Primeval meadow

In geobotany, primeval meadows are original meadows and turf communities that existed even before humans were cleared. B. have existed in the high mountains and on the seashore .

For climatic reasons, Central Europe would be almost completely covered with forests if humans had not intervened. Under these circumstances, natural meadow communities can only occur in the few locations that are unfavorable for tree growth. In the high mountains z. B. Average temperature too low and the growing season too short so that trees can no longer develop. The soil on the coasts is too salty.

Since the Bronze Age, the inhabitants of the Alpine valleys drove their animals to the primeval meadows above the tree line (1800 to 2400 m) in summer. Since these animals also grazed in the surrounding forests, most of the regrowing trees were destroyed and today's alpine pastures were created . The tree line was moved downwards.

The primeval meadows consist of special plant communities that differ in their species composition from the meadows and pastures created by humans . One example is the blue grass Horstseggenrasen in the Alps , which have a particularly high biodiversity on limestone and are prototypical for the colorful flower meadows of the Alps. Here you can find z. B. not only various types of gentian , but also the alpine edelweiss ( Leontopodium nivale ).

The salt marshes on the coast are also to be regarded as primeval meadows.

literature

• Heinz Ellenberg : Vegetation of Central Europe with the Alps from an ecological, dynamic and historical perspective. 5th, heavily changed and improved edition. Ulmer, Stuttgart 1996, ISBN 3-8001-2696-6 .
• Helmut Hartl / Thomas Peer: Flora , Hohe Tauern National Park, Scientific Writings, Klagenfurt 1989
• Hansjörg Küster : History of the Landscape in Central Europe , Munich 1999