Study

Plant species responses to cattle grazing in mesic semi-natural grassland

  • Published source details Pykälä J. (2005) Plant species responses to cattle grazing in mesic semi-natural grassland. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 108, 109-117.

Actions

This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

Action Category

Restore/create species-rich, semi-natural grassland

Action Link
Farmland Conservation
  1. Restore/create species-rich, semi-natural grassland

    A further report (Pykala 2005) from the same replicated site comparison study in southwest Finland as (Pykala 2003, Poyry et al. 2004, Poyry et al. 2005) found that the frequency of 31 of 76 plant species increased or recovered following the reintroduction of grazing on abandoned species-rich grasslands. Twenty-nine species seemed to have increased in response to grazing, having higher frequencies on restored pastures than on abandoned pastures but lower than old pastures. Species included common bent grass Agrostis capillaris and harebell Campanula rotundifolia. Just two species, red fescue Festuca rubra and Goldilocks buttercup Ranunculus auricomus had similar frequencies in old and restored pastures. Eight species, such as meridian fennel Carum carvi, cowslip Primula veris and self-heal Prunella vulgaris, showed no recovery in response to resumed grazing, having similar frequencies in restored and abandoned pastures. Thirty one species did not differ between three types of grassland.

     

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