Plant diversity of subalpine rangelands in the Grammos mountain of Greece
One of the greatest challenges for management of rangelands and natural ecosystems is the combination of preservation and utilization of natural resources. This goal is imperative for the subalpine rangelands of the Grammos mountain in Greece, due to the important natural environment of the region and grazing, which is traditionally the most important activity. In this paper the aim was to record the plants and vegetation of the study area and to investigate the relationship between grazing and plant diversity. Based on the intended management project of the subalpine rangelands of Grammos, 10 rangeland units were detected. In each one of them, stocking rate, grazing capacity and plant diversity with the use of the indices of Shannon-Weiner, equitability and plant richness, were measured. We identified three groups of rangeland units according to the grazing pressure. Shannon- Weiner index of diversity was found higher in the overgrazed rangeland units than to the lightly grazed ones. The indices of equitability and plant richness were independent of the grazing pressure.
Grassland habitat types’ diversity in Greece
In this paper the diversity of habitat types of Greece that can be characterised as grasslands is presented, according to the results of the project “Identification and description of habitat types in areas important for nature conservation” that took place from 1999 to 2001. According to these results, 17 grassland habitat types can be found in Greece, covering an area of 100.221 ha. Grassland habitat types can be found in 108 out of 237 terrestrial areas that were mapped, in which more than 100 plant associations have been identified.
Plant diversity changes of the subalpine rangelands of Tymfristos Mountain along the altitudional gradient
Rangelands are natural ecosystems representing valuable reserves for biodiversity. The study, preservation and promotion of biodiversity are essential for the modern world. Especially, the subalpine Mediterranean rangelands are believed to sustain an enhanced level of plant diversity. The present study assesses and investigates the plant diversity changes along the altitudinal gradient of Tymfristos Mountain of central Greece. Eleven (11) representative rangelands were chosen in every 100 m, starting from 1200 m above see level. Plant composition, cover percentages, plant richness and a series of plant diversity indexes were measured and assessed. A total of 13,750 point-contacts were recorded. It was found that, bare-ground cover was linearly increased, while plant richness, diversity index of Shannon – Weaver and equitability were linearly decreased as the altitude increased.
Ecology and management of pseudoalpine rangelands
Pseudoalpine rangelands are the most typical grasslands of Greece. They are found above the timberline in the high mountains at an altitude ranging from 1200 to 2500 m. Although the dominant species are grasses, they do have a high plant diversity with several species being endemic or rare. The growing period starts in the spring, culminates at the beginning to the middle of summer and terminates during autumn. Forage production ranges between less than 1000 to more the 4000 kg/ha, and the growing period lasts for about 4 months during summer. The quality of forage is suitable for animal maintenance but less appropriate for reproduction and especially for milk production. The great problem of the pseudoalpine rangelands is their irrational grazing applied after the collapse of the traditional organized systems (tseligata). This problem has led to the gradual deterioration of their productivity coupled with cultural impoverishment resulting in the loss of the traditional pastoral civilization of high mountains.
Effects of thinning, N fertilization and legume seeding on the understory production of a Pinus brutia plantation in northern Greece
The main purpose of this research was to study the combined effect of thinning of brutia pine (Pinus brutia Ten.) plantations and legume seeding or nitrogen fertilization on productivity of the understory vegetation. The experimental area was located at the Forest Research Institute at Loutra Thermis near Thessaloniki. Three spacings were tested: 2×4, 3×6 and 4×8 m. or 1240, 550 and 310 trees per hectare, respectively, in two replications. In each spacing, three understorey treatments were applied: a) seeding of Trifolium subterraneum and Medicago lupulina, b) nitrogen fertilizer and c) control. Measurements of herbage production of the understory were taken for two years. Open stands had greater biomass of the understory vegetation, than the dense ones. The highest biomass was found in the N fertilized treatment. Moisture had an important role at biomass production in both years.
