Phenological changes within a growth season in two semi-natural pastures in southern Sweden

Phenological changes within a growth season were investigated in two grazed, semi-natural grasslands in southern Sweden. On four occasions during the growth season, two independent observers recorded plant frequency and percentage cover. The vegetation data sets were analysed with ordination methods. The temporal changes were highly significant, but accounted for only a small part of the total variation in the data. Most species had early maxima, regarding both cover and frequency. There were differences in temporal pattern between the two grasslands. In a xeric area, the vegetation underwent a major change sometime in August, between survey-visit three and four. In a mesic area, the vegetation changed throughout the study period but least so during August. Therefore, phenological changes can be manifested in different ways, even within the same geographic region. Species-wise ordination scores highlighted those species whose records might be most affected by phenological patterns, information which is valuable when evaluating data collected in Scandinavian grasslands.