Effect of grazing on the population ofMatteuccia struthiopterisat the southern limit of its distribution in Europe

摘要: We investigated the impact of deer on an isolated marginal population Matteuccia struthiopteris and its plant community in northern Apennines, where recent decades species has decreased dramatically. Our experiment was based a 6-year before after control (BACI) design, comparing plots with grazing were excluded. Exclusion interacted years, increasing size existing plants favoring production sporophylls. The yearly sequence increase decline ramets sterile leaves followed same pattern two treatments. This indicated that their annual variation growth depended more less favorable years. Few short associated grazing, whereas tall plants, shrubs, tree regeneration fenced plots. few to persist dominate heavily grazed areas Oxalis acetosella Cardamine species, while genus Rubus saplings grazing-sensitive this forest. Tall herbaceous increased areas, however, M. drew advantage terms leaves, showing greater cover than other species. Thus, is becoming threat for survival southern Europe it already threatened long term by climate change.