Regional-scale land-cover change during the 20th century and its consequences for biodiversity

Cousins, Sara A. O.; Auffret, Alistair G.; Lindgren, Jessica; Tränk, Louise

doi:10.1007/s13280-014-0585-9

Cited by 135 publications

(148 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…The loss, alteration, and fragmentation of grasslands in Kristianstad, one of Sweden's most prized grassland areas, are consistent with other findings of grassland degradation in Southern Sweden. The long development history of intensive forestry and agriculture in southern Sweden has reduced the quantity and quality of several grassland types including lowland wet grasslands [47], cultural wooded grasslands [42,43,48,49], and dry xeric and calcareous grasslands [46]. However, this is not limited to Sweden with similar declines found for the alvar grasslands of Estonia: −72% from 1930 to 2008 [50,51].…”

Section: Reduced Functionality Of Semi-natural Grasslands As a Green mentioning

confidence: 99%

Defining Benchmarks for Restoration of Green Infrastructure: A Case Study Combining the Historical Range of Variability of Habitat and Species’ Requirements

Manton

Angelstam

2018

Sustainability

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Animal husbandry in Europe that sustained once wide-spread semi-natural grasslands has been replaced by maximum sustained yield agriculture and forestry. This transformation coincides with declining populations of species dependent on semi-natural grasslands. A key task is therefore to define benchmarks for landscape restoration in terms of well-planned functional habitat networks, i.e., green infrastructure. Using a representative example of the European landscape gradient between agricultural and forest landscapes in southern Sweden as a case study, we analyzed the historic range of variability of the total area, quality, and size of grassland patches, and compared this to the requirements of focal grassland species. Spatial data covering the past two centuries indicated a 75-80% loss of total grassland area. Three factors affected the functionality of grasslands as green infrastructure. First, during the period 1927-1976, the loss of all grassland areas with high nature values was 41-59%. Second, as a measure of alteration, the number of semi-natural grassland types declined from 5 to 1. Third, to address habitat fragmentation, an analysis of changes in grassland patch size showed that patches sufficiently large to support local populations of complete focal grasslands species assemblages declined by 89-100%. The cumulative effect of loss, alteration, and fragmentation over the past two centuries indicates that the functionality of semi-natural grasslands has declined by at least 98%. However, this estimate does not consider land use changes before 1800, reduced connectivity, and altered biotic and abiotic processes in both semi-natural grasslands and the surrounding matrix. We stress the need to define the historic range of variability as a benchmark in relation to species' requirements to maintain semi-natural grasslands as green infrastructure. Finally, integrated land management and governance that support multi-functionality of grasslands is needed.

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Section: Reduced Functionality Of Semi-natural Grasslands As a Green mentioning

confidence: 99%

Defining Benchmarks for Restoration of Green Infrastructure: A Case Study Combining the Historical Range of Variability of Habitat and Species’ Requirements

Manton

Angelstam

2018

Sustainability

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“…On the one hand agricultural production is intensified, while on the other hand marginal areas are no longer being used (Strijker, 2005). Both of these factors lead to a decline in biological diversity and the disappearance of many rare species, which usually have a narrow ecological amplitude (Ellenberg, 1985;Cousins et al, 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Influence of Past Land-Use and Environmental Factors on Grassland Species Diversity

Zarzycki¹

2017

Appl. Ecol. Env. Res.

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Zarzycki -Bedla: The influence of past land-use and environmental factors on grassland species diversity -267 - Abstract. Mountain grasslands are among the most species-rich plant communities in Europe. This is due to the large variability of abiotic conditions and ways of management. However, a significant change in the rural economy has taken place in recent decades. Some grasslands have become forested, while others have been overgrown as a result of succession. Fodder for domestic animals is produced on grasslands created on former arable land. The aim of this study was to estimate the effect of topographic factors (altitude, slope, exposure) and land use (grassland, arable land) in the mid-nineteenth century and the 1930s on the present biodiversity of mountain grasslands. The study was carried out in the basin of the Łomniczanka and Wierchomlanka Rivers in the Beskid Sądecki (Polish Carpathians). A total of 73 phytosociological relevés in an altitude gradient ranging from 660 to 1,060 m a.s.l were made. Past land use was determined on the basis of archival cadastral and topographic maps. The altitude above sea level was the main factor influencing the botanical composition of vegetation. No difference was observed in species composition depending on past land use. The results show the crucial role of altitude in determining the species composition of mountain meadows.

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“…The transformation of the landscapes during the last 150 years is illustrated by a study from the Province of Södermanland, south of Stockholm [39]. Around the year 1900, semi-natural grasslands (including wooded areas) covered almost 50% of the landscape, and this figure is based on maps made after the first wave of major transition in meadow management (which in this province took place around 1860), suggesting that the historical extent of semi-natural grasslands was even larger.…”

Section: Historical Context and Species Richnessmentioning

confidence: 99%

Historical and Current Niche Construction in an Anthropogenic Biome: Old Cultural Landscapes in Southern Scandinavia

Eriksson

2016

Land

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Conceptual advances in niche construction theory provide new perspectives and a tool-box for studies of human-environment interactions mediating what is termed anthropogenic biomes. This theory is useful also for studies on how anthropogenic biomes are perceived and valued. This paper addresses these topics using an example: "old cultural landscapes" in Scandinavia, i.e., landscapes formed by a long, dynamic and continuously changing history of management. Today, remnant habitats of this management history, such as wooded pastures and meadows, are the focus of conservation programs, due to their rich biodiversity and cultural and aesthetic values. After a review of historical niche construction processes, the paper examines current niche construction affecting these old cultural landscapes. Features produced by historical niche construction, e.g., landscape composition and species richness, are in the modern society reinterpreted to become values associated with beauty and heritage and species' intrinsic values. These non-utilitarian motivators now become drivers of new niche construction dynamics, manifested as conservation programs. The paper also examines the possibility to maintain and create new habitats, potentially associated with values emanating from historical landscapes, but in transformed and urbanized landscapes.

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Regional-scale land-cover change during the 20th century and its consequences for biodiversity

Cited by 135 publications

References 42 publications

Defining Benchmarks for Restoration of Green Infrastructure: A Case Study Combining the Historical Range of Variability of Habitat and Species’ Requirements

Defining Benchmarks for Restoration of Green Infrastructure: A Case Study Combining the Historical Range of Variability of Habitat and Species’ Requirements

The Influence of Past Land-Use and Environmental Factors on Grassland Species Diversity

Historical and Current Niche Construction in an Anthropogenic Biome: Old Cultural Landscapes in Southern Scandinavia

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