Bryophytes and their microhabitats in coniferous forest pastures: should they be considered in the pasture management?

Abstract

Forest pastures, like many other semi-natural (traditional) rural biotopes, have undergone a drastic decline both in area and quality during the last century in many areas. We explored the bryophyte flora of Finnish coniferous forest pastures on acidic soil and aimed to recognize the most important microsites (rocks, coarse woody debris, tree bases, mineral soil patches and closed vegetation) for bryophyte diversity. The effects of microhabitat heterogeneity (microsite entropy) on bryophytes was also examined. We found altogether 83 bryophyte species. The only red-listed species, Tayloria tenuis, was frequently found on dung patches and a few rare ruderal species grew exclusively on bare mineral soil. Rocks comprised the most species rich microsite and many common forest floor species showed preference for this microsite. Microhabitat heterogeneity explained bryophyte species richness on both alpha (plot average) and gamma (pasture total) scales. The results suggest that certain individual bryophyte species and their microsites should be taken into account in the management of this biotope, rather than guiding the management solely on the basis of the overall bryophyte diversity.

Ectomycorrhizal fungi in wood-pastures: Communities are determined by trees and soil properties, not by grazing

“…Moreover, patchy grazing pressure and commonly performed selective logging have resulted in mosaic-like habitats where open, semi-open and closed patches alternate (Garbarino et al, 2011;Schulman et al, 2008;Vainio et al, 2001;WallisDeVries et al, 1998). In the boreal zone some woodpastures have quite closed stand structure and they have also been called forest pastures (sensu Takala et al, 2014).…”

Does cattle movement between forest pastures and fertilized grasslands affect the bryophyte and vascular plant communities in vulnerable forest pasture biotopes?

“…As such, a heterogeneous forest stand structure that creates a matrix of shady, semi-open and open microhabitats in the field layer is recommended. Increasing microhabitat heterogeneity would also benefit bryophytes in forest pastures (Takala et al, 2014).…”

“…This may reflect the preference of many bryophyte species for shaded, moist microhabitats (Moen and Jonsson, 2003;Hylander 2005) and the same reason may explain the perceived differences in bryophyte cover between the forest pastures and forests. The lower cover in the forest pastures can also result from the direct trampling effect of grazing animals: many bryophyte species that grow on the forest floor are more abundant around boulders and other structures, which provide shelter from grazing cattle in the forest pastures (Takala et al, 2014). Furthermore, the differences in vascular plant vegetation between the biotope types can affect bryophyte cover via differences in the prevailing and past competition regimes.…”

“…It is worth noting, however, that many rare species may have been overlooked in our random sampling. Furthermore, we have only documented bryophytes growing on the ground, thereby excluding a notable part of bryophyte diversity in forest pastures and forests from this study (Takala et al, 2014).…”

Grazing and abandonment determine different tree dynamics in wood-pastures

“…They are also removed from some abandoned but protected wood-pastures where the aim is to retain a semi-open birch-dominated habitat, for e.g., the threatened whitebacked woodpecker (Dendrocopos leucotos Bechstein) (Laine and Heikkilä 2011). In addition, several plant species benefit from the semi-open conditions and grazer-induced disturbances in wood-pastures, and rare bryophyte species are dependent on dung piles and decaying wood (Takala et al 2014;). …”