Grazed Pannonian grassland beta-diversity changes due to C4 yellow bluestem

Szentes, Szilárd; Sutyinszki, Zsuzsanna; Szabó, Gábor; Zimmermann, Zita; Házi, Judit; Wichmann, B.; Hufnágel, Levente; Penksza, Károly; Bartha, Sándor

doi:10.2478/s11535-012-0101-9

Cited by 32 publications

(42 citation statements)

References 45 publications

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“…Such comparative studies are needed to corroborate the competitive capacity of BOIS and its ability to alter successional trajectories of native grasslands under disturbance (Szentes et al. ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Long‐term late season mowing maintains diversity in southernUStallgrass prairie invaded byBothriochloa ischaemum

Dee

Thomas

Thompson

et al. 2016

Applied Vegetation Science

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Questions: While mowing is a viable management tool for the maintenance of diversity in grasslands, the suitability of mowing in grasslands with invasion by exotic plants is poorly understood. In this 18-yr study, we investigate the effects of long-term mowing on a tallgrass prairie community invaded by exotic yellow bluestem (Bothriochloa ischaemum; BOIS). We explore the influence of BOIS on species richness and composition in the face of different mowing treatments as well as monitoring any post-treatment legacy effects.Location: Northeast central Oklahoma, US.Methods: A total of 144 permanent plots were laid out comprising eight treatments (i.e. all combinations of Mar, Jun and Sept, mows resulting in three single mows, three double mows, one triple mow and an un-mowed control). Plots were mowed 1996-2011 and recovery was monitored through 2014. Repeated mixed model ANOVA, PERMANOVA and principal response curves were employed to analyse species richness and compositional changes from mowing. Correlation was used to explore the effects of BOIS on species richness.Results: Mowing resulted in higher species richness relative to the absence of mowing, with the highest levels being sustained in the late season mown plots throughout the study. Once mowing had ceased, early season mown plots declined in species richness down to the same levels as the un-mown plots, concomitant with the sharpest increased cover of BOIS in these plots relative to all other treatments. Overall, we found a strong negative correlation between BOIS cover and species richness. Species dissimilarity was highest between any plot that was mowed and the un-mown controls, as well as between March and September only treatments.Conclusions: Our study highlights the potential of mowing in maintaining high species richness. However, the positive response to early season mowing of the exotic yellow bluestem and ensuing negative effect on species richness suggests that BOIS can confound the favourable effects of mowing. We found only minor post-treatment legacy effects, since BOIS strongly re-established in the absence of mowing in all previously mown plots, especially the early season mown plots. Thus, we recommend sustained late season mowing to help control the spread of BOIS and maintain species-rich grasslands.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Long‐term late season mowing maintains diversity in southernUStallgrass prairie invaded byBothriochloa ischaemum

Dee

Thomas

Thompson

et al. 2016

Applied Vegetation Science

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“…; Szentes et al. ; and unpublished data) assessed in various parts of Hungary. These surveys used the same methods for data collection and represent various regions with different abiotic conditions, landscape contexts and land‐use histories.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 89%

“…; Szentes et al. ). Biotic filters can be particularly important in mid‐successional grasslands, where the vegetation is often very heterogeneous within fields, and this heterogeneity may persist for a considerable time (Pickett et al.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…; Szentes et al. ). Heterogeneity of mid‐successional old‐fields develops in the form of a patchwork of dominant species with variable degrees of local dominance, diversity and rate of succession (Bartha et al.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…; Szentes et al. ; Concilio & Loik ); however no comparative studies are available on the relative importance of dominant species controlling local diversity during succession.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Impact of mid‐successional dominant species on the diversity and progress of succession in regenerating temperate grasslands

Bartha

Szentes

Horváth

et al. 2013

Applied Vegetation Science

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101

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1Questions: (1) Which species dominate mid-successional old-fields in Hungary? How does 2 the identity of these species relate to local (patch-scale) diversity and to the progress of 3 succession? (2) Which species have the strongest negative impact on diversity in spontaneous 4 old-field succession and what generalizations are possible about the traits of these species? 5 (3) Are these species dominant or subordinate components in mature target communities? (4) 6 Do native or alien species have stronger effects on the diversity and progress of succession? 7Location: Abandoned agricultural fields (abandoned croplands, orchards and vineyards) at 8 various locations scattered throughout Hungary. 9Methods: Vegetation patterns on 112 old-fields, in 25 sites varying in soils and climatic 10 conditions, topography, landscape contexts and land use histories were sampled. Most old-11 fields had appropriate seed sources in the immediate vicinity, i.e. natural or semi-natural 12 grasslands (meadows steppes, closed and open sand steppes) as source and target habitats. 13The age of abandoned fields ranged from 1 to 69 years, but most sites were between 15 and 14 60 years. The cover of vascular plant species (in %) was estimated in 2 m x 2 m plots. 15Relationships between diversity, the progress of succession (similarity to target communities) 16 and the identity of dominants were tested. 17Results: A small portion of successional dominants (eight species) had strong negative 18 impacts on diversity. These species belonged to Poaceae, Asteraceae and Fabaceae families. 19Most of these species were wind pollinated, and capable of lateral vegetative spread. 20 Dominant species varied in size and had, on average, low requirements for nitrogen but a 21 high requirement for light. With one exception, Solidago gigantea, they were native to the 22

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Simplicity or complexity? Important aspects of high nature value grassland management in nature conservation

Kun

Babai

Csathó³

et al. 2021

Biodivers Conserv

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Local, adaptive traditional grassland management systems have played a fundamental role in the creation, maintenance and conservation of high nature value (HNV) grasslands. The state of diverse HNV grasslands has deteriorated across Europe in conjunction with changes in various management factors, such as management type and management intensity. To conserve the species-rich vegetation of HNV grasslands and to avoid undesirable shifts in plant functional type dominance, it is important to explore the effects of management factors crucial for nature conservation and to adapt them to local circumstances. In our study, we focus on three of the main factors in the management of valuable meadow steppes in the Great Hungarian Plain region (Central Hungary). We studied management types (mowing, grazing and combined), different levels of herbage removal intensity (low, medium, high) and spatio-temporal complexity (low, medium and high) of grassland management. Altogether 172 plots (1 m × 1 m) were designated in 17 sites. Plant diversity indexes and plant functional types were calculated according to the presence and percentage cover of plant species in the plots. Regarding plant diversity and the dominance of plant functional types, herbage removal intensity and spatio-temporal complexity of management had, for the most part, stronger effects than the type of management. Higher spatio-temporal complexity of management resulted in higher plant diversity, while higher intensity of management led to significantly lower diversity. Proper application of type, intensity and spatio-temporal complexity of management practices (separately and in combination) proved to be determining factors in the long-term maintenance and conservation of diversity and species composition of HNV grasslands.

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Grazed Pannonian grassland beta-diversity changes due to C4 yellow bluestem

Cited by 32 publications

References 45 publications

Long‐term late season mowing maintains diversity in southernUStallgrass prairie invaded byBothriochloa ischaemum

Long‐term late season mowing maintains diversity in southernUStallgrass prairie invaded byBothriochloa ischaemum

Impact of mid‐successional dominant species on the diversity and progress of succession in regenerating temperate grasslands

Simplicity or complexity? Important aspects of high nature value grassland management in nature conservation

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