Effects of landscape composition, species pool and time on grassland specialists in restored semi-natural grasslands

Waldén, Emelie; Öckinger, Erik; Winsa, Marie; Lindborg, Regina

doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2017.07.037

Cited by 24 publications

(48 citation statements)

References 69 publications

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“…The current study also showed that old grasslands have a role as refugia for endangered species that depend on grasslands ( Figure 2c). The finding that the diversity of grassland-dependent native species and grasslanddependent endangered species were clearly higher in the old grasslands (Figure 2b,c), is in agreeance with previous studies (Gustavsson et al, 2007;Johansson et al, 2008;Waldén, Öckinger, Winsa, & Lindborg, 2017) reporting richer grassland specialist species in old grasslands. Because the positive effect of the temporal continuity of a grassland on plant diversity has only been previously reported in Sweden (Gustavsson et al, 2007), the current study (in Japan) suggests the generality of this effect independent of other factors such as continent.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

The effects of temporal continuities of grasslands on the diversity and species composition of plants

Inoue

Yaida

Uehara

et al. 2020

Ecological Research

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Seminatural grasslands are ecosystems rich in biodiversity. However, their decline has been reported worldwide, and identification of grasslands with high conservation priority is urgently required. Recently, an increasing number of studies have reported that past vegetation history affects current biological communities. To evaluate whether the temporal continuity of grasslands promotes biodiversity, and thus can be an indicator of conservation priority, we studied vascular plant communities in old (160-1000s years) and new (52-70 years after deforestation) grasslands, as well as in forests, of Sugadaira Highland in central Japan. The number of plant species was highest in old grasslands, followed by new grasslands and forests. This pattern was much clearer in the number of grassland-dependent native and grassland-dependent endangered species, indicating the role of old grasslands as refugia for those species. The species composition differed between old and new grasslands. New grasslands had species compositions in between those of old grasslands and forests, suggesting that the plant community in new grasslands retains the influence of past forestation for more than 52 years after deforestation. Eleven indicator species were detected in old grasslands, but none in new grasslands, suggesting the uniqueness of the plant community in old grasslands. We conclude that the temporal continuity of grasslands increases plant diversity and can be an indicator of grasslands with high conservation priority.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

The effects of temporal continuities of grasslands on the diversity and species composition of plants

Inoue

Yaida

Uehara

et al. 2020

Ecological Research

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show abstract

“…The current study also showed that old grasslands have a role as refugia for endangered species that depend on grasslands (Figure 4). The finding that the diversity of grassland-dependent native species and grassland-dependent endangered species were clearly higher in the old grasslands (Figure 3, 4), is in agreeance with previous studies (Gustavsson et al, 2007; Johansson et al, 2008; Waldén, Öckinger, Winsa, & Lindborg, 2017) reporting richer grassland specialist species in old grasslands. Because the positive effect of the temporal continuity of a grassland on plant diversity has only been previously reported in Sweden (Gustavsson et al, 2007), the current study (in Japan) suggests the generality of this effect independent of other factors such as continent.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

The effects of temporal continuities of grasslands on the diversity and species composition of plants

Inoue

Yaida

Uehara

et al. 2020

Preprint

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Semi-natural grasslands are ecosystems rich in biodiversity. However, their decline has been reported worldwide, and identification of grasslands with high conservation priority is urgently required. Recently, an increasing number of studies have reported that past vegetation history affects current biological communities. To evaluate whether the temporal continuity of grasslands promotes biodiversity, and thus can be an indicator of conservation priority, we studied vascular plant communities in old (160– 1000s years) and new (52–70 years after deforestation) grasslands, as well as in forests, of Sugadaira Highland in central Japan. The number of plant species was highest in old grasslands, followed by new grasslands and forests. This pattern was much clearer in the number of grassland-dependent native and grassland-dependent endangered species, indicating the role of old grasslands as refugia for those species. The species composition differed between old and new grasslands. New grasslands had species compositions in between those of old grasslands and forests, suggesting that the plant community in new grasslands retains the influence of past forestation for more than 52 years after deforestation. Eleven indicator species were detected in old grasslands, but none in new grasslands, suggesting the uniqueness of the plant community in old grasslands. We conclude that the temporal continuity of grasslands increases plant diversity and can be an indicator of grasslands with high conservation priority.

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“…The connectivity losses we observed, therefore, likely represent a serious decline in the ability of grassland plants to adapt to key current and future global change drivers. Ancient grasslands are vital sources of biodiversity, since grassland specialist communities take many years to become fully established following the reintroduction of grazing management in restored sites (Aavik et al 2008;Waldén et al 2017;Karlík and Poschlod 2019). This was reflected here in differences observed between ancient and restored grasslands.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 88%

“…Declines in connectivity may also reduce our ability to restore species-rich grasslands on former agricultural or abandoned areas. Restored grasslands recover biodiversity more quickly when more species are present within the wider landscape, and when the sites are well-connected to other grassland habitats Fagan et al 2008;Piqueray et al 2011Piqueray et al , 2015Winsa et al 2015;Waldén et al 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Functional rather than structural connectivity explains grassland plant diversity patterns following landscape scale habitat loss

et al. 2020

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Context Functional connectivity is vital for plant species dispersal, but little is known about how habitat loss and the presence of green infrastructure interact to affect both functional and structural connectivity, and the impacts of each on species groups. Objectives We investigate how changes in the spatial configuration of species-rich grasslands and related green infrastructure such as road verges, hedgerows and forest borders in three European countries have influenced landscape connectivity, and the effects on grassland plant biodiversity. Methods We mapped past and present land use for 36 landscapes in Belgium, Germany and Sweden, to estimate connectivity based on simple habitat spatial configuration (structural connectivity) and accounting for effective dispersal and establishment (functional connectivity) around focal grasslands. We used the resulting measures of landscape change to interpret patterns in plant communities. Results Increased presence of landscape connecting elements could not compensate for large scale losses of grassland area resulting in substantial declines in structural and functional connectivity. Generalist species were negatively affected by connectivity, and responded most strongly to structural connectivity, while functional connectivity determined the occurrence of grassland specialists in focal grasslands. Restored patches had more generalist species, and a lower density of grassland specialist species than ancient patches. Conclusions Protecting both species rich grasslands and dispersal pathways within landscapes is essential for maintaining grassland biodiversity. Our results show that increases in green infrastructure have not been sufficient to offset loss of semi-natural habitat, and that landscape links must be functionally effective in order to contribute to grassland diversity.

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Effects of landscape composition, species pool and time on grassland specialists in restored semi-natural grasslands

Cited by 24 publications

References 69 publications

The effects of temporal continuities of grasslands on the diversity and species composition of plants

The effects of temporal continuities of grasslands on the diversity and species composition of plants

The effects of temporal continuities of grasslands on the diversity and species composition of plants

Functional rather than structural connectivity explains grassland plant diversity patterns following landscape scale habitat loss

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