We assessed vegetation changes on acidic sandy soils in permanent plots to follow secondary succession
after cessation of intensive goose breeding in E Hungary.We also aimed to estimate the time
required for vegetation regeneration and indicate differences in secondary succession patterns at
different altitudes in sand dunes. Two sites in the low and two in the high parts of the dunes were
chosen and sampled for twelve years. The initial stages are characterized by ruderal communities
dominated by nitrophilous annual weeds. Ruderal vegetation was soon replaced by nutrient-poor
communities dominated by short-lived pioneer dicotyledonous plants and grasses. In the last few
years of the study, coinciding with a rainy period, the low sites were dominated by the perennial
grasses, Poa angustifolia, P. pratensis and Cynodon dactylon. In contrast, in the high sites a less
dense cover of perennials developed. The influence of initial composition on vegetation development
decreased with time and the influence of altitude increased during succession. The altitude of
the site had a significant effect on regeneration. Species richness and Shannon diversity of the high
sites increased during vegetation development and that of the lowsites decreased. Most annuals persisted
in the high sites but became extinct in the low sites. The mean species turnover rate, irrespective
of altitude, decreased during the study