Dry pasture
Dry pastures are dry, nutrient-poor and species-rich pastures in well-sunny locations. Depending on the altitude, vegetation , soil conditions and rainfall, dry pastures can withstand different stocking densities and durations. Cattle are particularly suitable ; Sheep prove themselves on steep and dry locations and goats on areas that tend to become bushy . An additional nutrient input through additional feeding or fertilization has a lasting negative effect on the biodiversity on dry pastures. The abandonment of use, for example in remote mountain locations, can endanger the existence of dry pastures. Bush encroachment up to forest cover are the result.
The nature conservation value of dry pastures is very high, provided that a typical flora and fauna occurs: the feeding and treading effect, the nutrient enrichment at storage locations and the selective eating behavior of the grazing cattle creates a small-scale pattern of habitats . Plants thrive in these areas, which try to assert themselves against feeding by means of thorns or thorns ( roses , thistles etc.), lignification ( juniper , alder , broom etc.), hair ( adder head , mullein etc.) or low growth ( piglet weed ).
A number of animal species have also specialized in dry pastures. For example, there are warmth and drought- loving species (e.g. Italian beautiful shrimp), species that specialize in pasture herbs (e.g. black- spotted blue on wild thyme), species that rely on soils free of vegetation (e.g. wild bees ), faeces-eating species (e.g. B. Dung beetles - relatives) etc. The typical structures of dry pastures are important for the fauna and mostly shape the landscape: individual trees, bushes, footpaths, hedges , fences etc.
The counterpart to the dry pastures are the dry meadows . Together they are summarized in Switzerland under the abbreviation TWW .