Patterns of long‐term vegetation change vary between different types of semi‐natural grasslands in Western and Central Europe

Diekmann, Martin; Andrés, Christian; Becker, Thomas; Bennie, Jonathan; Blüml, Volker; Bullock, James M.; Culmsee, Heike; Fanigliulo, Miriam; Hahn, Annett; Heinken, Thilo; Leuschner, Christoph; Luka, Stefanie; Meißner, Justus; Müller, Josef K.; Newton, Adrian C.; Peppler‐Lisbach, Cord; Rosenthal, Gert; Berg, Leon J.L. van den; Vergeer, Philippine; Wesche, Karsten

doi:10.1111/jvs.12727

Cited by 67 publications

(73 citation statements)

References 45 publications

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“…However, since signs of N deposition detected in the soil and its influence on species diversity was only evident for , this may suggest that the changes evident in the vegetation between 1990 and 2016 are largely attributable to grazing management. Although, Parsonage Down is only a single nature reserve, similar conclusions have been reported in other recent long-term re-survey studies which are within close proximity to Parsonage Down over similar time periods (Hawes et al 2018;Stroh et al 2017) and across the rest of the UK and Europe (Diekmann et al 2019). Stroh et al (2017) concluded that changes in lowland calcareous grassland were probably due to adjustments to grazing regimes, particularly regarding the fluctuations in timing and duration of livestock grazing.…”

Section: Trait Profiles As Indicators Of Drivers Of Changesupporting

confidence: 75%

Long-term change in calcareous grassland vegetation and drivers over three time periods between 1970 and 2016

et al. 2020

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Analysis of long-term vegetation change is limited. Furthermore most studies evaluating change only examine two snapshots in time, which makes it difficult to define rates of change and accurately assess potential drivers. To assess longterm change in calcareous grassland over multiple time periods, we re-surveyed a transect study undertaken at Parsonage Down National Nature Reserve, Wiltshire, southern England in 1970 and 1990 by T. Wells. We examined differences in soil properties and species traits in each of the survey years to understand potential drivers of vegetation change, including nitrogen deposition and grazing management. There was a clear shift in species composition, combined with significant declines in species richness and diversity between 1970 and 2016, with the greater rate of change occurring between 1990 and 2016. A significant increase in soil total nitrogen was found, which was significantly associated with the decline in species diversity between 1970 and 1990. Significant changes in community-weighted mean traits were identified for plant height (increasing), specific leaf area (decreasing), grazing tolerance (decreasing) and Ellenberg N (decreasing) between 1970 and 2016. By using survey data from multiple time periods, we suggest that N deposition may have contributed Communicated by Zoltan Nagy.Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (https://doi.().,-volV) ( 01234567 89().,-volV) towards community changes between 1970 and 1990, as indicated by the change in soil properties and the associated decline in species diversity. Vegetation change between 1990 and 2016 is likely to be largely attributable to a decline in grazing pressure, indicated by the increase in taller species and a decrease in grazing tolerance.

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Section: Trait Profiles As Indicators Of Drivers Of Changesupporting

confidence: 75%

Long-term change in calcareous grassland vegetation and drivers over three time periods between 1970 and 2016

et al. 2020

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“…Soil moisture, soil nutrient availability and macroclimate were found to be the most important factors determining the floristic composition, and consequently the alliances differentiations of Molinio ‐ Arrhenatheretea grasslands in the study area (Table 3, Figures 4 and 5). Many studies suggest that the variation in species composition of European mesic grasslands is mainly due to gradients of soil moisture and soil nutrient availability (Havlová et al , 2004; Rodríguez‐Rojo et al , 2017; Diekmann et al , 2019). On the other hand, it has also been demonstrated that the vegetation structure and the species composition of grasslands in SE Europe are strongly influenced by biogeographic and climatic gradients (Ilijanić, 1963, 1973; Hájek et al , 2008; Šilc et al , 2014).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Diversity of wet and mesic grasslands along a climatic gradient on the southern margin of the Pannonian Basin

Škvorc

Ćuk

Zelnik

et al. 2020

Applied Vegetation Science

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“…Regular mowing, grazing, and occasional fires maintained species-rich wet meadows and fen vegetation, and protected them from encroachment and overgrowing of shrubs and trees. Subsequently, intensive agriculture and widespread drainage of peatlands has led to a drastic decline in the area of species-rich wet grassland, meadows, and fens [37,100], and transformed the species composition [68,[101][102][103][104]. Finally, numerous peatlands were drained for peat mining.…”

Section: A Call For Adaptive Maintenance Actions Of Fensmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment and Spatial Planning for Peatland Conservation and Restoration: Europe’s Trans-Border Neman River Basin as a Case Study

Manton

Makrickas

Banaszuk

et al. 2021

Land

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Peatlands are the “kidneys” of river basins. However, intensification of agriculture and forestry in Europe has resulted in the degradation of peatlands and their biodiversity (i.e., species, habitats and processes in ecosystems), thus impairing water retention, nutrient filtration, and carbon capture. Restoration of peatlands requires assessment of patterns and processes, and spatial planning. To support strategic planning of protection, management, and restoration of peatlands, we assessed the conservation status of three peatland types within the trans-border Neman River basin. First, we compiled a spatial peatland database for the two EU and two non-EU countries involved. Second, we performed quantitative and qualitative gap analyses of fens, transitional mires, and raised bogs at national and sub-basin levels. Third, we identified priority areas for local peatland restoration using a local hotspot analysis. Nationally, the gap analysis showed that the protection of peatlands meets the Convention of Biological Diversity’s quantitative target of 17%. However, qualitative targets like representation and peatland qualities were not met in some regional sub-basins. This stresses that restoration of peatlands, especially fens, is required. This study provides an assessment methodology to support sub-basin-level spatial conservation planning that considers both quantitative and qualitative peatland properties. Finally, we highlight the need for developing and validating evidence-based performance targets for peatland patterns and processes and call for peatland restoration guided by social-ecological research and inter-sectoral collaborative governance.

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Patterns of long‐term vegetation change vary between different types of semi‐natural grasslands in Western and Central Europe

Cited by 67 publications

References 45 publications

Long-term change in calcareous grassland vegetation and drivers over three time periods between 1970 and 2016

Long-term change in calcareous grassland vegetation and drivers over three time periods between 1970 and 2016

Diversity of wet and mesic grasslands along a climatic gradient on the southern margin of the Pannonian Basin

Assessment and Spatial Planning for Peatland Conservation and Restoration: Europe’s Trans-Border Neman River Basin as a Case Study

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