Störningsregimer vid Skövde övnings- och skjutfält : Stridsfordons påverkan på olika naturtyper i militära övningsområden

Sammanfattning: A lot of habitats have declined or disappeared as the old cultural landscape changed to the modern agricultural landscape of today. Places such as power line corridors, racing tracks, gravel pits and military training sites have become refuges for many species associated with the old cultural landscape. These sites have been exposed to ecological disturbances that create the same type of habitats that were found in the old cultural landscape. The military training sites in Sweden has an impressive diversity of species. Disturbances from the military exercises have created habitats that are important for a wide range of species. The purpose of this thesis is to study some of the ecological disturbances occurring in the military training sites of the Swedish Armed Forces and examine how they affect different types of habitats. The thesis explains through litterateur and field studies the reason to the rich biodiversity often found at military training sites. The training sites and firing ranges of Skövde garrison were used as an example to show how the disturbances affect the environment. The study shows that military exercises (e.g. with combat vehicles) creates habitats that previously existed in the old cultural landscape. Soil damage from combat vehicles benefits insects and creates pools for amphibians. Damages on trees create snags and woody debris which favors a large amount of species. The military exercises also keep an open landscape.