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Management regimes in a coastal heathland –effects on vegetation, nutrient balance, biodiversity and gain of bioenergy

Journal of Coastal Conservation volume 21, pages 273–288 (2017)Cite this article

Abstract

Little is known about nutrient balances and the effect of different management measures on coastal heathlands, which differ in habitat structure and nutrient deposition from the more well-investigated inland heaths. This investigation aims at documenting management effects in a coastal heathland on the island of Hiddensee, northeastern Germany, and to recommend suitable management measures for this heathland type. Soil and vegetation samples were taken, and the development of vegetation was monitored after a number of restoration measures such as sod-cutting, choppering, Heirieten (= manual removal of over-aged Calluna vulgaris) and mowing. Effects from grazing were estimated based on own and literature data, and the possible effect of burning was calculated. Finally, the potential gain of renewable energy was considered. A positive correlation between mineral soil nutrient concentrations and share of grasses in the vegetation indicates increasing grass-encroachment due to eutrophication. Areas with heavily grass-encroached, overaged Calluna developed a vegetation poor in grass cover and with dense, healthy Calluna after sod-cutting, choppering, mowing and Heirieten. Nutrient balance calculations indicate that high-intensity measures (sod-cutting, choppering, Heirieten) counteract 450, 250 and 90 years of nutrient deposition, respectively. A combination of low-intensity measures such as mowing, sheep grazing, burning and regular shrub clearance is recommended to preserve a high biodiversity, to rejuvenate Calluna vegetation and to achieve a balanced nutrient budget in Baltic coastal heathlands, where atmospheric nutrient deposition is far lower than in western Europe. Contrary to inland heathlands, mowing seems to be sufficient even for an initial restoration of heavily grass-encroached areas.

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Acknowledgements

The study was financially supported by the Bauer-Hollmann Stiftung (Stifterverband der Deutschen Wissenschaften). We thank the nature conservation authorities (National Park Vorpommersche Boddenlandschaft, Staatliches Amt für Landwirtschaft und Umwelt Vorpommern, Untere Naturschutzbehörde Landkreis Vorpommern) for support of this investigation. Dirk Mertens and Stefan Wormanns (Verein Naturschutzpark e.V.) kindly demonstrated and discussed heathland management in the Lüneburger Heide. The shepherd Falk Majewski provided valuable information including all grazing data. Swantje Rieck and Kathrin Bünger assisted during the collection and analyses of soil and vegetation samples. Eva Remke, Jürgen Kreyling and an anonymous reviewer gave valuable comments on the manuscript, Eva Remke also contributed with some vegetation analyses (2007). Data on atmospheric phosphorus deposition were provided by Rhena Schumann.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biological Station of Hiddensee, University of Greifswald, Biologenweg 15, Kloster, D - 18565, Germany

    Irmgard Blindow & Dorothea Gauger

  2. Fachhochschule Stralsund, University of Applied Sciences, Zur Schwedenschanze 15, D - 18435, Stralsund, Germany

    Matthias Ahlhaus

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  1. Irmgard Blindow
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  2. Dorothea Gauger
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  3. Matthias Ahlhaus
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Correspondence to Irmgard Blindow.

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Blindow, I., Gauger, D. & Ahlhaus, M. Management regimes in a coastal heathland –effects on vegetation, nutrient balance, biodiversity and gain of bioenergy. J Coast Conserv 21, 273–288 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11852-017-0499-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11852-017-0499-3

Keywords

  • Heathland management
  • Carex arenaria
  • Coastal dunes
  • Prunus serotina
  • Nitrogen
  • Phosphorus