The bryophyte layer in a calcareous grassland after a decade of contrasting mowing regimes |
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Authors: | Alain Vanderpoorten Louis-Marie Delescaille |
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Institution: | a Université Catholique de Louvain, Unité d'Ecologie & Biogéographie, 4-5 Place Croix du Sud, B-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgiumb Ministère de la Région Wallonne, Centre de recherche de la nature, des forêts et du bois, 22 avenue de la faculté d'Agronomie, B-5030 Gembloux, Belgium |
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Abstract: | Analysis of variance and redundancy analysis were used to study the effects of mowing regime and herb canopy structure on the bryophyte layer of a calcareous grassland in southern Belgium. Species richness in mown and control plots did not significantly differ. In control plots, a number of grassland species were able to survive within a grassy-shrubby fringe 15 years after shrub cutting. This suggests that there might be a time-lag of at least 20 years before cessation of mowing results in a significant decrease in species number per m2. Mown plots were mostly characterized by the almost complete cover of large pleurocarps. Mowing resulted in almost continuous herb and moss layers that were unfavourable for a number of annual bryophytes, many of which are of high conservation interest. It is suggested that grazing, which increases the number of species, especially the number of pioneers, is likely to be more beneficial to bryophytes. |
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Keywords: | Calcareous grasslands Bryophyte layer Canopy structure Mowing regime |
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