Krüsi Bertil

Relationships between land use by red deer, soil fertility, floristic composition, productivity and nutrient content of the vegetation on Alp La Schera in the Swiss National Park

Project Number: CH-1792
Project Type: Master
Project Duration: 05/01/2001 - 04/30/2002 project completed
Funding Source: other ,
Project Leader: Dr. Bertil Krüsi



related to this project.
for which the project has a relevance.


Research Areas:
Biodiversity

Disciplines:
general biology
ecology

Keywords:

biodiversity

Abstract:
The main goals of the study are:
a) to determine the pattern of land use by red deer, based on the distribution of faeces and intensely grazed swards, and by comparing aboveground standing crop inside and outside of grazing-proof fences (baskets).
b) the determine the pattern of grassland productivity, by measuring, in grazing-proof baskets, aboveground standing crop and re-growth following experimental clipping.
c) to determine the relationship between the phosphorous content in the top soil and the productivity of the vegetation. Is phosphorous content in the top soil a good indicator for the amount of plant-available nutrients?
d) to determine the relationship between land use by red deer, on the one hand, and floristic and chemical composition of the vegetation, on the other hand.

Leading questions:
Hypotheses
- Red deer graze preferentially where the vegetation and soil are rich in nutrients.
- Grazing changes significantly both the floristic and chemical composition of the vegetation. Repeated grazing (experimental clipping) increases the nutrient content of the vegetation during the second half of the vegetation period.
- Soil phosphorous is a good indicator of the amount of plant-available nutrients, i.e. there is a close link between the phosphorous content in the top soil, on the one hand, and standing crop, re-growth capacity and nutrient content in the vegetation, on the other hand.





Publications:
Pierik M, Roetemeijer W 2002: Soil Depletion by Red Deer and Vegetation Succession in the Swiss National Park. Diplomarbeit Univ. Wageningen, NL, 69 S.



Last update: 12/23/16
Source of data: ProClim- Research InfoSystem (1993-2024)
Update the data of project: CH-1792

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