Geographical heterogeneity in mountain grasslands dynamics in the Austrian-Italian Tyrol region

Hinojosa, Leonith; Tasser, Erich; Rüdisser, Johannes; Leitinger, Georg; Schermer, Markus; Lambin, Éric F.; Tappeiner, Ulrike

doi:10.1016/j.apgeog.2019.03.006

Cited by 31 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 51 publications

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“…During the last decades, they have been affected by an increase of extreme events (Beniston, ; Lemaire & Pflimlin, ). At the same time, they have been subjected to a combination of abandonment of less productive or accessible land and management intensification of remaining surfaces, especially at valley bottoms (Hinojosa et al, ) where fertilizer inputs are increased and permanent grasslands are converted to tilled and sown grasslands (Dobremez et al, ). Modifications of grassland management intensity can influence plant and microbial traits which in turn affect ecosystem processes, services and resilience (Boeddinghaus et al, ; De Vries & Bardgett, ; Duru, Jouany, Roux, Navas, & Cruz, ; Schirpke et al, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Using proxies of microbial community‐weighted means traits to explain the cascading effect of management intensity, soil and plant traits on ecosystem resilience in mountain grasslands

et al. 2020

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1. Trait-based approaches provide a framework to understand the role of functional biodiversity on ecosystem functioning under global change. While plant traits have been reported as potential drivers of soil microbial community composition and resilience, studies directly assessing microbial traits are scarce, limiting our mechanistic understanding of ecosystem functioning.2. We used microbial biomass and enzyme stoichiometry, and mass-specific enzymes activity as proxies of microbial community-weighted mean (CWM) traits, to infer trade-offs in microbial strategies of resource use with cascading effects on ecosystem resilience. We simulated a drought event on intact plant-soil mesocosms extracted from mountain grasslands along a management intensity gradient.Ecosystem processes and properties related to nitrogen cycling were quantified before, during and after drought to characterize ecosystem resilience.3. Soil microbial CWM traits and ecosystem resilience to drought were strongly influenced by grassland type. Structural equation modelling revealed a cascading effect from management to ecosystem resilience through modifications in soil nutrients, and plant and microbial CWM traits. Overall, our results depict a shift from high investment in extracellular enzymes in nutrient-poor soils (oligotrophic strategy), to a copiotrophic strategy with low microbial biomass N:P and low investment in extracellular enzymes associated with exploitative plant traits in nutrient-rich soils.4. Microbial CWM traits responses to management intensity were highly related to ecosystem resilience. Microbial communities with a copiotrophic strategy had lower resistance but higher recovery to drought, while microbial communities with an oligotrophic strategy showed the opposite responses. The unexpected trade-off between plant and microbial resistance suggested that the lower resistance of copiotrophic microbial communities enabled plant resistance to drought. Synthesis.Grassland management has cascading effects on ecosystem resilience through its combined effects on soil nutrients and plant traits propagating to microbial traits and resilience. We suggest that intensification of permanent grassland management and associated increases in soil nutrient availability decreased | 877 Journal of Ecology PITON eT al. S U PP O RTI N G I N FO R M ATI O N Additional supporting information may be found online in the Supporting Information section. How to cite this article: Piton G, Legay N, Arnoldi C, Lavorel S, Clément J-C, Foulquier A. Using proxies of microbial community-weighted means traits to explain the cascading effect of management intensity, soil and plant traits on ecosystem resilience in mountain grasslands.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Using proxies of microbial community‐weighted means traits to explain the cascading effect of management intensity, soil and plant traits on ecosystem resilience in mountain grasslands

et al. 2020

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“…that are not contemplated here [1,[39][40][41][42]. This phenomenon is not exclusive and is recognized in other mountain agro-livestock areas [14,23,[43][44][45][46][47]. Conversely, there has been an increase in the area of forest, pasture, urbanized land, and reservoirs for hydroelectric purposes.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…First of all, it should be noted that, in this area of the Pyrenees, unlike other regions in Europe [7,29,44,47,[58][59][60][61][62], there has been no intensification (sowing, irrigation, fertilization, etc.) on the part of the meadows that have allowed an increase in productivity [63] that compensates for forage production derived from the reduction of the surface.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evolution of Hay Meadows between 1956, 1986, and 2016 and Its Relation to the Characteristics and Location of the Parcels in the Valley of the River Esera (Pyrenees, Spain)

Ascaso¹,

Reiné²,

Barrantes

2020

Agronomy

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The uses of the agricultural surface of hay meadows and crops of the mountain areas of the Spanish central Pyrenees are subject to constant transformations. This paper addresses the changes produced in the hay meadows of the Ésera river valley of the central Pyrenees (Spain) regarding the surface and the agronomic and topographic characteristics of the parcels between 1956–1986 and 1986–2016. The cartographed area is 5226 hectares, of which 1941 hectares correspond to 6416 polygons that have been mowed or cultivated on one of the three reference dates. In the period 1956–1986, there is a reduction in the agricultural area of meadows and crops (13.59%) in favor of pastures, forest, urbanized land, and water reservoirs. The surface of the meadows increases to 301.58%, to the detriment of the crops, until almost their disappearance. Between 1986 and 2016, the area of meadows is reduced to 59.11%, and the area of pastures, forests, and urbanized land increases. The topographic characteristics of the parcels with respect to surface, altitude, slope, width, and terracing and distance to the communication routes determine mechanized access and management and discriminate the transformation to pasture and forest.

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“…While many mountain regions have experienced similar trajectories (Locatelli et al 2017), other trajectories have been observed, particularly in terms of agricultural and tourism development (Spiegelberger et al 2018). For example, as few regions have been able to maintain agricultural activity, land abandonment is widespread in the Alps causing significant landscape transformation (Hinojosa et al 2019;Schirpke et al 2019). Rural activity has often given way to intensive tourism which is still ongoing today (Morán-Ordóñez et al 2013).…”

Section: Drivers Of Change and Impacts On Nature Contributions To Peomentioning

confidence: 99%

Historical reconfigurations of a social–ecological system adapting to economic, policy and climate changes in the French Alps

et al. 2021

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To ensure their quality of life, people adapt to multiple changes by maintaining or transforming the structure and functions of their socio-ecological systems (SES). A better understanding of mechanisms underpinning SES adaptation, especially the contribution of changes in human–nature interactions, is crucial to facilitate adaptation to future challenges. Using a chronosystemic timeline and based on literature, archives and local knowledge of inhabitants, we explored the past trajectory of a mountain SES (Pays de la Meije, French Alps) since 1900 by analysing drivers, impacts and responses. We hypothesised that adaptation has occurred through changes in the co-production of nature’s contributions to people (NCP). We identified four historical periods of combined changes in agriculture and tourism with associated changes in NCP. Results show which and how drivers of changes have influenced NCP co-production, how NCP have been mobilised in adaptive responses and how human and natural capitals involved in NCP co-production have been reconfigured for adaptation. We show that drivers of change have been mainly exogenous and out of the control of local actors, like public policies, markets and consumption patterns. These drivers can directly impact the capitals involved in NCP co-production like amount of workforce, knowledge or skills, creating not only threats but also opportunities for the livelihood of the local community. Depending on the intensity of capital reconfiguration and the type of NCP involved, adaptive responses range from resistance to transformation of the governance system and socio-economic sectors. This analysis highlights existing path dependencies that could hinder future adaptation.

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Geographical heterogeneity in mountain grasslands dynamics in the Austrian-Italian Tyrol region

Cited by 31 publications

References 51 publications

Using proxies of microbial community‐weighted means traits to explain the cascading effect of management intensity, soil and plant traits on ecosystem resilience in mountain grasslands

Using proxies of microbial community‐weighted means traits to explain the cascading effect of management intensity, soil and plant traits on ecosystem resilience in mountain grasslands

Evolution of Hay Meadows between 1956, 1986, and 2016 and Its Relation to the Characteristics and Location of the Parcels in the Valley of the River Esera (Pyrenees, Spain)

Historical reconfigurations of a social–ecological system adapting to economic, policy and climate changes in the French Alps

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