Sukzession in aufgelassenen Weinbergen des Mittleren Saaletales bei Jena

Abstract

Pompe, Sven: Succession of abandoned vineyards in the valley nearby Jena. - Hercynia N.F. 37 (2004): 175 – 199. The research summarizes the vegetation dynamics of abondoned vineyards nearby Jena/Germany. Plots on slopes in the east and the west of the river Saale were determined connected with the study of historical maps, literature and characteristics of landscape. Dependent on the change of the climate, vinediseases and economic problems since the 16th century, vine growing in Jena was no longer important. The last vineyards under cultivation were at the end of the 19th century. However you can still find vine-plants on the slopes. The model of space for time succession was used to differentiate three stages of vegetation types: grassland, bushes, wood. Because there is a mosaic of species in the different stages, there are problems to classify the communities in the hierachical system of plants. Therefore the research has focused first on aspects of community structures. There are communities where Carex humilis is dominant on the slopes of limestone hills and Bromus erectus on red sandstone. During the succession shrubs grow up. Brachypodium pinnatum grows abundantly in this stage. You can distinguish communities with abundance of Viburnum lantana and Fraxinus excelsior. Without disturbance, wood-communities of Carpino-Fagetea on most hills will grow. There are species of woods like Brachypodium sylvaticum and species of Festuco-Brometea that characterize two types of wood-communities. Trees of Fraxinus excelsior are typical. Soil factors, ressources, competition between plants, nearby bushes and woods can influence the dynamics of succession.