Diploma Thesis
Auswirkungen von Felsfreistellungen auf die Moosvegetation im Bereich der Nördlichen Frankenalb (Pottenstein)
Arnbjörn Rudolp (03/2008-08/2008)
Support: Carl Beierkuhnlein, Vroni Retzer
Aim and location
The study investigated the e ects of rock clearance on species richness of bryophytes and vascular plants in the region of Pottenstein (Franconia, Germany), as well as their succession after clearing. Further focus was on the dependence of species composition on historical land-use.
Main conclusions
Bryophyte richness was not increased by rock clearance in north expositions and mainly vascular plants pro ted. The extreme decline of total plant cover in open habitat in comparison to forests pointed to the change of habitat structure on rocks. Due to altered conditions of hydrology and radiation cleared rocks in north exposition were colonized by few ubiquitous bryophytes and vascular plants. On north exposed rocks neither mosses nor vascular plants could develop higher species richness after clearance. With increasing time after clearance the species composition of vascular plants changed continously, whereas bryophytes reached relatively quickly a typical species composition and no further succession was detected.