| Abstract: | In the framework of this Master’s thesis, we investigated how intensive grazing affects changes in the floristic and functional composition of dry grasslands dominated by Upright Brome (Mesobromion). We established 18 inventory plots, each measuring 1 m², in selected census areas. The first plot was located in an intensively grazed pasture with prolonged grazing by small ruminants. The second part of the inventory was conducted in an extensively managed grassland. Both areas were enclosed by fencing to protect them from browsing and mowing, allowing us to compile a comprehensive list of plant species. We also included data collected during a field inventory in 2019 for the purposes of a seminar thesis. Overall, we identified 77 plant species across the entire grassland, which we analyzed and assigned selected morphological functional traits (MFPs). During the inventory of the 18 plots, we identified 57 distinct plant species and recorded their cover percentages. For all identified species, we gathered data on growth form, plant height, CSR (Competitive, Stress-tolerant, Ruderal) strategy, specific leaf area (SLA), leaf dry matter content (LDMC), and flowering onset, duration, and termination, as well as leaf persistence, leaf anatomy, guild classification, and tolerance to mowing and grazing, alongside modes of vegetative reproduction. The inventories were carried out over two seasons at different periods, commencing in May and concluding at the end of August. In addition to the aforementioned MFPs, we analyzed Ellenberg indicator values for light, temperature, moisture, soil reaction, and nitrogen content. The collected data were statistically processed using multivariate analyses. Our findings revealed significant differences in the floristic and functional composition between the intensive pasture and the extensive grassland. The extensive grassland generally supported a greater number of species compared to the intensive pasture, and the MFPs indicated adaptations to environments with moderate disturbance and stronger competition (e.g., a higher prevalence of tall perennial species with leafy stems and shorter flowering periods). In contrast, the intensive pasture was dominated by plants exhibiting adaptations to stronger and more frequent disturbances, with a higher representation of annuals and low-growing plants with rosette leaves and lower LDMC values.
The studied grassland represents a habitat type of conservation importance, classified as a Natura 2000 habitat with code 6210*. Research on the impacts of altered agricultural practices on the floristic and functional composition of grasslands contributes to the understanding of processes in these threatened ecosystems and informs the development of conservation guidelines. |
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