Free-range grazing by large herbivores in degraded large-scale dry sandy grassland-heathland ecosystems

René Seifert, Antje Lorenz, Susanne Osterloh, Katrin Henning, Sabine Tischew

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.12775/EQ.2015.015

Abstract


Free-range grazing by large herbivores combined with one-time mowing of over-aged heathlands offers an excellent management tool to maintain and enhance biodiversity in degraded large scale, low productive, semi-open dry sandy grassland-heathland ecosystems. Grazing improves habitat quality, supports typical species communities and represses invasive species.

Keywords


year-round grazing; cattle / horses; habitat quality; foraging behaviour; Prunus serotina

Full Text:

PDF

References


Bakker J.P., Berendse F., 1999, Constraints in the restoration of ecological diversity in grassland and heathland communities, Tree, 14: 63–68.

Bakker J.P., Van Diggelen R., Bekker R.M. & Marrs R.H., 2012, Restoration of Dry Grasslands and Heathlands, [in:] J. van Andel, J. Aronson (eds) Restoration Ecology: The New Frontier, Blackwell Publishing: 173–188.

Bokdam J., Gleichnam J.M., 2000, Effects of grazing by free-ranging cattle on vegetation dynamics in a continental north-west European heathland, Journal of Applied Ecology, 37: 415–431.

Härdtle W., Niemeyer M., Niemeyer T., Assmann T. & Fottner S., 2006, Can management compensate for atmospheric nutrient deposition in heathland ecosystems?, Journal of Applied Ecology, 43: 759–769.

Jakobs J., 1974, Quantitative Measurement of Food Selection, A Modification of the Forage Ratio and Ivlev`s Electivity Index, Oecologia, 14: 413–417.

Lorenz A., Tischew S., Osterloh S., Felinks B., 2013, Konzept für maßnahmenbegleitende naturschutzfachliche Erfolgskontrollen in großen Projektgebieten, Naturschutz und Landschaftsplanung 45: 365–372.

ÖKO & PLAN, 2013, Naturschutzfachliche Erfolgskontrolle von Managementmaßnahmen zum Erhalt und zur Entwicklung von FFH-Offenlandlebensraumtypen im NATURA 2000 Gebiet „Mittlere Oranienbaumer Heide“, Teil Brutvögel. Studie im Auftrag der Hochschule Anhalt, gefördert über ELER Sachsen-Anhalt, Az: 407.1.7–60128/323011000001.

Schwabe A., Süss K. & Storm C., 2013, What are the longterm effects of livestock grazing in steppic sandy grassland with high conservation value? Results from a 12- year field study, Tuexenia, 33: 189–212.

Vanhellemont M., 2009, Present and future population dynamics of Prunus serotina in forests in its introduced range, PhD thesis, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.




Partnerzy platformy czasopism