Publication details
Functional traits in a species-rich grassland and a short-term change in management: Is there a competition-colonisation trade-off?
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2013 |
| Type | Article in Periodical |
| Magazine / Source | Folia Geobotanica |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Doi | http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12224-013-9176-y |
| Field | Ecology |
| Keywords | Mowing; abandonment; oligotrophic meadow; Bile Karpaty |
| Description | The species richness of grasslands generally cannot be fully restored after changes in management. Some species with small statures and basal leaf rosettes can be lost forever. The same species, however, seem to possess the traits necessary for successful re-colonization – they produce small, easily dispersable seeds, numerous seedlings and have lasting seed banks.We tested the hypothesis that plants in speciesrich grasslands can be characterized by a negative correlation between their competitive ability and potential for generative regeneration, i.e. by a competition-colonization trade-off. An analysis of the traits of 95 grassland species supported this hypothesis. We then conducted a manipulative experiment in three different meadow communities in the Bílé Karpaty Mts. The experiment involved characterizing species traits during periods of different grassland management regimes in the years 1997–2000. |