Kurzfassung

Military training areas are commonly seen with mixed emotions. The subject often conjures images of demolition and destruction. This presumption is compounded by the fact that access to such areas is very limited. Without a doubt, military training has a substantial impact on the landscape. However, from an ecological point of view, these impacts, or disturbances, create new opportunities for species succession and competition. Disturbance is an integral component of landscape ecology, a...Military training areas are commonly seen with mixed emotions. The subject often conjures images of demolition and destruction. This presumption is compounded by the fact that access to such areas is very limited. Without a doubt, military training has a substantial impact on the landscape. However, from an ecological point of view, these impacts, or disturbances, create new opportunities for species succession and competition. Disturbance is an integral component of landscape ecology, a natural and ongoing occurrence, which can be easily overlooked. Fires, tree mortality and tillage are just a few examples of disturbances that influence ecosystem dynamics. These disturbances create heterogeneous patterns, which offer niches for numerous species of flora and fauna. Homogeneous landscapes support only an established species pool and provide little chance for rare vegetation species to settle and proliferate, even if they are already present in the seed bank of the soil. This is also the case for over-protected areas, such as undisturbed parks. The species established in these static systems limit the resources available for others that are not as adapted to the environmental conditions.The germination of lesser-adapted species is often hindered by the need for exposed soil or soil turnover, resulting in competitive exclusion. Disturbances differ very much in intensity, duration and spatial extent, and an important question is, how much disturbance can nature cope with? Many investigations all around the world have been conducted to determine the degree and extent of disturbance required to enhance biodiversity, maintain species richness, and yet preserve the environment. In general, the studies agree that disturbance creates diversity. However, little information is available regarding the major drivers, if related to the kind of disturbance, the spatial extent or temporal factors. Furthermore, diversity itself is a dynamic characteristic of the ecosystem. Grime (1973) and Connell (1978) first proposed that an intermediate level of disturbance is optimal, thereby avoiding competitive exclusion by the dominant species, occurring at a low level of disturbance, and also preventing the creation of a highly disturbed environment that is only suitable to stress tolerant species. The Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis was a contradiction to the previously accepted notion that biodiversity is highest in undisturbed systems. Warren et al. (2007) extended this hypothesis by focusing on the variety of disturbances, suggesting that biodiversity is maximized where disturbance occurs with varying magnitude, frequency, severity, type, etc. As proposed by the HTH, the irregularity of disturbance creates numerous niches, where different kinds of species with different ecological requirements may establish. Evidence suggests that natural and anthropogenic disturbances interact in many ways and that regional biodiversity is maximized by this interaction. Military training areas are characterized by multiple disturbances and therefore are very well suited for research in this area. Part I:Field work an analyses of disturbances and biodiversity.Part II: A comparison between two surveys within the same cultural landscape: Grafenwoehr Training Area and Fichtelgebirge.» weiterlesen» einklappen