Abstract Plant communities from the highlands of the Mühlviertel region of Upper Austria are described. These communities originated from grassland use and are currently subject to vegetation dynamics due to extensification. As a result of delayed mowing dates, a reduction in mowing frequency, and the partial retention of vegetation on the areas, the dynamics of species composition can be traced, with a tendency toward the promotion and dominance of individual species. In the medium term, largely homogenized species sets will emerge at the growth sites, resulting in significantly reduced floristic and sociological diversity. Based on the findings, a discussion on management practices is encouraged, also with regard to the effectiveness of the funding criteria of the current agri-environmental programs.

Abstract Ecological indicator values for Austrian vascular plants. Ecological indicator values of plants serve as indirect indicators for the status of ecological parameters in absence of physico-chemical measurements at place. Ellenberg introduced seven parameters which are namely light (L), temperature (T), continentality (K), moisture (F), reaction (R), nutrients (N), and salt (S), to define optima of plant growth under natural conditions along gradients scaled to nine levels. The moisture gradient is even extended to twelve levels and additional codes give information about the tolerance of facultative flooding or seasonal drought. Species that lack distinct optima and are present over a zone of more than four levels of the respective gradients are called indifferent (i). Plants that show optima situated towards both ends of the scale for parameters F and R are classified as bimodal (b) for the first time in national records of indicator values. Broad amplitudes and indistinct optima of species presences along the scales are not indicated separately due to the lack of available data. For 4902 vascular plants we provide indicator values that are valid for the Republic of Austria (holds for L, T, F, R, N, S). The values for continentality (K) consider the whole distribution area of the species. Comparisons with indicator value systems from neighboring countries show some shifts in the number of species assigned to the indicator levels but the histograms do not differ very much. Apparently, such shifts depend on the length of the ecological gradients available in the respective region but also on the regional pool of species and subspecific ecotypes.