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Intensified management affects population growth differently in the two perennial herbs Hypochoeris maculata and Polygala amarella
Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Science and Technology, Biology, Department of Ecology and Evolution, Ecological Botany.
Manuscript (Other academic)
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-95586OAI: oai:DiVA.org:uu-95586DiVA, id: diva2:169868
Available from: 2007-03-26 Created: 2007-03-26 Last updated: 2010-01-13Bibliographically approved
In thesis
1. Plant Population Dynamics and Conservation in Wooded Hay-Meadows – Effects of Intensified Management
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Plant Population Dynamics and Conservation in Wooded Hay-Meadows – Effects of Intensified Management
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
Biology, coordinates, demographic model, dispersal, hay-meadow, Hypochoeris maculata, litter, management, Polygala amarella, stochastic modelling, Succisa pratensis, Biologi
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-7743 (URN)978-91-554-6829-3 (ISBN)
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

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