What do we know about Calamagrostis villosa? A review of the species behaviour in secondary habitats

Air pollution-caused deforestation in central European mountain regions created a new ecological situation. Vast areas were, after spruce forest damage, colonized by an expansive rhizomatous grass, Calamagrostis villosa. Not surprisingly, this species attracted considerable research attention, especially at the turn of the eighties and nineties. This paper summarizes the results achieved so far by studies focused upon the autecology of C. villosa and the vegetation of deforested spots. The current state of knowledge on phytosociology, population biology (plant dry mass production, reproductive characteristics, response to perturbations), response to environmental factors, competitive relationships with other species, and succession is reviewed, and outputs for the forest management authorities and possible directions of future research are recommended.