An adaptive local management approach cannot overcome large-scale trends: a long-term case-study for Saxifraga hirculus conservation

• Main Authors: Marrs, Robert, Alday, Josu, Lee, HyoHyemi
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2022
• Subjects: Saxifraga hirculus
• Online Access: http://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/3154039/; http://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/3154039/1/Paper_395_accepted.pdf

Saxifraga hirculus L. is classified as vulnerable plant in Europe. In the British uplands it is confined to base-rich flushes. However, a lack of available information about its conservation status hampers the development of adaptative strategies for its in situ conservation, especially with respect to grazing. Here, to assess the effectiveness of sheep grazing in maintaining viable populations of S. hirculus, we compared the community dynamics of the vegetation in a base-rich flush containing S. hirculus over 44 years in two plots; one sheep-grazed under the business-as-usual sheep grazing densities and the other fenced to exclude grazing. The plots were set up in 1972, and abundance of all vascular plants, bryophytes and litter was measured at six intervals to 2016. Our results showed that S. hirculus has maintained its presence in both plots over the 44-years, however, it did decline, reaching a minimum between 1995 and 2010 when it was close to extinction. Nevertheless, since 2013, S. hirculus has recovered slightly. Interestingly, the S. hirculus response appeared independent of grazing treatment, but mirrored wider changes in the vegetation composition and structure within the flush during the 44 years. These changes were similar to those reported in the broader uplands which have been attributed to a combination of nitrogen and sulfur deposition and global warming. Our results suggest that the simple adaptive management approach of “just managing” the sheep grazing appeared ineffectual for preserving the S. hirculus population. However, S. hirculus is showing signs of recovery in this base-rich flush.