Calcareous grassland restored by clearance and subsequent sheep grazing show fast recovery of plant functional traits – Results from a 25-year-long experiment

In this study, the long-term restoration success of calcareous grasslands was investigated using a functional trait approach. The study site is located in Swabian Alb, Germany, where former grassland patch restored 1990s by clearance spruce (Picea abies (L.) H. Karst.) afforestation and subsequent reintroduction sheep grazing as mobile dispersal vector. Vegetation development monitored over period 25 years, both on an adjacent never afforested ancient which still managed traditional grazing. Changes composition fifteen ecological meaningful traits were comparing respective attribute expressions with reference for each year observation. A RLQ-analysis conducted order to identify plant groups. comparison showed that differences between decreased rapidly time. greatest found persistence-related (e.g., life span growth form) while dispersal- establishment-related recovered faster. clustering groups similarities Grime’s CSR-strategy, cluster analysis grouped species either ruderal, competitive or stress-tolerant attributes. 20 years after restoration, stress-tolerators dominated, ruderal could not longer be detected only small group competitive, mostly woody remained. 2018, RLQ revealed no grassland. quick recovery most likely attributed reestablishment low-intensive management but also close vicinity spatial isolation prevented species. Hence, approach suitable our study.