Abstract
In a salt-marsh, which was ungrazed from 1958 to 1971, grazing was reintroduced in 24 out of 32 ha from 1972 onwards. Vegetation changes under these conditions were investigated. The area studied is part of a larger grazed area of ca. 110 ha, grazed with a stocking rate of 1.3–1.7 cattle, ha. from May to October. This allowed a comparison between vegetation development under continued ungrazed conditions and under the reintroduction of grazing. A quantitative comparison has been made, based on sequential detailed mapping in 1971 and 1976.
The ungrazed area shows a progressive succesion. Because of the erosive coast this is not the succession of a developing salt-marsh but rather a ‘recovery’ succession, after grazing was stopped in 1958. Drift deposits appear to play an important role.
The grazed marsh shows successional trends in some areas, but in others signs of retrogressive succession were seen. The vegetation becomes more open, alpha- and beta-diversity increase and the vegetation develops in a more intricate pattern while some vegetation boundaries seem to become more distinct, especially on the higher salt-marsh. The large extension of Saginion maritimae types is remarkable and is probably caused by a combined effect of warm, dry summers and grazing. Further investigation is required to test whether local qualitatively different changes in communities are caused by different grazing intensities. The ungrazed area becomes more rugged, a process that can be effectively reversed by grazing.
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Nomenclature of taxa follows Heukeis & Van Oeststroom (1977), that of syntaxa Westhoff & Den Held (1969).
Thanks are due to the late Prof. Dr. D. Bakker and Dr. D. C. P. Thalen for their interest in the study and critical reading of the manuscript, and Dr. A. J. Gray for correcting the English text. Thanks are also due to Drs. J. Norder who made the 1976 vegetation map in cooperation with the second author and to Drs. M. van der Dium and Drs. F. W. Prins who made the 1971 vegetation map. Figures have been made by Mr. D. Visser.
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Bakker, J.P., Ruyter, J.C. Effects of five years of grazing on a salt-marsh vegetation. Vegetatio 44, 81–100 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00133005
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00133005