Linking Restoration and Ecological Succession (Springer ... - Inecol

106 Joachim Schrautzer et al.
Figure 5.10 Broadscale grazing in the Eider valley near Kiel, Germany.
led to a distinctive increase in numbers and cover values of target species already
in the first 5 years of restoration (Fig. 5.9). However, we found no increase in
rare species.
Our investigation in pastures of the Eider valley showed that increases in
species richness by broadscale grazing (Fig. 5.10) depends on previous landuse
and vegetation state (Table 5.7). In pasture I (dominantly wet meadow 4B,
moderately grazed and not fertilized during the last several decades) species
numbers started high and did not increase after 5 years. Pasture II (also 4B,
previously heavily grazed but abandoned before the project started) had fewer
species than pasture I at the start of the observations, but low intensity cattle
grazing resulted in a significant increase in species richness. Species richness
also increased in the previously intensively used pasture III (previously
Table 5.7 Development of species richness (plot size 625 m2 , n = 7) in
different pastures of the Eider valley (Schleswig-Holstein) after
implementation of broadscale grazing systems (1.5 cattle ha−1 ,no
fertilization). Pasture I: eutrophic wet meadows (4B), successional stages I
and II, previous land-use: extensive grazing (1–2 cattle) without fertilization;
Pasture II: eutrophic wet meadows (4B), successional stage III, previous
land-use: abandonment; Pasture III: wet pastures (5), previous land-use:
intensive grazing (3–4 cattle ha−1 ) with fertilization. x = not investigated.
Year: 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004
Pasture I 58 57 55 58 53
Pasture II 31 30 34 38 40
Pasture III x x 31 38 41