Newborough Warren, Anglesey: III. Changes in the Vegetation on Parts of the Dune System After the Loss of Rabbits by Myxomatosis

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Abstract
Changes in the composition of the vegetation were measured and assessed statistically along two 1200 ft. transects in the 3 years following the advent of myxomatosis in 1954. The transects were laid down in 2 serally related areas on heavily rabbit-grazed, fixed, dry, dune slack turf which formed a mosaic with Salix repens patches. After myxomatosis there was a great increase in the growth and flowering of most grasses and sedges, and a reduction in low growing dicotyledonous herbs. The very rich moss flora retained its abundance in spite of the increase of taller plants. No recorded changes reversed seral trends, but several highly significant changes occurred in species not apparently changing in abundance serally. Both positive (e.g. Carex flacca and Pseudoscleropodium purum) and negative (e. g. Agrostis tenuis and Climacium dendroides) changes of this type occurred.