Publication details
Vliv expertimentální pastvy na lesní podrost v NP Podyjí
| Title in English | The impact of experimental grazing on the woodland understory in the Podyjí national park |
|---|---|
| Authors | |
| Year of publication | 2013 |
| Type | Article in Periodical |
| Magazine / Source | Thayensia |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Field | Botany |
| Keywords | grazing management, diversity, succession, conservation, woodland vegetation |
| Description | Heathlands, dry grasslands and open oak woods are regarded the most endangered seminatural biotopes in the Podyjí National Park, Czech Republic. Various management actions have been carried out by the Park authority to prevent vegetation succession, which is greatly responsible for the loss of biodiversity. The suitability of one of the management treatments, animal grazing, was investigated in this study. An area of 3.36 ha was fenced off in 2009. Grazing by a mixed flock of sheep and goats took place in 2009 and 2010, for 2 to 3 weeks each year. Vegetation development has been recorded using 27 permanent plots every year until 2012. Virtually no treatment effect on plant species composition, species richness and both herb and shrub layer cover has been recorded, probably because of low grazing pressure. However, no increase in ruderalization was observed, thus we encourage more intensive and long-term use of animal woodland pasture and a revision of the present ban. |