The effects of the 1976 drought on chalk grassland in Sussex,England

The exceptionally severe drought during the spring and summer of 1976 resulted in almost 40% bare ground compared with c. 5% in normal summers. The high rainfall of September caused considerable regrowth and decreased bare ground to almost its normal autumnal value. Many species had significantly lower covers in 1976 than in normal summers. Many of these and some others significantly increased their cover during the wet autumn. It is considered that unpredictable drought stress is an important factor of chalk grassland and causes large but temporary fluctuations in species abundance and floristic composition.