Avian and Small Mammal Communities on Different Successional Stages of Reclaimed Kaolin Mines in Georgia
Although surface mining may affect wildlife communities adversely, the degree of impact depends upon the extent of mining activity and the reclamation efforts employed. We compared breeding bird and small mammal communities on sites of different successional stages in 1995 and 1996 to evaluate the wildlife value of the reclamation prescriptions currently used on kaolin surface mines in east-central Georgia. Sites were grouped according to tree ages during the first year of the study (age class I, 2-4 years; age class II, 5-7 years; and age class III, 8-11 years). Avian abundance in 1995...
