Impact of grazing abandonment and phosphoric fertilization on Nardus grasslands floristic diversity in Gorbeia Natural Park (Bizkaia , Northern Spain)
2016
Mendarte, S | González-Oreja, JA | Mandaluniz, N | Albizu, I
Among the different grazing habitats of Gorbeia Natural Park, Nardus stricta species-rich grasslands (habitat of community interest 6230, Council directive 92-43-EEC) have special importance due to its large coverage, ecological value, landscape relevance, and its social-economic importance as the territorial base of livestock farms. This study focuses on this particular habitat and aims to assess the impact of grazing exclu- sion (which simulates abandonment) and the use of phosphoric fertilization on the floristic diversity of these grasslands in Gorbeia. Experimental treatments (4 replicates per treatment) included “non-grazing”, “phos- phoric fertilization” and the control (“grazing and non-fertilization”). In each replicate (experimental plot of 10 × 10 m), randomly selected sampling squares (50 × 50 cm) were used to study species presence and cover (in 2012, 10 square per replicate; in 2013, 5). Differences between treatments and years in both richness and the equivalent number of species (i.e., the number of equally-common species, a proper measure of species diver- sity) were studied through curves of accumulated richness and diversity. The results showed different patterns according to the year. In 2012, the lowest richness and species diversity were found in the fertilization treat- ment. No differences were detected between the control and exclusion treatments. In 2013, the highest rich- ness and species diversity were observed in the control; the species richness was intermediate in the fertiliza- tion treatment and lowest in the exclusion treatment. Our results will contribute to the knowledge and imple- mentation of management guidelines aiming to the conservation of biodiversity of mountain habitats
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