The bryophyte layer in a calcareous grassland after a decade of contrasting mowing regimes
(2004) Biological Conservation — Vol. 117, n° 1, p. 11-18 (2004)
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- Analysis of variance and redundancy analysis were used to study the effects of mowing regime and herb Canopy structure oil the bryophyte layer of a calcareous grassland ill southern Belgium. Species richness in mown and control plots did not significantly differ. In control plots, a number of grassland species were able to survive Within a grassy-shrubby fringe 15 years after shrub cutting. This suggests that there might be a time-lag of at least 20 years before cessation of mowing results in a significant decrease in species number per m(2). Mown plots were mostly characterized by the almost complete cover of large pleurocarps. Mowing resulted ill almost continuous herb and moss layers that were unfavourable for a number of annual bryophytes. many of which are of high conservation interest. It Is suggested that grazing, which increases the number of species, especially the number Of pioneers, is likely to be more beneficial to bryophytes. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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Vanderpoorten, A., Delescaille, L.-M., & Jacquemart, A.-L. (2004). The bryophyte layer in a calcareous grassland after a decade of contrasting mowing regimes. Biological Conservation, 117(1), 11-18. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0006-3207(03)00257-X (Original work published 2004)