Short-term effects of different management regimes on the response of calcareous grassland vegetation to increased nitrogen

The short-term (4-year period) effects of different management regimes on the response of calcareous grassland vegetation to increased nitrogen were investigated. Four levels of nitrogen and two levels of management were applied in a factorial design. Besides, the effects of management practices alone on species diversity were also studied. Species diversity was investigated at different levels of sub-sampling using a nested plot design. In this way, both species saturation and accumulation curves could be established. The effect of community structure, as reflected by the light regimes at various heights in the vegetation, on species diversity was also investigated. Species diversity at all levels of sub-sampling decreased significantly with management regimes and nitrogen supply rates. Percent light penetration differed significantly among management regimes and nitrogen supply rates. Grazing proved to be most efficient in countering the negative effects of nitrogen supply, but could not prevent competitors from becoming dominant. In the absence of any form of disturbance, species diversity decreased relatively rapidly. Decreased light availability, the loss of gap formation, a decrease in small-scale environmental heterogeneity and proliferation of strong competitors, all may have contributed to the observed decrease in species richness. The results of this study highlight the importance of management in maintaining high species diversity in the studied calcareous grassland.     

The feasibility of using soil seed bank for natural regeneration of degraded sandy grasslands

Desertification in degraded grasslands is manifested through the development of bare sandy patches, which eventually lead to habitat fragmentation. The ability of these bare sandy patches to regenerate naturally through in-situ soil seed banks is not well understood. To fill this knowledge gap, we randomly selected 24 bare sandy patches with areas ranging from 19 to 898 m² in a desertified grassland of the Horqin sandy land, Northern China to determine whether soil seed bank can be used for natural regeneration of bare sandy patches. Species composition and density of soil seed bank as well as aboveground vegetation composition, abundance and coverage were investigated. We then determined their relationships with in-situ habitat characteristics. Our observations showed that the studied area had low soil seed bank density and species richness, as well as depauperate soil seed bank communities. Consequently, local soil seed bank was not able to provide sufficient seed source for natural regeneration. This was indicated by the relationships between aboveground vegetation, soil seed bank and the in-situ habitat characteristics. For bare patches with an area between 300 m² and 900 m², increase the soil seed bank density and species richness should be the main restoration measures. For bare patches with a small area of less than 50 m², restoration of vegetation density should be the main measure. Our data highlighted that different extents of desertification, indicated by different bare patches, are requiring distinct restoration measures.     

Hay strewing, brush harvesting of seed and soil disturbance as tools for the enhancement of botanical diversity in grasslands

Since the middle of the last century agricultural intensification within Europe has led to a drastic decline in the extent of botanically diverse grasslands. Whilst measures to enhance the diversity of agriculturally-improved grasslands are in place, success has often been limited. One of the primary factors limiting success is the paucity of sources of propagules of desirable species in the surrounding landscape. The restoration of two contrasting grassland types (lowland hay meadow and chalk grassland) was examined using a replicated block experiment to assess the effectiveness of two methods of seed application (hay strewing and brush harvesting) and two methods of pre-treatment disturbance (power harrowing and turf stripping). The resulting changes in botanical composition were monitored for 4 years. Seed addition by both methods resulted in significant temporal trends in plant species composition and increases in plant species richness, which were further enhanced by disturbance. Power harrowing increased the effectiveness of the seed addition treatments at the lowland hay meadow site. At the chalk grassland site a more severe disturbance created by turf stripping was used and shown to be preferable. Whilst both hay strewing and brush harvesting increased plant species richness, hay strewing was more effective at creating a sward similar to that of the donor site. Soil disturbance and seed application rate at the recipient site and timing of the hay cut at the donor site are all factors to be considered prior to the commencement of restoration management.     

Grazing management of calcareous grasslands and its implications for the conservation of beetle communities

Calcareous grasslands are an important habitat for floral and faunal communities in the UK and Europe. Declines due to changes in management, scrub invasion and agricultural improvement have left much of the remnants of this habitat in a degraded and fragmented state. Grazing, by cattle or sheep, is one of the main management practices used to maintain and improve the floral and faunal quality of calcareous grassland. The long-term impacts of different grazing regimes, however, are poorly understood, particularly in terms of the invertebrate communities. This study contrasted the impacts of recently introduced and long-term sheep or cattle grazing on beetle communities present on one of the largest areas of calcareous grassland in Europe, the Salisbury Plain military training Area, UK. No effects of grazing management on beetle abundance, species richness or evenness were found, but plant diversity and overall percentage cover of grasses did influence beetle diversity. Proportions of the total number of individuals and overall species richness within beetle guilds (predatory, phytophagous, flower/seed feeders, root feeders and foliage feeders) were strongly influenced by both the duration and type of grazing animal. At the species level, beetle community structure showed significant differences between ungrazed, long-term cattle and long-term sheep grazing treatments. Changes in plant community structure were found to influence beetle community structure. The significance of these results is discussed in terms of the long-term impacts of grazing on beetle community structure, and the benefits of different grazing regimes for the conservation management of calcareous grasslands.     

坝上草原退耕地植被不同恢复处理土壤种子库研究

采用野外调查取样和室内实验相结合的方法,研究坝上草原退耕地土壤种子库的物种组成、密度和物种多样性等特征.结果表明:自然恢复、浅耕处理和深耕处理3种不同恢复措施下,土壤种子库物种丰富度(种)大小为浅耕处理(18)>自然恢复(15)>深耕处理(14);自然恢复处理、浅耕处理和深耕处理土壤种子库密度分别为23 949粒·m-2、15746粒·m-2和10600粒·m-2,浅耕处理和深耕处理分别比自然恢复处理减少34.3%和55.7%;不同恢复方式下土壤种子库与地上植被的物种密度的对应关系可用三次曲线来表示.土壤种子库间有较高的相似系数,但随着干扰程度的增加而减少.     

Challenges for the conservation of calcareous grasslands in northwestern Europe: integrating the requirements of flora and fauna

The conservation of biological diversity requires an integrated approach covering the ecological demands of a multitude of species. Integration may be achieved by focusing on a careful selection of target species, which is rare in practice. Calcareous grasslands offer a case in point. Although they harbour a high diversity of both plant and insect species, in management the emphasis is placed on the flora. This results in an underestimation of, notably, the importance of structural heterogeneity in the vegetation. As an apparent consequence, conservation management in the Netherlands has been much more successful for the flora than for butterflies. In contrast, Germany shows promising efforts to integrate both plant and animal species in conservation management and landscape planning. The main constraints for a successfully integrated conservation management presently consist of a limited availability and exchange of information, and an insufficient organisation of research and management at an international level.     

Influence of former cultivation on the unique Mediterranean steppe of France and consequences for conservation management

In Europe, the actual landscape has been mainly influenced by human activities. Agricultural intensification led to a considerable habitat loss and fragmentation, especially for dry semi-natural grasslands.This current study investigates the impact of former melon and cereal cultivation (cultivation period: 1950-1987) on the semi-natural vegetation of the Crau, representing the last xeric Mediterranean steppe in France.Today, the ex-cultivated melon and cereal fields are characterised by different vegetation compositions, species richness and evenness compared to the undisturbed steppe community. Also the abiotic conditions (N, P, K, pH, soil granule fractions) have been changed by former cultivation practices. The rather transient seed bank of the steppe was depleted during the cultivation periods; ancient weed species and ruderals now determine the seed bank of the ex-cultivated fields.It is concluded that the conservation of the last parts of undisturbed steppe must have absolute priority. A re-development of the original and unique steppe community on formerly cultivated fields may take decades or centuries, if at all.     

不同土地管理措施对高寒嵩草草甸植被及土壤理化特征的影响

在青海玛沁地区,选择 4 种处于不同退化阶段以及 2 种人工处理的高寒草甸为研究对象,探讨不同放牧强度和人工干预措施下,植被特征、土壤营养元素和土壤物理性状的变化过程,为合理利用和提高草地生产力提供依据.结果表明:随着退化的加剧,高寒草甸的盖度、高度、地上生物量和种类呈下降趋势,可食性牧草逐渐让位于杂草;土壤 N、C 含量以及含水量逐渐降低,体积质量逐渐增大.与重度退化草甸相比,经人工干预处理后草甸的生物量、盖度、高度以及土壤营养元素和物理性状都有所增加提高.这些结果表明随着植被的退化演替,土壤退化越来越严重,土壤越来越贫瘠化.人工干预能够在一定程度上改善土壤物理特征,提高草地的生物量.     

The severe decline of butterflies on western German calcareous grasslands during the last 30 years: A conservation problem

Butterflies and burnet moths are a suitable model species group with which to analyse the general decline of invertebrate biodiversity over the last few decades. In this study, we analysed which ecological groups of butterflies and burnet moths are most affected and how the recent modifications of the landscape have influenced them. Therefore, we studied the species composition of seven calcareous grassland remnants in south-western Germany in 1972 and 2001. We observed a strong change in the community composition and a severe decline in species richness. In general, the incidence of the autochthonous non-ubiquitous species declined by more than 50%, whereas ubiquitous species showed no significant difference in numbers during this period. Especially affected by the decline were those species which need structured habitats, those which are poor dispersers, species which need habitat sizes of 16 ha and more, monophagous species, K strategists and Red Data Book species. Most probably, either habitat outside the reserves is affecting dynamics within the reserves or loss of habitat outside the protected areas has reduced the overall area and connectivity of habitat for some species, increasing extinction rates and reducing colonisation rates in metapopulations. We conclude that these negative trends can only be stopped or even reversed if the landscape structure is made less hostile for species with conservation interest.     

陕北安塞退耕地持久土壤种子库与地上植被的对应关系

通过研究陕北安塞退耕3~31 a的阴阳坡10个样地的持久土壤种子库特征及其与地上植被的关系,分析持久土壤种子库在植被恢复中的作用。结果表明：调查样地持久土壤种子库由15个科36个物种组成,种子密度在1 908~12 617粒/m2之间,1年生物种占80%,随着退耕演替的进行,种子库中1年生物种比例呈下降趋势,多年生物种比例呈上升趋势,地带性物种在持久种子库中的比例也随退耕时间的延长而增加,物种数和种子库密度均随退耕演替先增大后降低;持久土壤种子库与地上植被的相似性较低,Serensen相似性系数为0.21~0.42;通过对适宜物种的确限度及土壤种子库大小的分析,认为该区退耕地的持久土壤种子库具有一定的植被恢复潜力。     

Similarity between the soil seed bank and the standing vegetation in the Strandveld Succulent Karoo,South Africa

The similarity in species composition and abundance between the soil seed bank and its associated vegetation was studied in six vegetation units of the Strandveld Succulent Karoo, South Africa. A total of 103 taxa were recorded in the vegetation, of which 34 taxa were also present in the seed bank. Five taxa were unique to the soil seed bank. In general, the taxa most abundant in the vegetation were also recorded in the seed bank and vice versa. Mean seed bank density varied between different plant types. Perennial taxa were most abundant in the vegetation, while annual taxa were most abundant in the seed bank. Annual taxa (excluding grasses) yielded the highest similarity between vegetation and seed bank (67ċ9 per cent), while that of perennial (excluding grasses) and grass taxa were 34ċ2 per cent and 40ċ0 per cent respectively. An overall similarity of 47ċ0 per cent between the seed bank and its associated vegetation was obtained for this part of the Strandveld Succulent Karoo. The seed bank of the study site will be a good source of future annual vegetation, but not of perennial vegetation. Topsoil replacement, sowing and transplanting of selected species will be essential for the success of post‐mining revegetation efforts following complete destruction of the existing vegetation. Annual species may be recruited from the soil stored seed bank, while many perennial species will have to be reintroduced by means of sowing and/or transplanting. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

封育对退化草原植被恢复及土壤理化性质影响的研究进展

封育是退化草原生态系统恢复的有效措施之一。在梳理现有封育研究成果的基础上,归纳封育对植物多样性、生物量、植被演替、土壤物理与化学性状的影响效应,发现:受地理区域、气候条件及封育前退化程度等本底条件的影响,封育条件下植被多样性呈现出显著增加、基本稳定和明显下降3种结果,生物量则表现为围封初期增加,围封时间过长不利于维持较高生物量的变化趋势;封育使得种群拓殖能力与群落资源冗余,土壤种子库结构改善、密度增长,退化草原呈正向演替,并可能出现3种演替模式。封育消除了土壤紧实层,改善了土壤结构与性状,但对土壤养分的影响效应不一致。基于研究现状,提出今后应深入研究的6个内容与方向,对丰富封育条件下退化草原恢复效应具有指导意义。     

Effects of initial site management on the Coleoptera assemblages colonising newly established chalk grassland on ex-arable land

Large areas of chalk grassland in north-western Europe have been lost as a result of changes in land use, and the remaining areas have become increasingly fragmented. Consequently, one of the major constraints on chalk grassland restoration is the availability of sources of potential colonists in the landscape. This paper describes a study of the impact of different restoration management techniques on the colonization of new chalk grasslands by Coleoptera. Plots sown with seed mixtures of different diversity were compared with plots undergoing natural plant colonization. A second treatment involved the use of small-scale turf and soil translocation as a means of overcoming dispersal limitation. Significant differences in the Coleoptera assemblages were found in response to the experimental treatments. However, these significant differences were the result of differences in the abundance of a small number of common eurytopic grassland species. Four years after the initiation of the restoration management, the experimental plots supported very different assemblages in comparison with those found on two established chalk grassland sites in the immediate vicinity of the experimental site.     

退化喀斯特植被恢复对土壤微生物数量及群落功能多样性的影响

采集不同恢复阶段的土壤样品,采用微生物培养法研究了退化喀斯特植被恢复对土壤微生物数量、群落功能多样性的影响。研究结果表明随着退化喀斯特植被的恢复,土壤微生物数量增加,表现为乔木群落阶段灌木群落阶段草本群落阶段裸地阶段。土壤微生物群落代谢功能分析表明:植被恢复往往导致较高的平均颜色变化率、物种丰富度和功能多样性。乔木群落阶段的平均诱导底物利用率最高,明显地与其他3个恢复阶段不同。总之,植被恢复使得土壤微生物数量增加,碳源平均利用率增强。因此,创造了更好的土壤条件更有利于退化喀斯特植被的恢复。     

Importance of the seed bank for population viability and population monitoring in a threatened wetland herb

Although demographic models have become increasingly important tools in plant conservation, few models have considered the implications of seed banks for population persistence. Based on a 15-year study of the threatened herb, Helenium virginicum, we created a stage-class transition matrix to model the population dynamics of the plant. Our goal was to determine the role of the seed bank in population persistence and in the design of monitoring programs for the plant. Using data from marked plants, a long-term study of seed viability, and a seed bank census, we created a deterministic model and three stochastic models. The stochastic models were a model in which yearly correlations among parameters were retained, a model in which parameters were uncorrelated, and a model in which parameters were derived from log-normal distribution. We also constructed a fourth model in which we assumed a minimum seed lifetime consistent with the seed viability data. Both elasticity and perturbation analysis suggested that seed survival within the seed bank had by far the largest effects on the population growth rate (λ), with 47-64% of the change in λ being controlled by seed survival. Correlations among life history parameters had little effect on λ in the original models, but substantially reduced λ (from 0.97 to 0.86) when seed survival was limited. Given the importance of the seed bank and the high yearly variability in adult plant density, we used simulations to compare power to detect declines with seed bank samples versus censuses of adult plants. The power of adult plant censuses was extremely low (13-22%). The power of seed bank censuses was substantially higher (48-59%), but was limited by large pulses of recruitment to the seed bank in good years. Power was only moderately reduced when seeds were sampled every two or four years instead of yearly (from 59% to 48%). Together, our results suggest that seed survival is crucial to persistence of Helenium populations and that future empirical studies should focus on understanding the factors that affect seed survival. In addition, managers should consider seed bank censuses rather than above-ground plants when designing monitoring programs for plants in variable environments where above-ground plants vary greatly from year to year.     

Long-term heathland restoration on former grassland: The results of a 17-year experiment

European lowland heaths have declined by up to 80% due to land use change and lack of management. There has been considerable research into the restoration of this threatened habitat. However, long-term outcomes of restoration are poorly understood, especially in situations where past agricultural land use imposes severe constraints on community re-assembly. In 1989 a large-scale experiment was established to examine the effectiveness of five treatments to restore heathland on formerly productive grassland: (i) natural regeneration; (ii) herbicide application to facilitate regeneration; (iii) cultivation and application of seed-rich heathland vegetation; (iv) soil removal and incorporation of heathland topsoil; and (v) heathland translocation. After 17 years the pH of the unamended agricultural soil remained significantly higher than that of the adjacent heathland. All treatments showed different trajectories of vegetation change in the long-term. Natural colonisation by heathland species was slow due to seed limitation, resulting in formation of an acid grassland community. Heathland community assembly was not facilitated by destruction of the initial grassland with herbicide. Incorporation of topsoil had an intermediate effect on pH reduction. This may explain the subsequent failure of the plant community to assemble in the anticipated proportions, and the dominance of leguminous scrub species (Ulex spp.). Turf translocation was effective in reducing pH to the required range and restoring the heathland community in the long-term. However, this technique should only be considered as a means of ‘rescue’ when habitat destruction is otherwise unavoidable. The only practical and sustainable means of increasing heathland extent on former farmland is the application of seed-bearing vegetation cut as part of routine management. However, this technique needs refining in order to establish the full range of characteristic heathland species.     

Re-creation of heathland on improved pasture using top soil removal and sulphur amendments: Edaphic drivers and impacts on ericoid mycorrhizas

Understanding the factors that drive successful re-creation and restoration of lowland heaths is crucially important for achieving the long-term conservation of this threatened habitat type. In this study we investigated the changes in soil chemistry, plant community and interactions between Calluna vulgaris and symbiotic ericoid mycorrhizas (ERM) that occurred when improved pasture was subjected to one of three treatments (i) acidification with elemental sulphur (ii) acidification with ferrous sulphur (iii) removal of the topsoil. We found that the soil stripping treatment produced the greatest reduction in available phosphate but did not decrease soil pH. Conversely, acidification with elemental sulphur decreased pH but increased availability of phosphate and potentially toxic cations. The elemental sulphur treatment produced plant communities that most closely resembled those on surrounding heaths and acid grasslands. The most important driver was low pH and concomitant increased availability of potentially toxic cations. Plant community development was found to be little related to levels of available soil phosphate, particularly at low pH. The elemental sulphur treatment also produced the best germination and growth of C. vulgaris over 4-5 years. However, this treatment was found to inhibit the development of symbiotic relationships between C. vulgaris and ERM. This may affect the long-term persistence of re-created vegetation and its interactions with other components of heathland communities.     

GrassVESS: a modification of the visual evaluation of soil structure method for grasslands

Visual evaluation of soil structure (VESS ) is used for assessing arable management impact on soil quality. When used on pastures, operators have identified limitations because VESS does not consider a surface root‐mat typical of managed grassland. The structure of the root‐mat may be indicative of nutrient use efficiency, pollution potential and subsurface compaction. The objectives of this research were to develop GrassVESS for grassland soil management, to compare it with VESS and quantitative physical indicators and to assess its utility for soil management. GrassVESS maintained the methodological strengths of VESS , but uses a flow chart, grassland images and a new root‐mat score. A focus group found GrassVESS to be quicker, dealt better with technical information and made root‐mat evaluation easier. The range of structural quality scores assigned by the focus group for a site was less for GrassVESS than VESS , suggesting the procedure is more reproducible, thus suitable for use by a range of stakeholders. GrassVESS was also deployed at 30 grassland sites across Ireland. Results indicated that GrassVESS generated the same overall diagnoses as VESS , but the GrassVESS root‐mat structural quality score was better related to bulk density, total porosity at 5–10 cm and a visual estimation of damaged sward area. It was concluded that GrassVESS has improved the VESS method for the specific assessment of grassland soil structural quality and could be used in real‐time farm management decision support.