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Secondary succession in sandy old‐fields: a promising example of spontaneous grassland recovery
Author(s) -
Albert ÁgnesJúlia,
Kelemen András,
Valkó Orsolya,
Miglécz Tamás,
Csecserits Anikó,
Rédei Tamás,
Deák Balázs,
Tóthmérész Béla,
Török Péter
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
applied vegetation science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.096
H-Index - 64
eISSN - 1654-109X
pISSN - 1402-2001
DOI - 10.1111/avsc.12068
Subject(s) - chronosequence , ecological succession , grassland , primary succession , secondary succession , ecology , vegetation (pathology) , biology , physical geography , geography , medicine , pathology
Question Based on the spontaneous vegetation development of old‐fields in the N yírség and K iskunság sand regions ( H ungary), we aimed to answer the following questions using the chronosequence method: (1) how do the proportions of different functional groups change during succession; (2) which target species establish successfully in the old‐fields during the course of succession; and (3) how successful is spontaneous succession in the recovery of target grasslands? Location Two sand regions of the G reat H ungarian P lain: (1) the N yírség sand region ( E ast H ungary, acidic sand, moderately continental climate) and the K iskunság ( C entral H ungary, calcareous sand, continental climate). Methods Altogether 24 old‐fields were classified into young (<10‐yr‐old), middle‐aged (10–20‐yr‐old) and late‐succession (20–40‐yr‐old) old‐fields; four fields in each age category. For baseline vegetation reference, three open and three closed sand grassland stands in both regions were sampled in the vicinity of the old‐fields. The percentage cover of vascular plants was recorded in five 2 × 2‐m plots in each field, in early M ay and late J une 2012. We used life forms, clonal spreading traits and E llenberg indicator values for nutrients in the analysis. Species of F estuco‐ B rometea class were considered as target species. Results The cover of hemicryptophytes and geophytes increased, the cover of short‐lived species decreased with time. Cover of species without clonal spreading ability decreased, while cover of species with clonal spreading ability increased with increasing field age. The cover of invasive species decreased with increasing field age. The majority of target species had established already in the young and middle‐aged old‐fields, although their cover was significantly higher in the two older age groups. Conclusion Spontaneous succession can be a vital option in recovery of sand grassland vegetation in C entral E urope; the majority of the species pool of sandy grasslands can be recovered in the first 10–20 yrs. However, the success of grassland recovery can be strongly influenced by the surrounding species pool and can be slow if seed dispersal is limited. Spontaneous succession is most promising when the target species of grasslands immigrate at the very beginning of the succession, within the first few years.