Long-term changes in lowland calcareous grassland plots using Tephroseris integrifolia subsp. integrifolia as an indicator species ...

• Main Authors: Stroh, PA, Pescott, OL, Mountford, JO
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Springer Nature 2017
• Subjects: 31 Biological Sciences; 3103 Ecology; 15 Life on Land; Tephroseris integrifolia
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.17863/cam.13106; https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/267084

We investigated the changes to calcareous grassland plots within protected sites, and whether Tephroseris integrifolia subsp. integrifolia can act as a useful indicator species for re-visitation studies within vegetation predicted to remain relatively stable. Twenty-two plots located across lowland England and all formerly containing T. integrifolia were re-surveyed following the methodology used in the original survey undertaken in the 1960s. Pseudo-turnover and between-observer bias were minimised by sampling replicate quadrats at each fixed plot using a single surveyor and at a similar time of year as the original survey. Qualitative details concerning grazing management were obtained for all sites. In contrast to other long-term re-visitation studies, all our study plots were intact and retained diverse, herb-rich vegetation, demonstrating the value of site protection. However, there were clear shifts in vegetation composition, most notably where T. integrifolia was absent, as shown by an increase in ...