Performance of Saxifraga hirculus L. in North-East Scotland as measured by counts of inflorescences

Summary

Saxifraga hirculus, the yellow marsh saxifrage, is a rare protected species growing in baserich flushes. For conservation, better knowledge is needed on its performance and habitat preferences, hence three colonies in the Cabrach district of Aberdeenshire have been monitored closely over the past eleven years. Additionally observations are reported on flowering at a ‘recovery site’ to which saxifrage Plants have been transplanted.

At one of the natural colonies S. hirculus has clearly increased, at another there has been decline, and at the third so many inflorescences are removed by grazing that the trend could not be decided. The increase, as measured by flowering, was associated with moderately heavy grazing that maintained sward height at about 20–25 cm in summer. The decrease in saxifrage flowering was associated with light grazing and a sward of 35–40 cm height; however drought conditions in 2003 were perhaps responsible, affecting the water table of this colony more than the other colonies due to site topography.

At the third colony water voles (Arvicola amphibious) have been regularly present, and have clear impact on the vegetation around their holes. It is suggested that the voles eat the flowering shoots of the saxifrage.

Key words:

• marsh saxifrage
• water vole
• flowering
• grazing
• habitat preferences
• water regime