The main trends in spontaneous regeneration were studied in old-fields in the Transylvanian Lowland (Câmpia Transilvaniei) over a period of 40 years using the chronosequence method. Succession proceeds to grassland, because the establishment of woody vegetation is hindered by grazing and mowing of the old- fields and by the scarcity of woodlands in the vicinity. Community properties and population-level changes were recorded at different stages of succession and compared with semi-natural grassland in the surrounding landscape. Due to favourable soil conditions and temperate climate, vegetation cover develops quickly after the fields are abandoned. Annuals dominated only in the first year. After two years the fast growing clonal grass, Elymus repens, became dominant. After approximately 12 years, Elymus was replaced by Festuca rupicola, which is more resistant to stress and disturbance. In the later stages of succession various species, some typical of surrounding grassland, attained high cover values. A steady increase in species diversity, measured by the Shannon index, and richness was recorded at both the field (1.0–2.5 ha) and plot (4 × 4 m) scales. Species richness increased rapidly in early and middle stages and stabilized after the 14th year. Specific features of the succession in the old-fields in the Transylvanian Lowland can be attributed to the continued grazing and mowing of the fields after they are abandoned. This increases species richness because it arrests succession at a stage when species diversity is high. The management directs regeneration towards secondary grassland rather than species poor woodland.
Succession of weeds and small mammal species was studied and compared on alfalfa field in two periods (cultivated 1996–1998 and set-aside 2001–2003). Composition of the plant community changed between the two periods of study. In the first period high biomass of green alfalfa biomass was available to the common vole which dominated small mammal community (88.7 %) and pronounced variation in maximal autumnal densities, typical of cyclic vole populations. Massive invasion of seed bearing weeds was stated after the field was set-aside and alfalfa biomass lowered. With the succession of weeds other rodent species such as Apodemus sp. increase their relative abundance (RA) and that of the pygmy field mouse was higher in the abandoned field compared with the common vole. The trend toward increasing RA was quite distinct (Z = 1.883; P = 0.060). Diversity of herb species and the small mammal species increased with abandonment. The monthly RA of the common vole was, on average, lower in the abandoned field than in the former period (Z = 2.353, P = 0.019). Also the cyclicity disappeared and RA of the population exhibited only seasonal oscillations. Biomass of the small mammal community decreased after the field was set-aside (Z = 3.021, P = 0.002).