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Plant Population Dynamics and Conservation in Wooded Hay-Meadows – Effects of Intensified Management
Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Science and Technology, Biology, Department of Ecology and Evolution, Ecological Botany.
2007 (English)Doctoral thesis, comprehensive summary (Other academic)
Abstract [en]

The decrease in number and area of managed hay-meadows over the last century, in combination with the reduction of traditional management, threatens the biodiversity connected to these habitats. I experimentally examined how management intensity affected meadow characteristics and long-term population viability of three vascular plant species in wooded hay-meadows on the Swedish island of Gotland in the Baltic Sea. I discovered that intensified management (extra raking and/or extra mowing) reduced the amount of litter and biomass, even in well-managed meadows.

The effects of intensified management on population growth rate varied among species. Deterministic demographic models revealed that intensified management increased population growth rate in Succisa pratensis. Stochastic modelling confirmed this; all meadows displayed larger projected population sizes 50 years into the future with intensified management. Polygala amarella responded with lower growth rates in raked plots, a consequence of the plant’s morphology, which makes it prone to being pulled out by raking. Hypochoeris maculata had population growth rates close to unity, and showed no response to an increase in management. Examination of the life-history characteristics of Polygala amarella showed that the species’ strategy is aimed at reproduction and fast growth, which is in contrast to the other two species, with their success relying on the survival of older plants. The species-specific responses to management show that several species should be considered when evaluating management practices for conservation of semi-natural grasslands. Furthermore, I suggest that data on stage distributions alone may not be sufficient for identifying threatened populations.

In a study of artificial dispersal between meadows, I found that establishment was twice as successful for planted plug-plants compared to sown seeds. Both methods may be useful for introducing or augmenting meadow populations, depending on access to seed sources and possibilities to nurse plants.

An electronic coordinate measurement device for gathering location data to be used in demographic studies was developed. In the field, the device proved to be a simple and reliable method for locating individuals in permanent plots.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Uppsala: Acta Universitatis Upsaliensis , 2007. , p. 35
Series
Digital Comprehensive Summaries of Uppsala Dissertations from the Faculty of Science and Technology, ISSN 1651-6214 ; 282
Keywords [en]
Biology, coordinates, demographic model, dispersal, hay-meadow, Hypochoeris maculata, litter, management, Polygala amarella, stochastic modelling, Succisa pratensis
Keywords [sv]
Biologi
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-7743ISBN: 978-91-554-6829-3 (print)OAI: oai:DiVA.org:uu-7743DiVA, id: diva2:169871
Public defence
2007-04-16, the Lecture Hall, Växtekologen, Villavägen 14, Uppsala, 13:00
Opponent
Supervisors
Available from: 2007-03-26 Created: 2007-03-26Bibliographically approved
List of papers
1. Effects of intensified management of hay-meadows on population dynamics of Succisa pratensis
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Effects of intensified management of hay-meadows on population dynamics of Succisa pratensis
Manuscript (Other academic)
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-95585 (URN)
Available from: 2007-03-26 Created: 2007-03-26 Last updated: 2010-01-13Bibliographically approved
2. Intensified management affects population growth differently in the two perennial herbs Hypochoeris maculata and Polygala amarella
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Intensified management affects population growth differently in the two perennial herbs Hypochoeris maculata and Polygala amarella
Manuscript (Other academic)
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-95586 (URN)
Available from: 2007-03-26 Created: 2007-03-26 Last updated: 2010-01-13Bibliographically approved
3. Artificial dispersal as a restoration tool in meadows: sowing or planting?
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Artificial dispersal as a restoration tool in meadows: sowing or planting?
2009 (English)In: Restoration Ecology, ISSN 1061-2971, E-ISSN 1526-100X, Vol. 17, no 2, p. 270-279Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Habitat fragmentation and the abandonment of former agricultural   practices have led to extremely low dispersal rates for plant species   growing in traditionally managed hay meadows in Sweden. Historically,   seed dispersal between populations was maintained by hay movement,   grazing animals, and farmers sharing their equipment. Because these   means of dispersal typically are no longer occurring, artificial   dispersal using seeds and plug-plants is tested here as a restoration   tool. In this study, we chose two perennial herbs commonly occurring in   meadows as test species, viz, Hypochoeris maculata L. (Asteraceae) and   Succisa pratensis Moench. (Dipsacaceae). We found that plug-plant   transplants were twice as effective as seed sowing for both species.   The seed collection site was found to be important for seed-based   establishment and survival; consequently, the choice of donor meadow is   important when acquiring seeds used for restoration. We also found that   survival of plants introduced as seeds was generally lower at sites   harboring species favored by nitrogen as well as at sites in later   successional phases. Both methods of introducing meadow species worked   well, even though long-term establishment may well be more successful   with the plug-plant method due to higher plug-plant establishment 2   years after introduction in the field.

Keywords
hay meadow, Hypochoeris maculata, plug-plant transplantation, population augmentation, seed sowing, Succisa pratensis
National Category
Biological Sciences
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-95587 (URN)10.1111/j.1526-100X.2007.00350.x (DOI)000263911000012 ()
Available from: 2007-03-26 Created: 2007-03-26 Last updated: 2017-12-14Bibliographically approved
4. A timesaving, accurate method for locating and re-locating plants in ecological field studies
Open this publication in new window or tab >>A timesaving, accurate method for locating and re-locating plants in ecological field studies
2007 (English)In: Ecological Informatics, ISSN 1574-9541, Vol. 2, no 4, p. 367-372Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

We present a method for increasing the accuracy and acquisition rate of the initial location data of plants within fixed areas. Using a personal digital assistant (PDA) to create a link between various electronic measurement devices (pantograph, micrometers etc.) and a database of the study individual's location information, has significantly increased measurement reliability and speed in a demographic field study. The method also provides a means to quickly and accurately re-identify the same individuals during subsequent visits to the study plot. Application of the same method can be used in all ecological field studies with sessile organisms in permanent plots, increasing speed and accuracy of coordinate measurement.

Keywords
database, demographic study, pantograph, permanent plot, coordinate measuring
National Category
Biological Sciences
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-95588 (URN)10.1016/j.ecoinf.2007.03.003 (DOI)000252061200008 ()
Available from: 2007-03-26 Created: 2007-03-26 Last updated: 2010-03-16Bibliographically approved

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