Surface-dwelling soil macrofauna and ground beetles (coleoptera: carabidae) of metal post-mining spoil heaps–community composition and potential risk element bioaccumulation

Beáta Baranováa* , Lenka Demkováa & Július Arvayb a Department of Ecology, Faculty of Humanities and Natural Sciences, University of Prešov, Prešov, Slovakiab Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Science, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, SlovakiaDr. Beáta Baranová is assistant professor at Department of Ecology, FHNS of University of Prešov, Slovakia, working on research of epigeal macrofauna with the lay emphasis on the ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae within the environmentally differently loaded and man-made sites.Dr. Lenka Demková is assistant professor at Department of Ecology, FHNS of University of Prešov, Slovakia, working on research of risk elements in environment with lay emphasis on heavy metals at post-mining areas.Dr. Július Árvay is scientific researcher – Department of Chemistry (FBFS) Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra working on research of heavy metals in the environment.CONTACT Beáta Baranová beata.baranova@unipo.sk Department of Ecology, Faculty of Humanities and Natural Sciences, University of Prešov, 17. Novembra 1, 081 16 Prešov, SlovakiaSupplemental data for this article can be accessed here https://doi.org/10.1080/02757540.2021.1899162.ABSTRACTSpoil heaps arising from mineral ore mining and smelting are a potential source of air, water and soil’s metalliferous contamination. However, the importance of such man-made sites as biodiversity refuge for rare or endangered species is assuredly undoubted, as the natural habitats are in decline. It is questionable, how potential risk elements, including heavy metals and metalloids released into the environment of spoil heaps, affect this phenomenon, since just the soil fauna representatives are in close contact with contaminants. Surface-dwelling soil macrofauna, with special emphasis on the carabids, were surveyed at spoil heaps within two metal post-mining areas in Eastern Slovakia. Contents of potential risk elements, including heavy metals and metalloids, were determined in substratum and selected invertebrate taxa too. Iron and aluminium dominated in substratum at both localities, where the environmentally most hazardous elements As, Cd, Cu, Pb and especially Hg exceeded permissible limits. The highest concentrations of Al and Fe were also found in the invertebrates. Regarding Zn, Cd and Sb, soil macrofauna representatives figured as their macro-concentrators. Our results indicate that metal post-mining spoil heaps have the potential to offer suitable habitats, especially for psammophilous species and groups preferring sites with the bare soil and sparse vegetation.