Wyniki wyszukiwania - BazTech

1

The effect of topographic factors and land use history on grassland biodiversity in the Polish carpathians

Zarzycki Jan, Korzeniak Joanna, Perzanowska Joanna

Geomatics, Landmanagement and Landscape

|

2023

|

no. 4

343--355

EN

Semi-natural, extensively managed grassland communities are among the most species-rich plant communities. The species number and floristic composition depend on numerous factors, both natural and associated with human activity, both present and past. In European countries, a system of subsidies for farmers is used to preserve extensive, usually unprofitable management of multi-species grassland communities. The development of specific recommendations requires knowledge of the main factors shaping grassland plant communities. A study was carried out in seven regions of the Polish Western Carpathians, in areas with traditional sheep grazing. Plant species composition (phytosociological relevés) of 517 plots were surveyed in different grassland types. For each plot, topographic parameters, i.e. slope, aspect and altitude, were recorded and land use in the past was read from historical maps. The aim of the study was to a) assess differences in the species composition of grassland vegetation between topographically and historically different regions of the Polish Carpathians, and b) to identify the main factors influencing species composition in each of these regions. Depending on the region, different factors contributed most to explaining the variation in the species composition and species numbers. Topographic factors played a decisive role. The type of past use (arable land or grassland) had little influence on current biodiversity. The results of the study indicate the need for a localised approach to developing principles for protection of grassland biodiversity.

2

Effect of long-term abandonment and spring grazing on floristic and functional composition of dry grasslands in a Central Apennine farmland

Catorci A., Cesaretti S., Gatti R.

Polish Journal of Ecology

|

2013

|

Vol. 61, nr 3

505--517

EN

Semi-natural dry grasslands host some of the most valuable habitats in Europe, due to their biodiversity heritage. Nevertheless, a strong decline in their extension, due to the cessation of traditional management, has been observed in the last decades. The aim of the study was to assess plant community changes due to abandonment and the effect of spring grazing in sub-Mediterranean dry grasslands, focusing on the plant functional traits involved in this turnover. The study area is located in the central Apennines (Italy), where grasslands were grazed by sheep in late winter and spring until 1980 and are nowadays abandoned. Relevés sampled (using the Braun-Blanquet method) in different years, namely in 1976–1980 (grazed pasture) and again in 2010 (abandoned pasture) were compared. Results indicated that abandonment leads to the increase of species richness. Traits and strategies indicator sets were: therophyte for the grazed pasture; geophytes, flower palatability, early flowering strategy, clonal ability and presence of storage organs for the abandoned ones. Traits related to low levels of stress (tolerance strategies) are heavily reduced in grazed systems, and thus the functional composition of plant community is mostly characterised by traits promoting avoidance strategies. In abandoned conditions a higher number of species can co-exist thanks to the micro-scale variation of soil features and niche diversification. The research findings also revealed grazing timing as a key factor for understanding changes of plant functional trait patterns and spring grazing as a threat for orchid species.

3

Effect of vegetation and management on occurrence of larvae and adults of generalist Maniola jurtina L. (Lepidoptera) in meadow habitats

Kulfan J., Strbova E., Zach P.

Polish Journal of Ecology

|

2012

|

Vol. 60, nr 3

601-609

EN

Larvae and adults of some generalist insect species co-occur in identical habitats whereas adults and larvae of other generalist species do not co-occur and occupy different habitats. The Meadow brown, Maniola jurtina (L.) (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae), is common and widely distributed in Europe where it is considered a habitat generalist. As knowledge about the occurrence of the larvae of the Meadow brown is scarce (different and more difficult methods are needed to collect larvae compared to adults) a complex assessment of the life strategy of this generalist is limited. We addressed here the question as to whether the adults and larvae of the Meadow brown co-occurred in the same habitats and how they depended on the type of grassland vegetation and habitat management. We expected co-occurrence of adults and larvae and similar effects of habitat management on them. We selected four habitat types belonging to the alliance Arrhenatherion elatioris W. Koch 1926, which form mosaic patterns in the rural landscape of central Slovakia: (1) extensive meadows mown once a year, (2) extensive meadows mown twice a year, (3) abandoned meadows, and (4) ecotones between deciduous forests and meadows mown once a year. Adults were counted in each habitat on seven transects 50 m long (in seven replicates) during the summer of 2003, 2004 and 2005. Larvae were collected in each habitat on 10 transects 50 m long (ten replicates) by sweeping vegetation (60 sweepings per transect) at night in May 2005 and 2006. Both adults and larvae occurred in all the mentioned types of habitats. A high abundance of adults and larvae was recorded in extensive meadows mown once a year and in ecotones. The lowest abundance of adults and larvae was found in abandoned meadows. The differences between abandoned meadows and ecotones (in the case of adults) and between abandoned meadows and extensive meadows mown once a year (in the case of larvae) were significant in all study years (P <0.05; multiple comparisons, K-W ANOVA). In the abandoned meadows the number of adults and larvae (median) was approximately 2 to 5 and 5 to 25 times lower than in the preferred habitats, respectively. Maximum numbers of both adults and larvae per single recording/sampling date were obtained in extensive meadows mown once a year; that is 185 adults in a transect 350 m long and 4 m wide and 267 larvae in the transect 500 m long (600 sweepings). Hence, similar to adults, larvae tend to be habitat generalists. Our results have confirmed the "advantageous" life strategy of M. jurtina which enables the species to adapt to a wide range of habitats, including those under strong pressure from humans. Comparing management practices in the study habitats, meadows which are mowed once a year were the most appropriate alternative for this species.

4

Wpływ zróżnicowanych zabiegów agrotechnicznych na różnorodność florystyczną górskiej łąki

Zarzycki J., Korzeniak J.

Ekologia i Technika

|

2012

|

R. 20, nr 1

41-46

PL

Zachowanie różnorodności florystycznej użytków zielonych wymaga odpowiedniego ich użytkowania. W wielu wypadkach, szczególnie na obszarach chronionych staje się to podstawowym celem zabiegów agrotechnicznych. Celem pracy była ocena wpływu zróżnicowanych sposobów rolniczego użytkowania na skład gatunkowy runi. Doświadczenie było prowadzone w Krynicy (Beskid Sądecki) w latach 2001-2007. Zastosowano dziesięć sposobów użytkowania różniących się poziomem nawożenia i terminami pokosów. Brak użytkowania spowodował największe zmiany w roślinności. Na poletkach niekoszonych dominowała kłosówka miękka, liczba gatunków była także najmniejsza. Nawożenie obornikiem spowodowało zwiększenie udziału roślin bobowatych. Koszenie dwukrotne w ciągu roku oraz nawożenie fosforem i potasem promowało rozwój koniczyny białej. Zastosowanie wczesnego koszenia umożliwiło silny wzrost mietlicy zwyczajnej i przywrotnika pasterskiego. Różne sposoby użytkowania wpłynęły na udział poszczególnych gatunków w runi ale nie na liczbę gatunków. W celu zwiększenia różnorodności ubogich gatunkowo łąk konieczna byłaby introdukcja nowych gatunków.

EN

Preserving grassland biodiversity requires their proper management. In many cases, especially in protected areas, preserving species diversity becomes the main task of agricultural measures. The aim of the study was to asses the effect of different ways of extensive utilization on the floristic composition of sward. The experiment was carried out in years 2001 - 2007 in Krynica (Beskid Sądecki Mts.). Ten different treatments of fertilization and time of cut was applied. The biggest change in botanical composition was recorded on plots left uncut, where Holcus mollis dominated. Fertilization with manure led to increase in share of legumes. Cutting two times a year and fertilization with potassium and phosphorus prornoted Trifolium repens expansion. Early cut resulted in development of Agrostis capillaris and Alcherralla manticola. The effect of different management caused changes in the share of species in the sward but the not in their number on plots. To increase the biodiversity of species-poor meadows it would be necessary to introduce new species.