Effects of management and altitude on bryophyte species diversity and composition in montane calcareous fens

Bergamini, Ariel; Peintinger, Markus; Schmid, Bernhard; Urmi, Edwin

doi:10.1016/s0367-2530(17)30040-3

Cited by 40 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…Astonishingly, in our study pH was not significantly related to the species composition for both bryophytes and vascular plants. This contrasts with the findings of Bergamini et al (2001b) who identified pH as the most important variable explaining bryophyte species composition of very similar communities in the same region. The cause for this discrepancy may be that the effects of region and pH were confounded.…”

Section: Species Compositioncontrasting

confidence: 99%

“…The dominating plant community belongs to the Caricion davallianae alliance according to the Braun-Blanquet system (Ellenberg 1996) which are species-rich in both bryophytes and vascular plants (Bergamini et al 2001b;Peintinger et al 2003). Productivity measured as aboveground biomass of vascular plants is rather low (Pauli et al 2002) and bryophyte biomass can sometimes exceed aboveground biomass of vascular plants (Bergamini et al 2001a).…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

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Community structure and diversity of bryophytes and vascular plants in abandoned fen meadows

Peintinger

Bergamini

2005

Plant Ecol

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We examined effects of abandonment on species diversity and species composition by comparing 21 calcareous fen meadows in the pre-alpine zone of central and northeastern Switzerland. Meadows were divided into three classes of successional stages (mown: annually mown in late summer, young fallow: 4 -15 years, and old fallow: >15 years of abandonment). In each fen, we measured litter mass in four 20 cmÂ20 cm plots, as well as (aboveground) biomass and species density (number of species per unit area) of bryophytes and vascular plants. Bryophyte biomass was reduced in abandoned fens, whereas litter mass and aboveground biomass of vascular plants increased. Species density of both taxonomic groups was lower in abandoned than in mown fens. Young and old successional stages were not different except for bryophytes, for which old successional stages had higher species density than young stages. We used litter mass and aboveground biomass of vascular plants as covariables in analyses of variance to reveal their effects on species density of both taxonomic groups. For bryophytes, litter mass was more important than vascular plant biomass in explaining variance of species density. This indicates severe effects of burying by litter on bryophyte species density. For species density of vascular plants, both vascular plant biomass and litter mass were of similar importance in explaining the decreased species density. Canonical correspondence analyses showed that abandonment also had an effect on species composition of both bryophytes and vascular plants. However, young and old successional stages were not different indicating fast initial changes after abandonment, but slow secondary succession afterwards. Furthermore, indicator species analysis showed that there was no establishment of new species after abandonment that might dramatically alter fen communities. Re-introduction of mowing as a nature conservation strategy may thus be very promising -even for old fallows.

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Section: Species Compositioncontrasting

confidence: 99%

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

Community structure and diversity of bryophytes and vascular plants in abandoned fen meadows

Peintinger

Bergamini

2005

Plant Ecol

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“…Positive effects of grazing on bryophyte biodiversity have been recorded earlier in several other types of European grassland biotopes (van Tooren et al 1990;Bergamini et al 2001;Piessens et al 2008). Similar consequences of abandonment have also been documented elsewhere, particularly in calcareous grasslands of northwestern Europe (van Tooren et al 1990;During and Willems 2003).…”

Section: The Effects Of Management and Restorationmentioning

confidence: 53%

“…These include both the creation of patches of bare mineral soil and the reduction of living and dead vascular plant biomass (van Tooren et al 1990;Aude and Ejrnaes 2005;Peintinger and Bergamini 2006;Mayer et al 2009;Preston et al 2009). Mowing has often proved to be less favourable for bryophytes, indicating the importance of local soil disturbances by the grazing animals (van Tooren et al 1990;Bergamini et al 2001;Vanderpoorten et al 2004).…”

Section: The Effects Of Management and Restorationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It is possible that bryophytes are particularly sensitive, like certain rare vascular plants, to undergrazing and consequent increase of biomass of dominant vascular plant species. Indeed, competition by vascular plants is considered as the main determinant of the occurrence of bryophytes in grassland (Virtanen et al 2000;Bergamini et al 2001;Aude and Ejrnaes 2005).…”

Section: The Effects Of Management and Restorationmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Can re-establishment of cattle grazing restore bryophyte diversity in abandoned mesic semi-natural grasslands?

2012

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Changes of agricultural practices have led to decline of semi-natural habitats sustained by traditional animal husbandry in many European regions. The abandonment of semi-natural pastures leads to increase of vascular plant biomass and subsequent decline of weak competitors such as bryophytes. Re-establishing traditional animal husbandry may potentially restore biodiversity but the success of such measures remains insufficiently known. In this study, we asked if re-establishing cattle grazing on previously abandoned grasslands will restore their bryophyte communities. The effect of cattle grazing on bryophyte communities of mesic semi-natural grasslands was studied in south-western Finland in a comparison of (i) continuously grazed pastures, (ii) previously abandoned pastures where grazing was re-established during 1990s, and (iii) abandoned pastures, where grazing had ceased during late 1960s to early 1980s. The average cover, species richness, species density and species diversity of bryophytes were significantly higher in the continuously grazed than in the abandoned grasslands. Ordination analyses revealed clear differences also in community structure between the management classes. Re-established grasslands were ecologically heterogeneous and situated in between the continuously grazed and abandoned grasslands in all characteristics, indicating variable effect of the restoration measure. Seventeen bryophyte species were recognized as significant indicators of the three grassland classes, four of which could be used as indicators of valuable grassland habitats. Although there was variation in the consequences of re-introduction of grazing, the results give evidence of positive effect of grazing on regaining bryophyte diversity of abandoned grasslands.

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Profiteers of environmental change in the Swiss Alps: increase of thermophilous and generalist plants in wetland ecosystems within the last 10 years

et al. 2012

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It has been predicted that Northern Europe will experience a rise in temperature of 2.3-5.3°C from now until 2100. This increase in temperature may lead to vegetation change along altitudinal gradients. To test this prediction, we recorded plant-species composition in 1995 and 2005/06 in Swiss pre-alpine fen meadows (800-1400 m a.s.l.). Despite no obvious changes in the management of these fens, overall, plant-species richness (cumulative number of plant species at five plots per site) significantly increased over this period. This was mainly due to an increase in the number of thermophilous, richsoil indicator and shade indicator species which corresponded to increased community productivity and shading within the vegetation layer. In contrast, fen specialists significantly declined in species numbers. The strongest shift in vegetation composition occurred at the lowest sites, which overall had a higher colonization rate by new species than did sites at higher altitudes. Vegetation change along the altitudinal gradient was also affected by different types of land management: early-flowering species and species with low habitat-specificity had high colonization rates in grazed fens, especially at low altitudes. changes in the management of these fens, overall, plant-species richness (cumulative number 28 of plant species at five plots per site) significantly increased over this period. This was mainly 29 due to an increase in the number of thermophilous, rich-soil indicator and shade indicator 30 species which corresponded to increased community productivity and shading within the 31 vegetation layer. In contrast, fen specialists significantly declined in species numbers. The 32 strongest shift in vegetation composition occurred at the lowest sites, which overall had a 33 higher colonization rate by new species than did sites at higher altitudes. Vegetation change 34 along the altitudinal gradient was also affected by different types of land management: early-35 flowering species and species with low habitat-specificity had high colonization rates in 36 grazed fens, especially at low altitudes. 37 38

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Effects of management and altitude on bryophyte species diversity and composition in montane calcareous fens

Cited by 40 publications

References 22 publications

Community structure and diversity of bryophytes and vascular plants in abandoned fen meadows

Community structure and diversity of bryophytes and vascular plants in abandoned fen meadows

Can re-establishment of cattle grazing restore bryophyte diversity in abandoned mesic semi-natural grasslands?

Profiteers of environmental change in the Swiss Alps: increase of thermophilous and generalist plants in wetland ecosystems within the last 10 years

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