Evolutionary and organismic constraints on the relationship between spacer length and environmental conditions in clonal plants

The rate of lateral spread of clonal plants is considered a plastic trait that responds directly to environmental conditions. However, this response is likely constrained by evolutionary history and other species attributes. Here we ask how the relationships between lateral spread and the distribution of herbaceous plant species in different environments are influenced by the type of spacer (epigeogenous versus hypogeogenous rhizome), its persistence (integrator versus splitter), and the height and phylogeny of the plant. Analysis of spacer length of 367 species from temperate to arctic Europe revealed that other plant characteristics modulate the relationship between spacer length and environmental conditions. While plants with epigeogenous rhizomes, which have usually shorter spacers than hypogeogenous rhizomes, were associated with illuminated habitats, plants with hypogeogenous rhizomes were associated with warm habitats. These relationships were also shown within the specific rhizome type, as within the group of species with epigeogenous rhizomes, those having short spacers were associated with more light. The trend toward long spacers in warm environment was detected within both epigeogenous and hypogeogenous rhizome bearing species. Splitters were found to be associated with wet, nutrient rich habitats irrespective of rhizome type. When plant height was accounted for by using the ratio of spacer length to plant height (L:H) instead of absolute spacer length, no relationship with environmental variables was found until phylogenetic relationships among the species were taken into account. This implies that overall variability in L:H ratio in the dataset masked trends common for different taxonomic groups. Future comparative studies relating particular clonal growth forms or individual traits to environmental conditions should consider the constraints arising from other growth characteristics and evolutionary history of the subject species.     

Classifying clonal growth forms based on vegetative mobility and ramet longevity: a whole community analysis

We measured rhizome branching, clonal mobility, and ramet longevity of 98 meadow plant species. A cluster analysis applied to this dataset revealed nine clonal growth types that differ mainly by the ramet lifespan and vegetative mobility. Then we compared the abundance of these groups of clonal species between the three following plant communities: (1) open, (2) restored and (3) overgrown wooded meadows in the Laelatu-Nehatu-Puhtu Nature Reserve, Estonia. This is the first study where the quantitative values of belowground clonal traits have been measured for all species of a species-rich community. We show that species with annual ramets and with a low vegetative mobility were most abundant in open grasslands. The relative abundance of perennial species with annual ramets was positively correlated with shoot density and species diversity, indicating that high ramet turnover rates combined with a high genet longevity can positively affect species coexistence in meadow communities. Hence, this study provides evidence for the fact that the average values of clonal life-history parameters differ between these communities. Herb communities under forest canopy consist, in average, of species with ramets that live longer and are clonally more mobile than in the communities of open sites.     

Restoration of wooded meadows ‐ a comparative analysis along a chronosequence on Öland (Sweden)

Abstract. Wooded meadows on the Baltic Island of Öland result from traditional agricultural management over centuries which has led to a species‐rich vegetation with high species diversity. Today, nearly all of these meadows have been abandoned and became rapidly overgrown by deciduous shrub and tree species forming a closed canopy which resulted in a rapid and strong decrease in species numbers of the herb layer. Recent efforts aim to restore overgrown wooded meadows by cutting single shrubs and trees to open the canopy. However, the effects of abandonment as well as of any restoration management in wooded meadows have rarely been documented until now. Mechanisms driving succession after restoration such as the dispersal potential of the respective species over time and space have not been analysed yet. Therefore, a chronosequence was studied which included a traditionally managed wooded meadow, an overgrown meadow which has been abandoned for more than 100 yr and a meadow which was restored 36 yr ago by cutting and is now grazed. We analysed the soil seed bank of the 3 meadows in comparison with the established vegetation and endozoochorous seed dispersal by cattle and sheep. After abandonment 87% of the typical grassland species vanished from the established vegetation and were replaced by species characteristic of woodland and disturbed grassland communities. The mean number of species decreased from 52 species per plot (4 m²) to 18 species. Mean species number and number of seeds in the seed bank declined significantly from the traditionally managed to the overgrown meadow. Most of the grassland species were assigned to a transient seed bank type while only 1/3 could be classified as having a short‐term persistent seed bank. Thus, restoration of wooded meadows cannot rely on the soil seed bank. Endozoochorous seed dispersal by cattle and sheep was shown for 15% of the species with seed densities per 100 g air dried dung of 737 and 767, respectively. Movement of animals between ancient and restored wooded meadows is recommended since many of the species only occurred in low densities and therefore, will probably not be found in the dung samples.     

A comparison of flooded forest and floating meadow fish assemblages in an upper Amazon floodplain

Matched sets of gillnets of different mesh-sizes were used to evaluate the degree to which contiguous and connected flooded forest and floating meadow habitats are characterized by distinct fish faunas during the flooding season in the Peruvian Amazon. For fishes between 38–740 mm standard length ( L _S) (the size range captured by the gear), an overriding pattern of faunal similarity emerged between these two habitats. The mean species richness, diversity, abundance, fish mass, mean and maximum L _S, and maximum mass did not differ significantly between flooded forest and floating meadows. Species abundances followed a log-normal distribution in which three species accounted for 60–70% of the total abundance in each habitat. Despite these similarities, multivariate analyses demonstrated subtle differences in species composition between flooded forest and adjacent floating macrophytes. In addition, the absolute number of species was higher in flooded forest, reflecting a higher percentage of rare species. The day–night species turnover was found to be greater in flooded forests than floating meadows. Further, nocturnal samples had higher abundances and greater species richness than diurnal samples in both habitats. Differences in habitat structural complexity between flooded forest and floating meadows may result in a higher abundance and species richness of day-active species in floating meadows.     

Remnant habitats for grassland species in an abandoned Swedish agricultural landscape

Questions: Which factors influence the persistence of vascular grassland plants in long‐abandoned (at least 50 yr) arable fields and meadows? What might be the implications of current levels of species richness on abandoned arable fields and meadows for future restoration? Location: Forested highlands of Kilsbergen, south central Sweden. Methods: The abundance of all vascular plant species was investigated in three habitat types: former arable fields, hay meadows and outlands (pastures) at 27 farms, abandoned for either approximately 50 yr or 90 yr. Time since abandonment, tree cover, soil depth, degree of soil podsol development, size of the infield area and two measures of connectivity were used as predictors for species richness and species composition. Results: Former outland had denser tree cover, fewer species and fewer grassland species than former arable fields and hay meadows, irrespective of time since abandonment. Former hay meadows and arable fields with a longer time since abandonment were less rich in species, more wooded and had greater podsolization than meadows and fields abandoned at a later stage. Species richness was higher in hay meadows and arable fields at farms with larger infield area and deeper soils compared with farms with smaller infield area and shallower soils. The greatest richness of species and most open habitat were former arable fields at larger farms abandoned 50 yr before the study. Former arable fields had the highest number of grassland species. Conclusion: After 50 yr of abandonment, former arable fields were the most important remnant habitats for grassland species and may be a more promising target for restoration than formerly managed grasslands.     

A comparison of plant communities on the basis of their clonal growth patterns

This study was performed to analyse how a vegetative propagation pattern of plants affects the coexistence of species and subsequent species richness of the community. We compared community average clonal growth in the herbal communities of forests, wooded meadows, and open meadows in Laelatu, Estonia. The parameters used for the calculation of the community averages and measured for each species were ramet life span, rhizome branching, and clonal mobility. We also examined the intrinsic (i.e. independent of the environment) relationship between community clonal growth and plant species density. We found strong correlations between the environmental factors (productivity, light availability, and mowing regime) and community averages of clonal growth parameters, while species density was (negatively) correlated only with community average of rhizome increment. The community average of ramet life span decreased with the increasing biomass of the herb layer. No evidence was found to support the hypothesis that species-rich communities may consist of species with more contrasting mobility compared with species-poor communities. Independent of the effect of the environmental factors, species density was positively correlated with ramet density. There was intrinsic positive relationship between species density and community average of ramet life span at open meadow sites and intrinsic negative relationship between species density and community average of rhizome increment at wooded meadow sites. We conclude that in forest communities the capability of clonal plants to forage for light is favoured, while in unmown meadows a competitively strong phalanx growth form is advantageous. We established that ramet turnover increases and vegetative mobility decreases with increasing species diversity, although these two relationships depend strongly on the type of the studied community.Co-ordinating editor: J. Tuomi     

Diversity and community structure of ectomycorrhizal fungi in a wooded meadow

Wooded meadows are seminatural plant communities that support high diversity of various taxa. Due to changes in land use, wooded meadows have severely declined during the last century. The dominant trees in wooded meadows acquire mineral nutrients via ectomycorrhizal fungi. Using anatomotyping and sequencing of root tips, interpolation and extrapolation methods, we studied the diversity and community structure of ectomycorrhizal fungi in two soil horizons of both managed and forested parts of a wooded meadow in Estonia. Species of Thelephoraceae, Sebacinaceae and the genus Inocybe dominated the whole ectomycorrhizal fungal community of 172 observed species. Forested and managed parts of the wooded meadow harboured different communities of ectomycorrhizal fungi, whereas soil horizon had a negligible effect on the fungal community composition. Diverse soil conditions and host trees likely support the high richness of ectomycorrhizal fungi in the wooded meadow ecosystem. Direct sequencing integrated with interpolation and extrapolation methods are promising to identify the fungi at the species level and to compare species richness between communities of ectomycorrhizal fungi.     

Changes in species composition following field and tree layer restoration and management in a wooded hay meadow

A hillside with abandoned, wooded hay meadows in Leikanger in Sogn og Fjordane county, Western Norway, was investigated in 1992–1995. A management regime combining restoration (topping) of old pollarded trees, scything and removal of hay was reintroduced in the area. The availability of light, hydrological conditions and the nutrient content of the soil were the most important factors determining development of hay meadow vegetation to forest vegetation. Indicators of shaded conditions included Valeriana sambucifolia and Oxalis acetosella , while Anthriscus sylvestris was indicator of light conditions. Species such as Campanula rotundifolia, Pimpinella saxifraga, Plantago lanceolata, Lychnis viscaria and Hieracium pilosella , which were recorded mostly on dry ridges, were regarded as "relict" species, more common formerly when the area was managed in a traditional way. The cover of tall grasses and herbs, such as Dactylis glomerata, Poa trivialis and Anthriscus sylvestris , increased the first two years after restoration. This indicates an increase in available nutrients, probably a "pioneer clearing fertilization" due to the introduced pollarding. Restoration and management resulted in drier, more homogenous ecological conditions and reduced the differences in local climate between formerly open meadows and more wooded areas in the restored area. However, most of the vegetation seemed to be quite stable during the study period. One class, however, comprised releves from several unstable plots of the experimental site. The frequency of some light-demanding species increased in the experimental site, while the frequency of Oxalis acetosella and Epilobium montanum increased in the control site.     

On plastic and non-plastic variation in clonal plant morphology and its ecological significance

Morphological plasticity in clonal plants has received wide attention because localized plastic changes in spacer length, branching intensity and branching angle may enable clonal plants to place ramets selectively in the more favourable microhabitats within a heterogeneous environment. These responses have been interpreted in terms of foraging behaviour. Studies of morphological plasticity in clonal plants are usually carried out with one or two genotypes of a species, or with material of unknown genetic origin. Based on the concept of phenotypic plasticity, it is argued that such studies do not reveal whether plasticity in a population can be modified by natural selection. In addition, responses are often evaluated at two environmental conditions only, which may underestimate plasticity. Hence, our information on the ecological and evolutionary significance of morphological plasticity in clonal plants is still very incomplete. Two examples are given to show that stolon internode and rhizome lengths may vary considerably within an individual plant. Only a minor part of this variation may be plastic, i.e. the variation is hardly changed by the environmental conditions to which the plants are subjected. Hence, non-plastic variation in clonal morphology may exceed the degree of morphological plasticity. The non-plastic variation seems to originate from species-specific patterns of stolon and rhizome development. Marked non-plastic variation may obscure the effects of morphological plasticity on the placement pattern of ramets in the field, suggesting that plasticity in clonal morphology may not be very effective in terms of foraging for favourable patches. Possible reasons for the low levels of plasticity of clonal spacers are discussed.     

Environmental and historical effects on lichen diversity in managed and unmanaged wooded meadows

Question: Which environmental and historical variables affect epiphytic lichen diversity in managed and unmanaged wooded meadows? Location: The island of Gotland located in the Baltic Sea east of the Swedish mainland. Methods: We examined total epiphytic lichen diversity (crustose, foliose and fruticose species) on 1148 trees in eight grazed, eight traditionally managed (mowing, hay gathering and pollarding) and seven unmanaged wooded meadows. In addition to management, data on site location, habitat structure, history and adjacent habitat were analysed. Results: Lichen species richness increased with wooded meadow area and was greater within managed sites than in unmanaged meadows. Historic crown cover (ca. 1930) also influenced present‐day lichen richness. Geographic location, distance to sea, wooded meadow area and average tree circumference were important determinants of lichen species composition. Tree circumference was the strongest overall predictor of the number of species on individual trees. However, tree circumference interacted with management regime, whereby cessation of management appeared to reduce species richness most on large trees. Traditionally managed sites, on average, supported the greatest richness of red‐listed species. Conclusions: Management regime, wooded meadow area and canopy cover were the main drivers of lichen species richness, while geographic location, wooded meadow area, distance to sea and average tree circumference were important determinants of species composition.     

Last Remnants of Riparian Wooded Meadows along the Middle Drava River (Slovenia): Species Composition Is a Response to Light Conditions and Management

In the present study, we investigated the species richness and species composition in relation to light and management regime in remnants of wooded meadows within the riparian forests along the middle Drava River in Slovenia. 41 plots of still managed and, at different time periods (<5 yrs, 5–15 yrs, >15 yrs), abandoned riparian wooded meadows (RWM) were sampled. In addition to vegetation relevés, light intensity (PAR) was also measured in plots. Within the still-managed RWM, two floristically distinct types were recognized using TWINSPAN analysis: meadow-like and forest-like. Light intensity differed significantly between types. The CCA of active RWM showed a significant relation between species composition and light conditions. The number of species per relevé on active RWM was negatively correlated with light intensity – in contrast to North European wooded grasslands. This could be explained by the influence of species-rich riparian hornbeam forests that contribute many understorey species, in contrast to naturally mesotrophic meadows. CCA of both active and abandoned RWM demonstrated that light was a good predictor of RWM species composition and that abandonment caused profound changes in floristic composition. The species turnover during succession was more pronounced in less shaded meadow-like RWM where more light-requiring (grassland) species occurred. Species richness was the highest in active forest-like RWM. There were no significant differences in species richness between active meadow-like RWM and groups of abandoned RWM. The remains of riparian forests stretching along the flood plains of Central and Eastern Europe are considered one of the most natural ecosystems in the prevailing agricultural landscape. But naturalness could be in many cases only the consequence of abandonment of ancient land-use practices, like grazing of livestock, cutting between the trees, litter collecting, etc. Examination of the middle Drava River in Slovenia suggests the need to recognize the remains of ancient cultural landscape.     

Clonal ability,height and growth form explain species’ response to habitat deterioration in Fennoscandian wooded meadows

Fennoscandian calcareous wooded meadows have high conservation value due to very high diversity which has been maintained by consistent mowing, but undergo species loss when this management is abandoned. We compared species richness and composition of regularly mown and abandoned wooded meadows in Estonia and established species groups with respect to their response to abandonment. These meadows were very species rich with a maximum of 43 species per 0.25 m². Species whose populations are maintained by mowing constituted >60 % of the floristic diversity of the mown wooded meadows. Abandonment suppressed species with a preference for dry infertile open habitats. Response to abandonment was related to clonality, height and growth form. The greatest negative response was associated with low graminoids, short-lived and non-clonal species, rosette and semi-rosette growth form. Weak competitors with low height and light seeds exhibited a slow decline; perennial life span and clonality enable a delay in local extinction of these species. Response groups had similar persistence at a national level, revealing that earlier assessment of species dynamics at larger spatial scales could underestimate the number of threatened species. Application of restoration measures could avoid local extinctions of many mowing-supported species, whereas some of the mowing-dependent species likely need reintroduction.     

亚高山暗针叶林不同林冠环境下华西箭竹的克隆可塑性

以亚高山暗针叶林3种林冠环境中以及暗针叶林林缘的华西箭竹（Fargesia nitida）为对象,对其无性系数量特征、无性系根茎特征、分株生物量以及分株形态特征进行了对比研究。结果表明：（1）林冠环境的差异导致了不同种群的基株密度和每基株分株数的显著差异,但林冠环境差异不影响分株密度。林冠郁闭度愈大,每基株分株数愈少,分株分布愈均匀。（2）不同林冠环境间。分株生物量、分株构件生物量和分株构件的生物量分配百分率均有显著差异。开敞的林冠环境有利于华西箭竹的生长和生物量积累。（3）随着林冠郁闭度的增加,华西箭竹通过增大分枝角度、叶生物量分配百分率、比叶面积和叶面积率以提高光能利用效率,有效适应弱光环境。（4）隔离者长度、隔离者直径和分枝强度在林缘和林窗环境中要显著大于林内环境;同级隔离者分枝角度随林冠郁闭度的增加而最大,其值在林下显著大于林窗和林缘,而异级隔离者分枝角度的变化则正好相反。研究表明,华西箭竹种群在不同的林冠环境中发生了明显的可塑性变化,这些可塑性变化是种群对林冠郁闭度差异的适应性反应的结果,有利于增强种群对环境中有限光资源的利用。     

Spatial heterogeneity of a ground beetle (Coleoptera,Carabidae) population along a forest-steppe transect: Local level of consideration

Carabid diversity has been studied in the forest-steppe in southern West Siberia along a continuous 180-m transect from the center of a small birch forest outlier through steppe and mesophytic meadows to a single tree. Carabid communities characteristic of open and forest habitats are different. Communities of open habitats are more differentiated than forest ones. The former can be further subdivided into steppe and meadow variants. Some species are generalists, exhibiting no preferences to particular open habitats.     

Intraspecific trait variation and the differential decline of meadow species during conifer encroachment

Conifer encroachment has reduced the extent and habitat quality of mountain meadows throughout western North America. Past studies in the Cascade Range of Oregon reveal surprising variation in the pace at which meadow species are lost to encroachment. We hypothesized that this variation relates to intraspecific variability in plant functional traits that are adaptive as light levels decline during the transition from open meadow to closed forest. For 13 meadow species with varying sensitivities to encroachment, we compared how the rate of decline in abundance relates to intraspecific variation in three morphological traits (specific leaf area, shoot/root ratio, and shoot height) and to clonal ability (no, limited, or strong potential for vegetative spread). For each species, we computed an index of sensitivity to encroachment, ISE, the coefficient of variation in cover across the light gradient. For each trait of each species, we computed an index of variation, the linear slope of the relationship between trait values and available light. For most traits, the correlation between ISE and trait variation (or clonality) was weak. Although specific leaf area increased in the shade for all species, the magnitude of increase did not correlate with ISE. Only variability in leaf area was positively correlated with ISE, increasing in the shade for less sensitive species and decreasing for more sensitive species. Responses to encroachment may reflect differences in species’ physiological rather than morphological variability, or species may be responding to changes in resources other than, or in addition to, light.     

林缘和荒草坡不同草本层盖度小生境中积雪草的等级可塑性

为研究克隆植物在不同生境中对小生境的利用能力和对不同尺度异质性生境的等级可塑性及其格局差异,比较了林缘和荒草坡不同草本层盖度小生境中积雪草(Centella asiatica)分株种群、克隆片段和叶水平的形态和生理特征。在分株种群水平,林缘和荒草坡积雪草被测的分株种群特征差异均不显著,不同草本层盖度小生境间积雪草根冠比差异显著,即在盖度小的小生境中其根冠比显著大于盖度大的小生境。在克隆片段水平,林缘和荒草坡生境显著影响积雪草的根干重、花果干重、一级匍匐茎节间长和总匍匐茎节间长,而不同草本层盖度小生境则显著影响花果干重、根冠比、一级匍匐茎数、二级匍匐茎节间长和总匍匐茎节间长。荒草坡积雪草拥有更大的根干重和花果干重,但一级匍匐茎节间长和总匍匐茎节间长较短。草本层盖度小的小生境中积雪草的根冠比和一级匍匐茎数显著高于盖度大的小生境,而花果干重、二级匍匐茎节间长和总匍匐茎节间长则相反。在叶水平,荒草坡和草本层盖度大的小生境中,积雪草的叶片长、叶片宽和叶面积都较大,而草本层盖度大的小生境中积雪草叶柄长和比叶柄长都显著大于盖度小的小生境;林缘和荒草坡生境与不同草本层盖度小生境对4个叶绿素指标影响均不显著,林缘和荒草坡生境与不同草本层盖度小生境的交互作用对所有测量特征均无显著影响。上述结果表明,积雪草对不同生境和有草本层盖度差异的小生境的反应存在等级可塑性,但是二者的等级差异格局不同;等级反应格局的差异反映出积雪草对不同生境条件有不同的生态适应对策,且对生境小尺度异质性的可塑性强于对大尺度异质性的可塑性。     

Gradients in the number of species at reef-seagrass ecotones explained by gradients in abundance

Gradients in the composition and diversity (e.g. number of species) of faunal assemblages are common at ecotones between juxtaposed habitats. Patterns in the number of species, however, can be confounded by patterns in abundance of individuals, because more species tend to be found wherever there are more individuals. We tested whether proximity to reefs influenced patterns in the composition and diversity ('species density' = number of species per area and 'species richness' = number of species per number of individuals) of prosobranch gastropods in meadows of two seagrasses with different physiognomy: Posidonia and Amphibolis. A change in the species composition was observed from reef-seagrass edges towards the interiors of Amphibolis, but not in Posidonia meadows. Similarly, the abundance of gastropods and species density was higher at edges relative to interiors of Amphibolis meadows, but not in Posidonia meadows. However, species richness was not affected by proximity to reefs in either type of seagrass meadow. The higher number of species at the reef-Amphibolis edge was therefore a consequence of higher abundance, rather than species richness per se. These results suggest that patterns in the composition and diversity of fauna with proximity to adjacent habitats, and the underlying processes that they reflect, likely depend on the physiognomy of the habitat.     

Adjacent woodlands rather than habitat connectivity influence grassland plant,carabid and bird assemblages in farmland landscapes

One response to biodiversity decline is the definition of ecological networks that extend beyond protected areas and promote connectivity in human-dominated landscapes. In farmland, landscape ecological research has focused more on wooded than open habitat networks. In our study, we assessed the influence of permanent grassland connectivity, described by grassland amount and spatial configuration, on grassland biodiversity. We selected permanent grasslands in livestock farming areas of north-western France, which were sampled for plants, carabids and birds. At two spatial scales we tested the effects of amount and configuration of grasslands, wooded habitats and crops on richness and abundance of total assemblages and species ecological groups. Grassland connectivity had no significant effects on total richness or abundance of any taxonomic group, regardless of habitat affinity or dispersal ability. The amount of wooded habitat and length of wooded edges at the 200 m scale positively influenced forest and generalist animal groups as well as grassland plant species, in particular animal-dispersed species. However, for animal groups such as open habitat carabids or farmland bird specialists, the same wooded habitats negatively influenced richness and abundance at the 500 m scale. The scale and direction of biodiversity responses to landscape context were therefore similar among taxonomic groups, but opposite for habitat affinity groups. We conclude that while grassland connectivity is unlikely to contribute positively to biodiversity, increasing or maintaining wooded elements near grasslands would be a worthwhile conservation goal. However, the requirements of open farmland animal species groups must be considered, for which such action may be deleterious.     

Influence of abandonment on syrphid assemblages in mountainous meadows

Grasslands are often managed with different intensities in the European Alps. Studies have shown that a medium management can benefit plant and animal biodiversity in these ecosystems. However, in recent decades abandonment of extensively managed meadows is an ongoing global challenge. Syrphids (hoverflies) have been recognized as a threatened group due to environmental drivers, and these managed grasslands provide preferred habitats for them. Yet, at what extent syrphids respond to grassland management strategies is little known. We investigated whether abandonment of managed mountain meadows (mown once a year, no fertilizer use) affects syrphid abundance, richness and species assemblages. Moreover, the influence of plant richness, flower frequency and surrounding landscape on syrphids were assessed. Four managed meadows were compared with four abandoned meadows in a mountainous region in Austria. Adult syrphids were sampled over two consecutive years (June and August 2015–2016) by sweep netting using line transects and observation plots. Syrphid abundance was significantly higher in managed than abandoned meadows and increased with increasing plant richness and flower frequency across management types. Management and sampling time also significantly affected syrphid species assemblages. Syrphid richness and abundance were not influenced by surrounding landscape. We conclude that both abandoned and managed meadows provide important habitat types for syrphids. Therefore, efforts should be made to maintain both managed and abandoned meadows in order to protect syrphid species within mountainous landscapes.     

The contribution of rewetting to vegetation restoration of degraded peat meadows

Question: What is the contribution of a rise in groundwater level to vegetation restoration of degraded peat meadows compared to abandonment only? Location: Abandoned peat meadows in the central part of The Netherlands. Methods: Comparison of species composition and species abundance of vegetation and seed banks of reference and rewetted peat meadows, using plant trait and seed bank analysis. Results: Vegetation of rewetted meadows shared on average only 27% of their species with the reference meadow, while this was 50% on average for species in the seed bank. Rewetted meadows had a lower total number of species and a lower number of wet grassland and fen species present in the vegetation, but had higher species richness per m², although evenness was not affected. Rewetting increased the dominance of species of fertile and near neutral habitats, but did not result in an increase of species of wet or waterlogged habitats. Re-wetted meadows were dominated by species relying mainly on vegetative reproduction and species with a low average seed longevity compared to the reference meadow. Conclusion: Rewetting was not effective as a restoration measure to increase plant species diversity or the number of wet grassland and fen species in the vegetation. If no additional restoration management is applied, the seed bank will be depleted of seeds of species of wet grassland or fen habitats, further reducing the chances of successful vegetation restoration.