Kalihalden als Modellobjekte der kleinräumigen Florendynamik dargestellt an Untersuchunge n im nördlichen Harzvorland Dumps of potassium salt mines äs a model of small-scale flora dynamics shown by investigation s in the northern foreland of the Harz mountains, Germany

Summary The colonization of dumps of potassium salt mines by halotolerant species is shown by the example of the northern foreland of the Harz mountains. During the first 80-100 years only a few widespread salt tolerant species were found on the Stocks of the mines. Since 1990 species not recognized before were found in rapid spreading: Hymenolobus procumbens, Aster tripolium, Salicornia ramosissima, Spergularia maritima, Suaeda maritima, Atriplex rosea, Triglochin maritimum, Atriplex pedunculata, Juncus gerardii, Apium graveolens, Cochlearia danica, Plantago maritima, Trifolium fragiferum and others. The reasons for a sudden spreading of halophytes are discussed, a clear reason could not be found till now. This paper gives the basis for a long time monitoring of 16 potassium Stocks to study hypotheses of biogeography.