Long-term Vegetation Change in Calcareous Grasslands

Nutrient-poor calcareous pastures and meadows (Mesobromion) in the Swiss Jura are a heritage of traditional farming. Fifty year of tradition in their study enabled us to evaluate their areal decline and floristic change by revisitation. We study causes and consequences of the decline in species diversity in this grassland, we have set u a monitoring program for endangered species. Actually we explore the natural recolonisation potential of calcareous grassland species after extinctions of local populations.