A multidisciplinary evaluation of restoration measures in a degraded Cirsio‐Molinietum fen meadow

Abstract

Abstract. An integrated multidisciplinary approach including descriptive and experimental research of environmental and biotic factors was used to evaluate an attempt to restore a species‐rich fen meadow, phytosociologically belonging to the Cirsio‐Molinietum. Expert judgement and preliminary research indicated that soil acidification, due to drainage in the surrounding area, caused the degeneration of the fen meadow. Flooding the meadow with surface water was applied in order to stop acidification. A small irrigated wetland (helophyte filter) was constructed to reduce nutrient availability in the surface water. Sod cutting was applied in a small area as well. The two measures were evaluated through: (1) measurements of hydrological and soil factors, (2) seed bank analysis, (3) recording species composition in permanent plots, (4) assessing the type and extent of nutrient limitation using a full‐factorial fertilization experiment, (5) assessing the effect of liming on vegetation biomass, and (6) recording the growth of three introduced fen meadow species in the liming experiment. The research was carried out in a degraded site with intact vegetation, a degraded site where the top soil was removed by sod cutting and a reference site with intact Cirsio‐Molinietum vegetation. Groundwater levels in the degraded and the stripped site differed slightly from those of the reference site but they were within the range of Cirsio‐Molinietum requirements. Groundwater quality slightly improved in the stripped site. Top‐soil removal considerably reduced the macro‐nutrient contents and caused a stronger P‐deficiency. No increase in soil pH was observed immediately after top‐soil removal. A small increase in soil pH was found after five years in the stripped site, indicating a slight recovery from acidification. Liming after top‐soil removal had little effect on the soil pH after six months but stimulated the growth of established species such as Agrostis canina. Few viable seeds of characteristic fen meadow species were present in the seed banks of both degraded and well developed fen meadow sites. The species composition after top soil removal reflected the seed bank of the degraded fen meadow and establishment of characteristic fen meadow species was poor, even after five years. The introduced species (Carex hostiana, C. panicea, Cirsium dissectum) survived during the first year in both the degraded and the stripped site. Liming initially stimulated the growth of two species, but in the second year this effect disappeared. After two years, none of the introduced species survived at the stripped site. The restoration measures failed so far, probably because acidification could not be counteracted satisfactorily. Finally, it was concluded that our multidisciplinary approach enables us to draw proper conclusions and that it is suitable for other restoration attempts as well.

Ecological restoration for future sustainability in a changing environment

“…Vegetation in some wet plots did not change at all during the 12 y of observation (Grootjans et al, 2002a,b). A similar case was reported by Van Duren et al (1998) after a failed restoration of fen meadow in a polder area in the Netherlands. Thus, there is need for a new flexibility, given that the restoration technique that worked well in the past (sod cutting) may no longer be suitable under the changing climate.…”

Protected area zoning for conservation and use: A combination of spatial multicriteria and multiobjective evaluation

“…Several studies focus on the analysis of habitat suitability for species or communities with high importance for conservation or restoration (Binzenhöfer et al, 2005;Dayton and Fitzgerald, 2006;Morrogh-Bernard et al, 2003;Liu, 2001;Van Duren et al, 1998). Other studies map the distribution of species (e.g., Red IUCN, 2001) or use habitat requirements for modeling their distribution in relation to protected areas (Martinez et al, 2006;Oindo, 2001).…”

Seed content and conservation evaluation of hay material of fen grasslands

“…Topsoil removal is thought to be an appropriate method to restore site conditions in fens since it leads to higher groundwater levels and a reduction of nutrient availability (Van Diggelen, Bakker, & Klooker, 1997;Van Duren, Strykstra, Grootjans, ter Heerdt, & Pegtel, 1998). However, target communities generally do not establish after the restoration of site conditions because viable seeds of characteristic species are often absent both in the soil seed bank due to their low longevity and in the seed rain due to dispersal limitation (Bekker et al, 1997;Jansen, de Graaf, & Roelofs, 1996;Jensen, 1998;McDonald, Bakker, & Vegelin, 1996).…”