DIASPORE AND GAP AVAILABILITY ARE LIMITING SPECIES RICHNESS IN WET MEADOWS

摘要: Species pool theory claims that diaspore and microsite availability limit species richness in plant communities. Wet meadows (Calthion) litter (Molinion, Caricion davallianae) belonging to the most species-rich foothills of Alps have suffered from a strong decrease since 1970s. Restoration efforts including nutrient impoverishment rewetting management after drainage fertilization did not result re-establishment former although abiotic filter would been appropriate for re-colonization many locally extinct species. In our experiment at four sites largest fen Southwest-Germany we tested if restoration success was seed- gap-limited. We applied sowing hay spreading (hay seed) as treatments make seeds available harrowing increase gap availability. Sowing or seed meadow types increased immediately. The proportion re-established higher when additional applied. could be only vascular plants but also bryophytes strongest re-development towards target communities (defined through before fertilization) took place on those where were traditional techniques establish e.g. meadows, both centuries. Even described early 19th century chance establishing certain Therefore, “application knowledge coming theory” (although named during this time) has common practice least century.