10.14471/2020.40.017
Janišová, Monika
Monika
Janišová
Slovak Academy of Sciences
Biro, Alina
Alina
Biro
Slovak Academy of Sciences
Iuga, Anamaria
Anamaria
Iuga
Romanian Peasant Museum
Širka, Pavel
Pavel
Širka
Technical University of Zvolen
Škodová, Iveta
Iveta
Škodová
Slovak Academy of Sciences
Species-rich grasslands of the Apuseni Mts (Romania):role of traditional farming and local ecological knowledge
Artenreiches Grasland im Apuseni-Gebirge (Rumänien): Rolle der traditionellen Landnutzung und ökologischen Kenntnisse der Landnutzer
Floristisch-soziologische Arbeitsgemeinschaft e. V. (FlorSoz)
2020
sh85015976 Botany
2020-07-16
en
0722-494X
PDF
CC-BY-NC-ND-3.0-DE
Traditional low-intensity farming died out in almost all European countries but is well maintained in the Romanian Carpathians. The main aim of our interdisciplinary study was to document traditional farming systems and local ecological knowledge in the colline and sub-montane zone of the Apuseni Mts and to relate this information to recent grassland plant diversity. We performed a detailed botanical and ethnological research at two sites within the Dobrești (site Dobrești) and Bratca (site Ponoară) communes. Six nested-plot series of increasing size (0.0001 m2, 0.001 m2, 0.01 m2, 0.1 m2, 1 m², 10 m², 100 m²) were sampled at each site to record presence and cover of vascular plants, bryophytes and lichens. Information on the farming practices applied within each sampling plot and local ecological knowledge related to grassland biodiversity were obtained from the farmers during outdoor interviews. In both sites plant diversity was very high at both site and plot level. The average species richness in 10 m² plots was 50 (Dobrești) and 59 (Ponoară) vascularplant and 8 (in both sites) bryophyte species. Species richness of vascular plants increased with intensity and heterogeneity of recent management and was the highest in fallows recently used as meadows. Almost all meadows were part of a crop-meadow rotation and currently managed by a combination of cutting (once or twice per year) and grazing (5 different grazing systems). Permanent pastures were poorer in species than fallows and grazed meadows. Our records document how a combination of multiple traditional farming practices (including mowing, grazing, manuring and ploughing), which were applied in rotation, may support high plant diversity in a heterogeneous landscape with high complexity and sustainable low-intensity farming. Our results provide an illustration of (1) multidimensionality of traditional farming, (2) close links between animal husbandry and grassland management and (3) deep local ecological knowledge and experience preserved in rural Carpathian regions.
Romania