The effect of grazing pressure on species richness, composition and productivity in North Adriatic Karst pastures

Škornik, Sonja; Vidrih, M.; Kaligarič, Mitja

doi:10.1080/11263501003750250

Cited by 53 publications

(36 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…Vremščica recorded in previous studies [30,42], were also found in the fur. In many studies the ability of diaspores to move with sheep transhumance has been observed [1,10,13,20,27].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 52%

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High potential of sub-Mediterranean dry grasslands for sheep epizoochory

Kaligarič

Brecl²,

Škornik

2016

Open Life Sciences

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There is a general decline of grasslands across Europe due to habitat loss and degradation. Ensuring plant dispersal thus becomes a key process for preserving grassland patches in all scales. We examined diaspore dispersal by sheep epizoochory in the pastures of the North Adriatic Karst (NW Slovenia) and determined the qualitative and quantitative features of diaspores in fur. We recorded 25,650 diaspores of 141 plant taxa (with 107 taxa and 23,350 diaspores determined to species level), using three different methods: (i) the "whole-coat method", (ii) the "part-of-thecoat method" and (iii) a "seedling emergence method". A comparison of these techniques revealed that the "wholecoat method" provided the highest number of diaspores and plant species. All diaspores were clustered into five emergent groups based on seven functional traits (diaspore weight, length, width, height, volume, specific weight and the diaspore surface structure). Our research revealed that sheep represent an important dispersal vector, since about half of the plant species recorded in the pastures were found as diaspores in fur. This study contributes to knowledge about the modes of seed dispersal in seminatural grasslands. Taking into account that livestock play a key role in vegetation dynamics, understanding their effects on seed dispersal is essential for conservation and restoration of these species-rich grassland communities.

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“…Vremščica recorded in previous studies [30,42], were also found in the fur. In many studies the ability of diaspores to move with sheep transhumance has been observed [1,10,13,20,27].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 52%

“…To determine frequency of the plant species on the Karst pastures, two published studies about dry grassland vegetation of Vremščica area were used [30,42]. Taxonomic nomenclature of all plant species follows Flora of Slovenia [40].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

High potential of sub-Mediterranean dry grasslands for sheep epizoochory

Kaligarič

Brecl²,

Škornik

2016

Open Life Sciences

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“…Besides, heavy grazed plots have high proportion of species which have ability to occupy disturbed ground. This species group includes mainly the species with regeneration by means of a persistent seed bank (see also Dupré & Diekmann 2001, Škornik et al 2010.…”

Section: Effects Of Natural Erosion and Grazing On The Vegetation Of mentioning

confidence: 99%

Flora and vegetation of dry grasslands of Northeastern Ukraine, and problems of diversity conservation

Ronkin

Savchenko

2016

Hacquetia

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The aim of this study was to describe the flora and vegetation of the grasslands of Northeastern Ukraine and to analyse how the steppe vegetation responds to grazing or its abandonment. We studied two gully systems in the east of the Kharkiv Region: the Regional Landscape Park "The Velykyi Burluk-Steppe" (steppe grasslands on chernozem soils; 10 sites) and the National Nature Park "Dvorichanskyi" (steppe grasslands on chalky outcrops; 5 sites). Longterm monitoring data exist for both these sites starting in 1991, shortly after grazing intensity reduced. We recorded the major grassland plant communities (reflecting their successional status) as well as their dominant species. Tree and scrub encroachment increased after management ceased. We conclude that (i) heterogeneous grazing (including ungrazed patches) in space and time is necessary in order to preserve grassland biodiversity in our study system; (ii) erosion of chalky outcrops (natural erosion as well as driven by cattle grazing) is a key factor promoting the richness of cretaceous species in steppe grassland. IzvlečekNamen raziskave je bil opisati floro in vegetacijo travišč severovzhodne Ukrajine in ugotoviti, kako se stepska vegetacija odziva na pašo ali njeno opuščanje. Preučevali smo dva sistema jarkov na vzhodu regije Harkov: regionalni krajinski park "The Velykyi Burluk-Steppe" (stepska travišča na černozemu, 10 lokalitet) in narodni park "Dvorichanskyi" (stepska travišča na apnenčastih izdankih, 5 lokalitet). Podatki o dolgoročnem monitoringu obeh lokalitet obstajajo že od leta 1991, kmalu po tem, ko se je zmanjšala intenzivnost paše. Zabeležili smo glavne travniške združbe (ki odražajo sukcesijski status) in njihove dominantne drevesne vrste. Zaraščanje z drevesi in grmišči se po prenehanju gospodarjenja pospešuje. Zaključili smo, (i) da je heterogena paša (z nepopašenimi zaplatami) v prostoru in času nujna za ohranjanje raznolikosti travišč v proučevanih sistemih in (ii) da je erozija apnenčastih izdankov (naravna in tista, ki jo povzroča govedo) glavni dejavnik za povečevanje številčnosti krednih vrst v stepskih traviščih.

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“…Accordingly, the ecology and biodiversity of dry grasslands in Southern Europe are not as well-known as for the rest of the continent, and this is particularly true for their management and conservation (but see e.g. Montserrat & Fillat 1990 for the Iberian Peninsula, römermann et al 2005 for S France, Škornik et al 2010for Slovenia, vassilev et al 2011.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dry Grasslands of Southern Europe: Syntaxonomy, Management and Conservation

et al. 2014

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The Mediterranean area is a natural biodiversity hotspot that has also been influenced by humans for millennia. Especially the grasslands of Southern Europe have long been known for their diversity and beauty. However, several gaps remain in our knowledge about these grasslands, e.g. for some regions such as the southern Balkans, or taxonomic groups such as cryptogams. Here we introduce a Special Issue with contributions from the 9 th European Dry Grassland Group meeting held in Prespa, Greece, 2012. The topic of this meeting was "Dry grasslands of Europe: grazing and ecosystem services" with special focus on Southern European regions. The Special Issue, apart from this Editorial, consists of eight contributions arranged according to the three major topics: syntaxonomy (5 articles), management (2) and conservation (1). The classification papers include descriptions of four new associations and four subassociations. Data about management practices are provided as well. We conclude that dry grassland vegetation in Southern Europe exhibits transitions between different higher syntaxa and thus requires further studies at broader scales to allow better understanding at the supranational scale. Keywords: Elyno-Seslerietea, European Dry Grassland Group (EDGG), Festuco-Brometea, grazing, Helianthemetea guttati, Koelerio-Corynephoretea, Mediterranean, Molinio-Arrhenatheretea. IzvlečekMediteran je naravna vroča točka biodiverzitete, na katero je človek tisočletja močno vplival. Po svoji raznolikosti in lepoti so še posebej že dolgo znana travišča južne Evrope, vendar so v poznavanju teh travišč prisotne številne vrzeli na območju južnega Balkana ali posameznih taksonomskih skupin, kot so kriptogami. Predstavljamo posebno številko s prispevki z 9. srečanja Evropske skupine za suha travišča (European Dry Grassland Group), ki je bilo leta 2012 v mestu Prespa (Grčija). Tema srečanja je bila "Suha travišča Evrope: paša in ekosistemske storitve" s posebnim poudarkom na območjih južne Evrope. Posebno številko poleg tega uvodnika sestavlja osem prispevkov, ki smo jih uredili v tri glavne teme: sintaksonomijo (5 člankov), gospodarjenje (2) in ohranjanje travišč (1). Članki o klasifikaciji vsebujejo opise štirih novih asociacij in štirih subasociacij. Prav tako vsebujejo podatke o načinu gospodarjenja. Zaključimo lahko, da kaže vegetacija suhih travišč v južni Evropi prehod med različnimi višjimi sintaksoni in zato so potrebne nadaljnje raziskave v večjem merilu, ki bodo omogočile boljše razumevanje v nadnacionalnem merilu.

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The effect of grazing pressure on species richness, composition and productivity in North Adriatic Karst pastures

Cited by 53 publications

References 40 publications

High potential of sub-Mediterranean dry grasslands for sheep epizoochory

High potential of sub-Mediterranean dry grasslands for sheep epizoochory

Flora and vegetation of dry grasslands of Northeastern Ukraine, and problems of diversity conservation

Dry Grasslands of Southern Europe: Syntaxonomy, Management and Conservation

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