High resistance of plant biodiversity to moderate native woody encroachment in loess steppe grassland fragments

Teleki, Balázs; Sonkoly, Judit; Erdős, László; Tóthmérész, Béla; Prommer, Mátyás; Török, Péter

doi:10.1111/avsc.12474

Cited by 22 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 51 publications

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“…As suggested by Duelli (1992) our first hypothesis H1 was that maximum species richness appears in the intermediate transition zone. However, studies testing H1 are contradictory and show evidence for a decline (Pajunen et al 2012;Ratajczak et al 2012;Teleki et al 2020), a linear increase (Howard et al 2012;Knapp et al 2008) as well as hump-shaped response of plant species richness to shrub cover (Anthelme et al 2001(Anthelme et al , 2003(Anthelme et al , 2007Kesting et al 2015;Pornaro et al 2013;Soliveres et al 2014). Reported responses of faunal diversity to shrub encroachment are equally varying (Blaum et al 2007;García-Tejero et al 2013;Hilpold et al 2018;Kaphengst and Ward 2008;Laiolo et al 2004).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dominant shrub species are a strong predictor of plant species diversity along subalpine pasture-shrub transects

et al. 2020

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Abandonment of pastures and successional shrub expansion are widespread in European mountain regions. Moderate shrub encroachment is perceived beneficial for plant diversity by adding new species without outcompeting existing ones, yet systematic evidence is missing. We surveyed vegetation along 24 transects from open pasture into shrubland across the Swiss Alps using a new protocol distinguishing different spatial scales, shrub cover of each plot (2 × 2 m) and larger-scale zonal cover along the transect. Data were analysed using generalized linear models of shrub cover, shrub species and environmental conditions, such as geology, aspect or soil. Most shrub communities were dominated by Alnus viridis (62% of transects) and Pinus mugo (25%), and the rest by other shrub species (13%). These dominant shrub species explained vegetation response to shrub cover well, without need of environmental variables in the model. Compared to open pasture, A. viridis resulted in an immediate linear decline in plant species richness and a marginal increase in beta-diversity (maximally + 10% at 35% cover). Dense A. viridis hosted 62% less species than open pasture. In P. mugo, species richness remained stable until 40% shrub cover and dropped thereafter; beta-diversity peaked at 35% cover. Hence, scattered P. mugo increases beta-diversity without impairing species richness. In transects dominated by other shrubs, species richness and beta-diversity peaked at 40–60% shrub cover (+ 23% both). A. viridis reduced species richness in a larger area around the shrubs than P. mugo. Therefore, effects of shrub encroachment on plant diversity cannot be generalized and depend on dominant shrub species.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dominant shrub species are a strong predictor of plant species diversity along subalpine pasture-shrub transects

et al. 2020

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“…Therefore some woody cover seems to have a positive effect on overall biodiversity. This finding was expectable, as sparse woody cover has been shown to introduce heterogeneity into micro-environmental conditions and vegetation structure (López-Pintor et al, 2006), both of which are known to boost biodiversity (Herzon & Helenius, 2008; Teleki et al, 2020).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Turning old foes into new allies – harnessing drainage canals for biodiversity conservation in desiccated novel ecosystems

Tölgyesi

Torma

Bátori

et al. 2020

Preprint

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22 1. Drainage canals are ubiquitous components of agricultural landscapes worldwide. 23 Although canals have greatly contributed to biodiversity loss by desiccating wetlands, they 24 have recently attracted conservation attention due to their potential to function as refugia for 25 native wetland-dependent species in intensively managed landscapes. However, their 26 conservation role in complex landscapes comprising a mosaic of agricultural and desiccated 27 semi-natural habitats, on which canals still pose a heavy burden, is unknown. Improved 28 understanding of drainage canals and related biodiversity in these landscapes could help 29 unlock their potential and support synergistic land management for nature conservation and 30 water management. 31 2. We applied a multitaxon approach, including plants, butterflies, true bugs, spiders and 32 birds, to (1) assess the conservation value of drainage canals in a heavily drained European 33 lowland region, (2) to test landscape-level and local canal parameters for aiding prioritization 34 among canal types, and (3) to propose a reconciliation-based management framework that 35 suits the interest of all stakeholders. 36 3. We found that drainage canals concentrate more species across most taxa than 37 adjacent semi-natural habitats, owing to the micro-environmental heterogeneity and the 38 comparatively low management intensity in the canals. The species-concentrating capacity is 39 particularly high in canals that traverse semi-natural habitats, although agricultural canals also 40 support remarkable species diversity. However, agricultural canals are important dispersal 41 corridors for invasive plants, which may negatively affect native species. Canal size has little 42 effect on biodiversity but habitat stress is an important determinant. The higher the stress (due 43 to sandiness and salinity), the higher is the added value of canals to landscape-wide 44 biodiversity. 45 Synthesis and applications. We provide evidence that drainage canals can harbour 46 surprisingly high levels of biodiversity and should therefore be recognized as important novel 47 ecosystems with high conservation value, even within semi-natural habitats. Canals have 48 previously been considered detrimental to nature conservation due to their association with 49 loss of wetlands. However, by reducing water loss with reversible obstructions, controlling 50 invasive species and applying specific conservation measures, they may be turned into 51 conservation allies without compromising long-term interests of water management and 52 agricultural land use. 53 54

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“…The diversity of tree species and forest specialists was low compared to the overall floristic diversity. However, the increasing tree coverage leads to a decreased biodiversity under the canopy [ 60 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

First Survey of the Vascular and Cryptogam Flora on Bulgaria’s Ancient Mounds

Apostolova

Sopotlieva

Valcheva

et al. 2022

Plants

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This work represents the first study of the floristic diversity on Bulgaria’s ancient mounds. The objective of this research was to assess the importance of the mounds for the preservation of the native vascular and cryptogam flora. Our sampling design included 111 ancient mounds distributed throughout the country. We recorded a total of 1059 vascular plants, 58 bryophytes and 61 lichen taxa. Despite their small area, the mounds were shown to preserve nearly a quarter of the Bulgarian flora. The vegetation cover on the mounds included 61% perennials indicating a long-term persistence and stability. The majority (98%) of the established vascular plants were native species. Although the conservation significance of the vascular plant species were not common, we recorded 2 critically endangered, 9 endangered and 14 Balkan endemics during the present study. The lichen Arthopyrenia salicis was recorded for the first time in Bulgaria and a new locality of the rare bryophyte Ceratodon conicus was discovered. The established compositional difference between plots from the northern and southern slopes of the mounds (88.95%) is a testament to the high local habitat diversity. The prevalence of species characteristic for Festuco-Brometea suggests that the mounds preserve fragments of native grasslands and steppes. The variation in cover of agricultural and other human modified areas in the mounds’ immediate surroundings did not substantially affect their species richness. We argue that the ancient mounds should be taken into consideration in future green space planning.

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High resistance of plant biodiversity to moderate native woody encroachment in loess steppe grassland fragments

Cited by 22 publications

References 51 publications

Dominant shrub species are a strong predictor of plant species diversity along subalpine pasture-shrub transects

Dominant shrub species are a strong predictor of plant species diversity along subalpine pasture-shrub transects

Turning old foes into new allies – harnessing drainage canals for biodiversity conservation in desiccated novel ecosystems

First Survey of the Vascular and Cryptogam Flora on Bulgaria’s Ancient Mounds

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