Heathlands are of high importance for biodiversity conservation, and most heathlands depend on management. While the effects of management on biodiversity are well-studied for lowland heathlands, studies on Central European montane heathlands are scarce. Therefore, we analysed the effects of heathland rejuvenation measures on soil characteristics and phytodiversity within Central European montane heathlands. We focused on four heathland types: sod-cut heathlands with (i) early-successional stages (SOD CUT-EARLY) and (ii) mid-successional stages (SOD CUT-MID), (iii) choppered heathlands with mid-successional stages (CHOP-MID) and (iv) late-successional heathland stages (CONTROL). For every heathland type, ten vegetation relevés were carried out. In every relevé, we analysed the cover of all vascular plant, bryophyte and terricolous lichen species. Additionally, soil characteristics were measured. Statistical analyses included generalised linear mixed-effects models and non-metric multidimensional scaling.

Our study revealed that rejuvenation of montane heathlands reduced soil nutrient levels, increased pH values and had positive effects on phytodiversity. The effects of rejuvenation were persistent. Even after around 20 years following the measures, SOD CUT-MID and CHOP-MID were characterised by lower nutrient levels and different plant assemblages compared to CONTROL.

Sod cutting and choppering promoted the rejuvenation of Calluna vulgaris, one target species of montane heathlands. However, the regeneration of Vaccinium vitis-idaea – another ericaceous target species – was clearly favoured by choppering in comparison to sod cutting. By contrast, overall vascular plant species diversity as well as the number of threatened vascular plant and target species were favoured by sod cutting in the long run while early-successional stages after sod cutting had positive effects on lichen diversity. Due to the contrary effects of the two rejuvenation measures, we recommend a spatial mix of high-intensity (sod cutting) and less intensive (choppering) rejuvenation methods in montane heathlands.

荒地对于生物多样性保护非常重要，大多数荒地依赖于管理。虽然对低地荒地的管理对生物多样性的影响进行了充分研究，但对中欧山地荒地的研究却很少。因此，我们分析了荒地复兴措施对中欧山地荒地土壤特征和植物多样性的影响。我们专注于四种荒地类型：具有 (i) 早期继承阶段 (SOD CUT-EARLY) 和 (ii) 中期继承阶段 (SOD CUT-MID) 的草皮切割荒地，(iii) 具有中期继承阶段的切碎荒地(CHOP-MID) 和 (iv) 后继荒地阶段 (CONTROL)。对于每种荒地类型，进行了十次植被相关性研究。在所有相关文章中，我们分析了所有维管束植物，苔藓植物和陆生地衣物种的覆盖范围。此外，还测量了土壤特性。统计分析包括广义线性混合效应模型和非度量多维标度。

我们的研究表明，山地荒地的复兴降低了土壤养分水平，增加了 pH 值，并对植物多样性产生了积极影响。回春的效果是持久的。即使在采取这些措施大约 20 年后，与对照相比，SOD CUT-MID 和 CHOP-MID 的特征在于较低的营养水平和不同的植物组合。

草皮切碎和切碎机促进了寻常的Calluna vulgaris的复兴，Calluna vulgaris是山地荒地的一种目标物种。然而，与草皮切割相比，切碎的另一种金银花目标物种Vaccinium v​​itis-idaea的再生显然更受青睐。相比之下，从长远来看，草皮切割有利于整体维管植物物种多样性以及受威胁的维管植物和目标物种的数量，而草皮切割后的早期继承阶段对地衣多样性有积极影响。由于两种复兴措施的相反效果，我们建议在山地荒地采用高强度（草皮切割）和低强度（切碎）复兴方法的空间组合。