Recreational activities in sandpits help to conserve their biodiversity

Swimming_sandpitSandpits are well known strongholds of numerous vanishing species specialised for open sands. Many of such sandy species are, however, endangered by successional overgrowing of abandoned mining places as we have already shown. A just published study, with a contribution of our group, shows that non-intensive disturbances related to recreational activities such as swimming, are beneficial for the sandpits biodiversity. Resting people unintentionally disturb overgrown plots where endangered species of insects and plants get a chance to develop.