Factors influencing the vegetation of extensively managed meadows

The territories of species breeding in hedges or in wet habitats were more often than expected close to sites for ecological compensation. By contrast, species breeding in open farmland were more distant from them than expected. The territories of species breeding in bushes or trees were preferentially in hedges or close to extensively farmed meadows designated as sites for ecological compensation. In territories of open farmland species, hedges and meadows were underrepresented. Our investigations indicate that the presently rather low biological value of the ecological compensation sites could be increased substantially by the new federal ordinance.