Publication details
CATTLE GRAZING AND MOWING: AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION OF MEADOW WETLANDS
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| Year of publication | 2023 |
| Type | Appeared in Conference without Proceedings |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Description | Lowland wet meadows are unique biotopes that provide numerous ecosystem services and are important biodiversity hotspots. Today, however, most wetlands that do not have protected area status are at risk of significant degradation, primarily due to inappropriate agricultural management, drying of the landscape, eutrophication, and subsequent plant overgrowth. As part of a study conducted in the Spálený potok floodplain, the area was revitalized by mowing and cattle grazing. The overall biodiversity of the wetland community was assessed both on the experimental plots with and on the control plots without management. It was found that sensitive management resulted in fast start of restoration of the original valuable communities: Within two years of beginning mowing and grazing, undesirable species on the site were significantly reduced, and halophilic plant species began to reestablish themselves. Rare halophilous arthropods were noted at the site, and species richness of Orthoptera and Auchenorrhyncha increased greatly in the experimental plots managed by mowing. The opening of the site and its heterogenization also led to the return of several amphibian species and a significant increase in bird species diversity. Thus, we have shown that mowing and grazing are effective tools for ecological restoration of lowland wetlands, allowing us to make an important contribution to wetland conservation and restoration, including the protection of biodiversity of entire communities. |
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