Grazers in Vlielands duin; evaluatie van runderbegrazing in duinvalleien op Vlieland; deel 2: onderzoek in 2001
We evaluated seven years of light cattle grazing of dune valleys (Wadden island of Vlieland) as to management objectives and effects on vegetation, flora and fauna. We compared data from 1993 and 2000 in a Before-After/Control-Impact design of 14 grazed and 14 ungrazed plots which were randomly selected from the vegetation strata 'grass encroached moist dune valleys' and 'intact Empetrum vegetation'. To elucidate effects on vegetation and fauna extra data were collected on heavy grazed sites, xerothermobiont fauna species, vertebrate fauna species, raised groundwater tables and historic vegetation descriptions. Development towards shrub- and woodland is tempered, but not stopped, as a consequence of cattle browsing on Prunus avium and Betula pubescens. Cattle forms bare patches and trails in the dense and high field layers of Calamagrostis epigejos and Carex arenaria and mean vegetation height of these layers was stabilised. Due to light grazing a clear gradient in grazing activity was found in the field which shifted between years. Grazing had only light to neutral effects on vegetation and fauna diversity. Changes in plant and fauna species composition and diversity were most related to a general change to moist conditions due to several years with high precipitation.
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | External research report biblioteca |
| Language: | Dutch |
| Published: |
Alterra
|
| Subjects: | betula pubescens, browsing, calamagrostis epigejos, carex arenaria, cattle, duneland plants, dunes, dutch wadden islands, empetrum nigrum, eutrophication, fauna, friesland, grazing, invertebrates, netherlands, prunus avium, vegetation, vertebrates, Vlieland, afgrazen, begrazing, biodiversiteit, duinen, duinplanten, eutrofiëring, gewervelde dieren, natuurbeheer, nederland, nederlandse waddeneilanden, ongewervelde dieren, rundvee, vegetatie, waddeneilanden, |
| Online Access: | https://research.wur.nl/en/publications/grazers-in-vlielands-duin-evaluatie-van-runderbegrazing-in-duinva |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|