L.) Medik. expressed as percentage (%).

Car car: cover of Carex caryophyllea Latourr. expressed as percentage (%).

Cen cya: cover of Centaurea cyanus L. expressed as percentage (%).

Cen nig: cover of Centaurea nigra L. expressed as percentage (%).

Cer glo: cover of Cerastium glomeratum Thuill. expressed as percentage (%)..

Cir vul: cover of Cirsium vulgare (Savi) Ten. expressed as percentage (%).

Cor ave: cover of Corylus avellana L. expressed as percentage (%).

Cra mon: cover of Crataegus monogyna Jacq. expressed as percentage (%).

Cre ver: cover of Crepis vesicaria L. expressed as percentage (%).

Cyt sco: cover of Cytisus scoparius (L.) Link expressed as percentage (%).

Cha nob: cover of Chamaemelum nobile (L.) All. expressed as percentage (%).

Dap lau : cover of Daphne laureola L. expressed as percentage (%).

Dau car: cover of Daucus carota L. expressed as percentage (%).

Dry fil: cover of Dryopteris filix-mas (L.) Schott expressed as percentage (%).

Ech vul: cover of Echium vulgare L. expressed as percentage (%).

Ero cic: cover of Erodium cicutarium (L.) L`Hér expressed as percentage (%).

Ery den: cover of Erythronium dens-canis L. expressed as percentage (%).

Eup amy: cover of Euphorbia amygdaloides L. expressed as percentage (%).

Fes rub: cover of Festuca rubra L. expressed as percentage (%).

Fil pyr: cover of Filago pyramidata L. expressed as percentage (%).

Foe vul: cover of Foeniculum vulgare Mill. expressed as percentage (%).

Fra ves: cover of Fragaria vesca L. expressed as percentage (%).

Gal apa: cover of Galium aparine L. expressed as percentage (%).

Gen flo: cover of Genista florida L. expressed as percentage (%).

Ger mol: cover of Geranium molle L. expressed as percentage (%).

Ger rob: cover of Geranium robertianum L. expressed as percentage (%).

Hor vul: cover of Hordeum vulgare L. expressed as percentage (%).

Hyp rad : cover of Hypochoeris radicata L. expressed as percentage (%).

Ile aqu: cover of Ilex aquifolium L. expressed as percentage (%).

Lac ser: cover of Lactuca serriola L. expressed as percentage (%).

Lat cic: cover of Lathyrus cicera L. expressed as percentage (%).

Leo his: cover of Leontodon hispidus L. expressed as percentage (%).

Leo tax: cover of Leontodon taraxacoides (Vill.) Mérat. expressed as percentage (%).

Lin tri: cover of Linaria triornithophora (L.) Cav. expressed as percentage (%).

Lot cor: cover of Lotus corniculatus L. expressed as percentage (%).

Luz lac: cover of Luzula forsteri (Sm.) DC. expressed as percentage (%).

Mal syl: cover of Malva sylvestris L. expressed as percentage (%).

Med lup: cover of Medicago lupulina L. expressed as percentage (%).

Mel pra : cover of Melampyrum pratense L. expressed as percentage (%).

Myo ram: cover of Myosotis ramosissima Rochel expressed as percentage (%).

Ono aca: cover of Onopordum acanthium L. expressed as percentage (%).

Orn per : cover of Ornithopus perpusillus L. expressed as percentage (%).

Oro var: cover of Orobanche variegata Wallr. expressed as percentage (%).

Pap dub: cover of Papaver dubium L. expressed as percentage (%).

Pap rho: cover of Papaver rhoeas L. expressed as percentage (%).

Pet nan: cover of Petrorhagia nanteuilli (Burnat) P.W. Ball & Heywood expressed as percentage (%).

Phe pra: cover of Phleum pratense L. expressed as percentage (%).

Phy cor: cover of Physospermun cornubiense (L.) DC. expressed as percentage (%).

Pin syl: cover of Pinus sylvestris L. expressed as percentage (%).

Pla lan: cover of Plantago lanceolata L. expressed as percentage (%).

Poa bul: cover of Poa bulbosa L. expressed as percentage (%).

Que pet: cover of Quercus petraea (Matt.), Liebl. expressed as percentage (%).

Que pyr: cover of Quercus pyrenaica Willd. expressed as percentage (%).

Ros can: cover of Rosa canina L. expressed as percentage (%).

Rub per: cover of Rubia peregrina L. expressed as percentage (%). 

Rub ida: cover of Rubus idaeus L. expressed as percentage (%).

Rub ulm: cover of Rubus ulmifolius Schott expressed as percentage (%).

Rum ace: cover of Rumex acetosella L. expressed as percentage (%).

Sal ver: cover of Salvia verbenaca L. expressed as percentage (%).

San min: cover of Sanguisorba menor Scop expressed as percentage (%).

Scl ann: cover of Scleranthus annuus L. expressed as percentage (%).

Sen jac: cover of Senecio jacobaea L. expressed as percentage (%).

Sil alb: cover of Silene alba (Mill.) E.H.L.Krause expressed as percentage (%).

Son arv: cover of Sonchus arvensis L. expressed as percentage (%).

Son ole: cover of Sonchus oleraceus L. expressed as percentage (%).

Ste hol: cover of Stellaria holostea L. expressed as percentage (%).

Ste med: cover of Stellaria media (L.) Vill. expressed as percentage (%).

Tar off: cover of Taraxacum officinale Weber expressed as percentage (%).

Teu sco: cover of Teucrium scorodonia L. expressed as percentage (%).

Tri cam: cover of Trifolium campestre Schreb expressed as percentage (%).

Tri rep: cover of Trifolium repens L. expressed as percentage (%).

Tri str: cover of Trifolium striatum L. expressed as percentage (%).

Tri fla: cover of Trisetum flavescens (L.) P.Beauv. expressed as percentage (%).

Val loc: cover of Valerianella locusta (L.) Laterr. expressed as percentage (%).

Ver pul: cover of Verbascum pulverulentum Vill. expressed as percentage (%).

Ver cha: cover of Veronica chamaedrys L. expressed as percentage (%).

Ver per: cover of Veronica persica Poir. expressed as percentage (%).

Vic sat: cover of Vicia sativa L. expressed as percentage (%).

Vio arv: cover of Viola arvensis Murray expressed as percentage (%).

Vul bro: cover of Vulpia bromoides (L.) Gray expressed as percentage (%).

Vul muy: cover of Vulpia myuros (L.) C.C. Gmelin expressed as percentage (%).

H: Diversity by Shannon and Weaver (1964)

S: Richness species index

J: Uniformity index by Pielou (1969).
description: When using this data, please cite the original publications that generated the dataset: 

López-Marcos D, Turrión MB, García-Duro J, Martínez-Ruiz C (2025) Soil thickness and porosity as indicators of the ecological restoration success: The case study of a reclaimed coal-mine slope in a Mediterranean area. Ecol Eng 222: 107783 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2025.107783

López-Marcos D, Turrión MB, Martínez-Ruiz C (2020) Linking soil variability with plant community composition along a mine-slope topographic gradient: Implications for restoration. Ambio 49: 337–349. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-019-01193-y