Mountain grassland biodiversity: Impact of site conditions versus management type

Kampmann, Dorothea; Herzog, F.; Jeanneret, Philippe; Konold, Werner; Peter, M.; Walter, T.; Wildi, Otto; Lúscher, A.

doi:10.1016/j.jnc.2007.04.002

Cited by 76 publications

(59 citation statements)

References 43 publications

(45 reference statements)

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“…A high ratio of Ensifera vs. Caelifera indicates a very low level of human exploitation (Ingrisch & Köhler 1998;Köhler et al 2004). Generally, irregular grazing had a positive effect on many insect species in human-influenced habitats (e.g., Gavlas 1999Gavlas , 2003Wettstein & Schmid 1999;Krues & Tscharntke 2002b;Kampmann et al 2008;Marini et al 2008). However, an increasing intensity of grazing tends to decrease species diversity (Krues & Tscharntke 2002a).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Various systems used to manage grasslands have a significant influence on plant and animal communities, their species richness and abundance (Kampmann 2008;Marini et al 2008). To assess the biodiversity of such habitats, several taxonomical groups of invertebrates were analysed already, e.g., butterflies, bees, spiders (Balmer & Erhardt 2000;Kruess & Tscharntke 2002b;Knop et al 2006), bugs (Di Giulio et al 2001) and orthopterans.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Species of Orthoptera are characteristic inhabitants of grassland habitats in temperate zones. They are suitable indicators of habitat quality and changes induced by management, as herbal and grassy plants are used for their roosting and sheltering (often prey of birds and reptiles), foraging (primary and secondary consumers) and reproduction (courtship and egg laying) (e.g., Báldi & Kisbenedek 1997;Ingrisch & Köhler 1998;Kampmann et al 2008). Besides common and widespread species, many other species exhibit specific requirements on moisture (Gavlas et al 2007), temperature or sun radiation (Kampmann et al 2008), they also show a sensitivity to pesticides (Branson et al 2006), succession of vegetation (Marini et al 2009) and habitat management (Marini et al 2008).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…al 2007;Kampmann et al 2008) or the influence of plant succession in meadows without any management (Marini et al 2009). Higher species diversity was found in grazed compared to mowed meadows in alpine habitats (Wettstein & Schmid 1999;Kampmann et al 2008). In contrast to that, a more intense grazing may even have negative influence on some insects (Kruess & Tscharntke 2002a).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Wettstein & Schmid 1999;Kruess & Tscharntke 2002a;Kampmann et al 2008;Marini et al 2008Marini et al , 2009. Therefore the aim of our study was first, to analyse the influence of various management types on diversity of Orthoptera assemblages and second, to identify characteristic species which determine assemblages of managed montane grasslands in the Western Carpathians.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Response of Orthoptera assemblages to management of montane grasslands in the Western Carpathians

2011

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Montane grassy habitats in the Western Carpathians are relatively well preserved, maintain high species richness and are often important in accordance to the nature conservation policy in Europe. However, knowledge about the impact of farming on the habitat quality there is rather poor. The influence of various management types (permanent sheep pen, irregular grazing, mowing) on Orthoptera diversity and species determining assemblages of these habitats were analysed on 72 plots in Poľana Mts Biosphere Reserve. Altogether, 36 Orthoptera species (15 Ensifera, 21 Caelifera) were found, whereas the highest number of species was found on plots with irregular grazing (28 species), followed by plots with mown grass (17) and permanent sheep pens (14). All four measures of the assemblages' diversity confirmed significant differences. Using Discriminant Function Analysis, correct classification rate of Orthoptera assemblages was unambiguous according to the type of management. Each form of the management harboured several characteristic species. Thus implications regarding the biodiversity conservation and grassland management were given.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Response of Orthoptera assemblages to management of montane grasslands in the Western Carpathians

2011

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Assessing the Effects of Grassland Management on Forage Production and Environmental Quality to Identify Paths to Ecological Intensification in Mountain Grasslands

Loucougaray

Dobremez

Gos

et al. 2015

Environmental Management

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Ecological intensification in grasslands can be regarded as a process for increasing forage production while maintaining high levels of ecosystem functions and biodiversity. In the mountain Vercors massif, where dairy cattle farming is the main component of agriculture, how to achieve forage autonomy at farm level while sustaining environmental quality for tourism and local dairy products has recently stimulated local debate. As specific management is one of the main drivers of ecosystem functioning, we assessed the response of forage production and environmental quality at grassland scale across a wide range of management practices. We aimed to determine which components of management can be harnessed to better match forage production and environmental quality. We sampled the vegetation of 51 grasslands stratified across 13 grassland types. We assessed each grassland for agronomic and environmental properties, measuring forage production, forage quality, and indices based on the abundance of particular plant species such as timing flexibility, apiarian potential, and aromatic plants. Our results revealed an expected trade-off between forage production and environmental quality, notably by stressing the contrasts between sown and permanent grasslands. However, strong within-type variability in both production and environmental quality as well as in flexibility of timing of use suggests possible ways to improve this trade-off at grassland and farm scales. As achieving forage autonomy relies on increasing both forage production and grassland resilience, our results highlight the critical role of the ratio between sown and permanent grasslands as a major path for ecological intensification in mountain grasslands.

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Changes over three decades in the floristic composition of nutrient-poor grasslands in the Swiss Alps

et al. 2008

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To investigate recent changes in the floristic composition and nature conservation value of nutrient-poor, semi-natural grasslands of the Swiss Alps, we resurveyed 151 phytosociological relevés in four regions, originally recorded between 1975 and 1985. In the original surveys, the mean number of plant species per plot (25-100 m 2 ) ranged from 47.1 to 58.1 according to region. The flora included a total of 18 species that are protected in Switzerland and a high proportion of habitat specialists of nutrient-poor grasslands (NPG-species). In the second survey, conducted between 2002 and 2004, both mean species number per plot (-3.2 to ?11.4) and species evenness (-0.05 to ?0.07) were higher in most regions. However, the data revealed clear shifts in community composition, with a higher proportion of nutrient-demanding species (mean nutrient indicator value increased by ?0.07 to ?0.24 units) and a lower proportion per plot of NPG-species (-3.6 to -11.6%). These changes were greatest in pastures, and in meadows converted to sheep pastures, while the NPG-species were maintained in unfertilized meadows that were managed as ecological compensation areas. To prevent continuing decline in the conservation value of these grasslands, it is important to support low-intensity management, especially mowing, and to prevent further eutrophication.

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Mountain grassland biodiversity: Impact of site conditions versus management type

Cited by 76 publications

References 43 publications

Response of Orthoptera assemblages to management of montane grasslands in the Western Carpathians

Response of Orthoptera assemblages to management of montane grasslands in the Western Carpathians

Assessing the Effects of Grassland Management on Forage Production and Environmental Quality to Identify Paths to Ecological Intensification in Mountain Grasslands

Changes over three decades in the floristic composition of nutrient-poor grasslands in the Swiss Alps

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