Assessing Biological Impacts of Land Reclamation in a Mining Region in Canada: Effects of Dolomitic Lime Applications on Forest Ecosystems and Microbial Phospholipid Fatty Acid Signatures K. K. Nkongolo & P. Michael & G. Theriault & R. Narendrula & P. Castilloux & K. N. Kalubi & P. Beckett & G. Spiers Received: 13 July 2015 /Accepted: 1 March 2016 /Published online: 10 March 2016 # Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2016 Abstract The ability of an ecosystem to withstand se- rious disturbances may depend in part on the diversity of the system, with soil microbiological communities be- ing coupled to their associated vegetation. The main objectives of the present study were (1) to determine the association between soil microbial diversity, abun- dance, and activities with diversity and sustainability of remediated mining-damaged ecosystems in Northern Ontario, and (2) to assess the effects of dolomitic lime applications on aboveground and belowground biodi- versity and community structures. Results revealed that liming increases soil pH, cation exchange capacity (CEC), forest tree species diversity and abundance, and the overall ecosystem health even 25 to 35 years after dolomite applications. The mean Shannon index value was significantly higher in limed compared to unlimed sites. Tree species richness was 4.0, 6.0, and 7.7 for unlimed, limed, and reference sites, respectively. Overall, the mean health index revealed a significant improvement in population health in limed sites (index score = 7) compared to unlimed areas (index score = 4). Soil microbial biomass and respiration were also in- creased by liming. Surprisingly, the main component of soil microbial biomass in limed, unlimed, and refer- ence sites within the vicinity of the restored lands was bacteria (mostly Gram (-). Significant difference was also observed between limed, unlimed, and reference sites for arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, Gram (-) bacte- ria, Gram (+) bacteria, anaerobe, and actinomycetes abundance. The ratios between fungi and bacteria and among other phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) measures were extremely low suggesting that the targeted region is still under environmental stress. No apparent associ- ations among soil microbial biomass, soil respiration, and forest plant diversity or abundance were observed. Soil pH levels and organic matter amounts and quality appear to be the main factors affecting these parameters. Molecular analysis of main tree species within the im- pacted region revealed no change in genetic variation among plant populations on either limed or unlimed lands contaminated with metals over two generations. Keywords Soil liming . Plant diversity and abundance . ISSR analysis . Soil respiration . PLFA . Microbial biomass Water Air Soil Pollut (2016) 227: 104 DOI 10.1007/s11270-016-2803-5 K. K. Nkongolo (*) : P. Beckett Department of Biology, Laurentian University, Sudbury, ON P3E 2C6, Canada e-mail: knkongolo@laurentian.ca K. K. Nkongolo : P. Michael : G. Theriault : R. Narendrula : K. N. Kalubi Department of Biomolecular Sciences program, Laurentian University, Sudbury, ON P3E 2C6, Canada P. Castilloux Collège Boréal, 21 Lasalle Blvd, Sudbury, ON P3A 6B1, Canada G. Spiers School of the Environment, Laurentian University, Sudbury, ON P3E 2C6, Canada