Effects of abandonment of montane grasslands on plant species composition and species richness - a case study in Styria, Austria

Zürich

2011

S. 604-606

Bandaufführung

174012

Long-term abandonment of grassland generally causes a decrease in plant species richness. The questions, how long abandoned grassland may remain species-rich and whether the persistence varies between different sites, have been examined insufficiently so far. Thus, in this successional study we analysed over a period of 9 years the effects of abandonment on plant species composition and species richness in a montane grassland in Styria, Austria. We differentiated two topography-related habitat types: a pasture on a steep, south-facing slope with a nutrient-poor soil, and a meadow on a flat site below the slope with a more fertile soil. In spring 2001, one permanent plot (plot size: 50 m²) in each habitat type was established. Our results show that the long-term effects of abandonment on grassland vegetation depend largely on local site conditions, and nutrient availability in the soil seems to be an especially important factor. On the flat site, within 4 years of abandonment floristic composition changed
dramatically, a high species turnover and a strong decrease in species richness could be observed. In contrast, on the steep, south-facing slope we found only minor effects, even after 9 years of abandonment.
Keywords: biodiversity, permanent plots, secondary succession, species turnover