![Dictmanus albus [(c) Christian Ristok]](/im/1401451667_284_0.jpg "Dictmanus albus [(c) Christian Ristok]")
Investigations in dry grasslands
Near-natural and semi-natural xerothermic grasslands are characterized by a high floristical and phytocoenological diversity, which show a fine structured vegetation mosaic, based on the geological relief and the microclimatic conditions. As a result of anthropo-zoogenic effects they differ in the degree of hemeroby and naturalness. In order to sustain rare and endangered plant species, the knowledge of the biotic and abiotic environmental conditions is necessary, which are best reflected by the plant communities. Only the maintenance of the particular plant communities leads to a long-term conservation of the rare and endangered species in their natural habitat. So, the floristic and phytocoenological investigations form an important base for further investigations in population ecology.