Variability in responses of animal groups to grassland restoration

Understanding the diverse responses of animal groups to grassland restoration is vital for restoration planning. Here we summarise responses of seven animal taxa (orthopterans, bees, carabid beetles, spiders, amphibians, birds, mammals) to grassland restoration in Hortobágy National Park (E-Hungary). Species richness did not vary but abundance increased with time in orthopterans. Carabid species richness and abundance, and spider and bird abundance decreased after a peak in Year 1 after restoration. Both species richness and abundance of amphibians increased after Year 2. There were no changes in species richness and abundance of bees and small mammals and in the species richness of spiders and birds. Our results show that the responses to grassland restoration can greatly vary among animal taxa. Trends in several arthropod taxa could be explained by vegetation changes, whereas vertebrates showed fluctuations due to factors other than restoration per se.