Year-to-year changes in unfertilized meadows of great species richness detected by point quadrat analysis
✍ Scribed by A. Stampfli
- Publisher
- Springer Netherlands
- Year
- 1992
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 967 KB
- Volume
- 103
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 1385-0237
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✦ Synopsis
An experimental study site in an unfertilized meadow of great species richness at Negrentino (820 m) in Southern Switzerland has been investigated by successive point quadrat analysis since 1988. Two different managements, traditional mowing and abandonment, were realized on 3 × 6 plots of 200 × 220 cm. On each plot point frequency (sensu Goodall 1952) was sampled at spaces of 10 cm using Fig. 1. Study site in June 1990.
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the same 11 x 16 points every year. On all the plots 71 species were recorded within the four year period of 1988-1991.
Small spatial differences and vegetational changes in time are interpreted on an ordination diagram of correspondence analysis. Differences between successional and fluctuational changes are recognized already in the early phase. On one plot a peak of phytocyclic fluctuation connected with a mass development of Trifolium repens was observed.
Many species show significant year-to-year frequency changes. Taxa positively and negatively affected by abandonment are presented.
Management and dry weather conditions in April and May are considered to be the main causes of trends and fluctuations.