Functional community ecology meets restoration ecology: Assessing the restoration success of alluvial floodplain meadows with functional traits

• Published in: The Journal of applied ecology Vol. 53; no. 3; pp. 751 - 764
• Main Authors: Engst, Karina, Baasch, Annett, Erfmeier, Alexandra, Jandt, Ute, May, Konstanze, Schmiede, Ralf, Bruelheide, Helge
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford John Wiley & Sons, Ltd 01.06.2016; John Wiley & Sons Ltd; Blackwell Publishing Ltd
• Subjects: Biodiversity; botanical composition; Central European region; Community composition; Community ecology; community structure; Dry matter; dry matter content; ecological restoration; Endangered species; Environmental restoration; Floodplains; forbs; functional diversity; Grasslands; habitats; hay; hay transfer; Introduced species; leaf area; Leaves; Meadows; normal values; plant functional traits; Plant species; Pollination; provenance; Recolonization; Restoration; seed mixtures; seed transfer from hay threshing; Species composition; Species diversity; species introduction; Trophic levels; trophic relationships; Central European region

Species‐rich grasslands are highly endangered habitats in Central Europe. To halt their ongoing loss, many sites have become subjects of restoration efforts. Traditionally, restoration success is measured using target species or by comparing similarity in species composition. Here, we suggest to add...