Project Detail

Which functional traits of plants are associated with species changes in meadows subjected to different management regimes?

Name:	Which functional traits of plants are associated with species changes in meadows subjected to different management regimes?
Researchers:	Klimešová Jitka (researcher)
Provider:	GAČR
Realization from:	2006
Realization to:	2008
Summary:	Oligotrophic species-rich meadows are plant communities created and preserved by traditional management and threatened by fertilization and abandonment. The effect of different types of management in terms of species composition are well known in these communities, however, relatively little is known about the role of plant functional traits. In the proposed project we want to find out if chosen plant functional traits are relevant to the studied problem by using them for interpretation of species changes in dry oligotrophic meadows of the Bílé Karpaty Mts. and in wet oligotrophic meadows near České Budějovice, subjected to different management regimes. We will test the hypothesis that the same type of management changes will lead to different species compositions in the studied meadows but also to dominance of the same traits. By making the key plant functional traits favoured by different management regimes understood, we want to improve management strategies for conservation, restoration and sustainable use of oligotrophic meadows in the studied regions.