
05 jul SUMMER MAINTENANCE WORKS FOR IMPROVING AMPHIBIAN TERRESTRIAL HABITATS
In addition to ponds which enable them to reproduce successfully, amphibians also need suitable terrestrial habitats, where many of them spend the majority of the year. Wet meadows are particularly important for amphibians as foraging habitats.
In Ljubljansko barje, an external contractor carried out the first mowing and mulching as early as June, wherever necessary. Early mowing is carried out where invasive alien species, particularly goldenrod, occur in greater numbers. Frequent mowing prevents the plants from blossoming and thus from developing seeds, and also depletes nutrients and in the long term, weakens the invasive plant population. Meadows dominated by typical indigenous wetland species are being mown later in the season, after the plants have finished producing seeds.
In addition, at the end of June, we carried out maintenance work on the young hedgerows planted during the previous winter. The young trees and shrubs were hand-weeded and the narrow strips between the newly planted hedgerows and ditches were mulched. This will give the young plants more sunlight, which will speed up their growth.
Hedgerows are an important part of the agricultural landscape. They connect different habitats and offer a home to a diverse range of plant and animal species. They are also important for amphibians, which find shelter and food in the hedgerows. Some of them also use them as a place to spend the winter.
Foto: K. Drašler, J. Tarman