Effects of mowing regime on diversity of Mediterranian roadside vegetation: implications for management

• Autorzy: Simoes M.P. , Belo A. F. , Souza C.
• Języki publikacji: EN

Abstrakty

EN

Shrub development on road outside verges can provide alternative wildlife habitat. However, management of inside verges should keep vegetation at a height consistent with proper road visibility and safety. The influence of management on vegetation was analyzed on the inside verge of two Portuguese roads, one mown once and another twice a year. Specifically, the effect of mowing frequency on shrub abundance and the combined effect of management and shrubs on floristic diversity were addressed. One stretch of each road was surveyed for shrub abundance and for herbaceous species diversity and cover. The effect of mowing frequency on shrub growing and biomass production and allocation was also evaluated along two years. Results indicate that vegetation mowing yearly in spring is enough to keep the inside verge free from most shrubs. However, summer growing shrubs like Dittrichia viscosa can persist, decreasing both floristic diversity and cover, particularly of meadow species. Moreover, in response to spring mowing, shrubs grew fast and were able to disperse efficiently. An additional autumn mowing significantly decreased not only shrub height and canopy area, but specially seed production and dispersal. Thus, the inside verge management should be based on two mowing periods. The first in spring to control winter and spring growing species, and an additional autumn mowing to control growth and dispersal of summer growing shrubs and trees, or even tall grasses. This management regime will combine safety with improvement of the amenity and habitat value of the road verges.

Słowa kluczowe

EN

biodiversity; biomass production; roadside vegetation; road verge; mowing frequency; wildlife habitat; shrub; floristic diversity; landscape feature; Portuguese road

• Wydawca: -
• Czasopismo: Polish Journal of Ecology
• Rocznik: 2013
• Tom: 61
• Numer: 2
• Opis fizyczny: p.241-255,fig.,ref.

Twórcy

autor

Simoes M.P.

• ICAAM - Instituto de Ciencias Agrarias e Ambientais Mediterranicas, Universidade de Evora, Nucleo da Mitra, Ap. 94, 7002-554 Evora, Portugal

autor

Belo A. F.

• ICAAM - Instituto de Ciencias Agrarias e Ambientais Mediterranicas, Universidade de Evora, Nucleo da Mitra, Ap. 94, 7002-554 Evora, Portugal

autor

Souza C.

• Departamento de Biologia, Universidade de Evora, Ap. 94, 7002-554 Evora, Portugal

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