Above ground vegetation and phytomass of strictly protected abandoned hay-making Molinion meadows in Zemplén Mountains (Hungary) after restored management
Abstract
Abandonment of hay-making meadows is a serious conservational problem throughout Europe. The outstandingly species-rich Gyertyánkút meadow of Zemplén Mts. (NE Hungary) was selected for a long-term restoration experiment in 1993. Effect of annual summer cutting on species diversity and reproductive success were studied on abandoned Junco- Molinion stands. In two stands pair of 100 m2 sized plots (cut, control) were surveyed in 2004. Composition was determined and number of flowering shoots was counted in 1 m2 subplots («=20 per stand). Aboveground phytomass samples (10x10 cm, «=32) were harvested, dried (25°C, 2 weeks) then sorted as i) dead, ii) graminoid (Cyperaceae, Poaceae, Juncaceae) and iii) herbaceous (Dicotyledonopsida and herbaceous Monocotyledonopsida). Mann-Whitney-test and Spearman rank correlation tests and DCA ordination were used to compare data sets.
Higher species numbers, higher number of herbaceous and flowering herbaceous species were detected in mown plots (Campanula patula, Leontodon hispidus, Potentilla erecta, Stellaria graminea, Succisa pratensis, Viola canina). Graminoids, especially Molinia and Deschampsia cespitosa showed higher reproductive success in control. Lower dead and monocot phytomass were sampled in cut stands. Reproductive performance and phytomass of Molinia coerulea was negatively correlated with that of herbaceous species as well as with density of herbaceous species.
Our results suggest that annual cutting is an appropriate tool to restore species-richness of abandoned wet hay-making meadows and to maintain high reproductive performance of meadow species by decreasing phytomass and diminishing the reproductive success of Molinia.
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