Toward Predictable Mining Rehabilitation Strategies: Understanding and Overcoming the Major Belowground Barriers for Microbial Rehabilitation Engineers

A wealth of research in plant science, zoology and macro-ecology have allowed restoration ecologists to define relevant protocols to restore and rehabilitate affected landscapes. However, such practices often fail to achieve targeted outcomes, mainly due to a lack of understanding and/or integration of the landscapes belowground component. Recent developments in DNA sequencing technologies are allowing researchers to include belowground ecosystem Components into the next iteration of restoration and rehabilitation protocols. This thesis aims to provide novel knowledge of the belowground ecological processes that shape the taxonomic, phylogenetic and functional characteristics of the belowground communities during the restoration process.