Species richness and diversity related to anthropogenic soil disturbance in abandoned meadows in the Bieszczady Mts. (Eastern Carpathians)

Abstract

The study was focused on soil factors influencing species richness and diversity after disturbance of the substrate followed by abandonment. Two types of disturbances in the past were considered: the removal of trees and shrubs with the resulting major destruction of soils, and deep ploughing. As a control meadows not covered by any management schemes for 50 years were studied. The topsoil stripping resulted in decrease of potassium, nitrogen and organic carbon contents, while deep ploughing caused less radical effects. Simultaneously, disturbances of the soil delayed the course of succession, and brought increase in species. The most species-rich are ploughed meadows. No differences in terms of species diversity, domination and evenness between the forms of disturbances were identified. However, there were groups of species indicative for soil disturbances. Analysis of the relationships between vegetation differentiation and the properties of soil suggests that available phosphorus may affect species richness and diversity in mountain meadows.