Response of two hemiparasitic Orobanchaceae species to mowing dates: implications for grassland conservation and restoration practice

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F60076658%3A12310%2F16%3A43890573" target="_blank" >RIV/60076658:12310/16:43890573 - isvavai.cz</a>

Result on the web

<a href="http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/botbel/plecevo/2016/00000149/00000001/art00004" target="_blank" >http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/botbel/plecevo/2016/00000149/00000001/art00004</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.5091/plecevo.2016.1114" target="_blank" >10.5091/plecevo.2016.1114</a>

Result language

angličtina

Original language name

Response of two hemiparasitic Orobanchaceae species to mowing dates: implications for grassland conservation and restoration practice

Original language description

Background and aims - Rhinanthus major (= R. angustifolius) and Melampyrum nemorosum are very sensitive to mowing date. As they are annuals without a long-term persistent seed bank and with a poor long-distance dispersal ability, seed loss caused by an unsuitable mowing date could lead to rapid population decline. Since their populations have disappeared from productive grasslands, they have become a focus of conservational management. Rhinanthus is also used in restoration projects as a treatment for reducing biomass, where its permanent populations are desired. We aimed to deteimine the earliest suitable mowing date for these species in White Carpathians Protected Landscape Area to support its administration to plan the management. Methods - We conducted a mowing experiment with plots mown on 7 and 18 June and 5 July 2012. The number of parasites was counted in central plots before mowing and in the following growing season. The phenology of hemiparasites and co-occurring species was recorded to better understand the effects of mowing date. Key results - Melampyrum showed a significant population decrease after mowing on 7 and 18 June, while the 5 July mowing did not inflict any significant change. The effect on Rhinanthus was not significant, as it was probably obscured by seed dispersal from the close surroundings. Conclusions - Mowing in July is suitable for both species, while June mowing leads to population declines. Mosaic mowing (which includes early mowing in some parts of a site), could therefore gradually eradicate Melampyrum. Rhinanthus metapopulation could compensate for the seed loss by seed dispersal from neighbouring parts, but careful monitoring is necessary. When using Rhinanthus in restoration experiments, postponed mowing is essential to keep its population permanent. Our conclusions are widely applicable, but the particular mowing date must be determined separately for each region, species and ecotype.

Czech name

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Czech description

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Type

J_x - Unclassified - Peer-reviewed scientific article (Jimp, Jsc and Jost)

CEP classification

EH - Ecology - communities

OECD FORD branch

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Project

<a href="/en/project/GAP505%2F12%2F1390" target="_blank" >GAP505/12/1390: Biology of hemiparasitic Rhinanthoid Orobanchaceae: scaling up from physiology to community level processes</a><br>

Continuities

P - Projekt vyzkumu a vyvoje financovany z verejnych zdroju (s odkazem do CEP)

Publication year

2016

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Name of the periodical

Plant Ecology and Evolution

ISSN

2032-3913

e-ISSN

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Volume of the periodical

149

Issue of the periodical within the volume

1

Country of publishing house

BE - BELGIUM

Number of pages

8

Pages from-to

31-38

UT code for WoS article

000371196200004

EID of the result in the Scopus database

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