Structural and functional characteristics of buffer strip vegetation in an agricultural landscape – high potential for nutrient removal but low potential for plant biodiversity

Hille, Sandra; Andersen, Dagmar Kappel; Kronvang, Brian; Baattrup‐Pedersen, Annette

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.02.117

Cited by 46 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 58 publications

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“…However, the relationship between plant species richness, evenness, diversity and soil TOC and TN content in this study was not significant. This may be attributable to many factors, including not only sitespecific environmental conditions, but also to landscape configuration and hydrological connectivity across riparian subzones [1,53,56].…”

Section: Relationship Between Soil Nutrients and Plant Species Diversmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Relationships between Soil Nutrients and Plant Diversity in Riparian Woodlands Along the Middle and Lower Reaches of the Yellow River, China

Zhao¹,

Xu²,

Tang³

et al. 2020

Pol. J. Environ. Stud.

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Riparian woodlands play a significant role in hosting plant diversity and maintaining soil and water resources. However, riparian woodlands are highly sensitive to fluvial and human disturbances, and most are now degraded as a result. In this study, we analyze variation in soil nutrients and plant diversity and their relationships in riparian woodlands along the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River in China, based on field investigation. Our results indicate that soil nutrient content and plant diversity were lowest in plots located closest to the river. Specifically, we found a hump-shaped relationship with increasing distance from river. This result can be attributed to the intermediate disturbance hypothesis,which explains that species diversity increase at intermediate disturbance levels. However, total species richness within each subzone was greatest close to the river, due primarily to the high level of species turnover observed among plots located closest to the river. Soil nutrients in the riparian woodlands were positively correlated with plant diversity across all distances. Specifically, soil TC, NO 3 --N, and A-P contents were significantly correlated with plant species richness and diversity.This relationship also conformed to a hump-shaped response curve between species richness and soil nutrients, though species richness increases with increasing nutrient levels. Results from this study can provide a basis for sustainable management of riparian ecosystems.

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Section: Relationship Between Soil Nutrients and Plant Species Diversmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Riparian ecosystems are the linkages between aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems [1,2]. However, riparian ecosystems are also a highly fragile and sensitive system that needs to be conserved [2].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Relationships between Soil Nutrients and Plant Diversity in Riparian Woodlands Along the Middle and Lower Reaches of the Yellow River, China

Zhao¹,

Xu²,

Tang³

et al. 2020

Pol. J. Environ. Stud.

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“…Other studies have found that for conservation purposes and establishment of species-rich communities, a reduction in soil nutrient levels (mainly phosphorus and nitrogen) is compulsory (Gough and Marrs, 1990;Pallett et al, 2016). Besides having a high nutrient status, soils in buffer strips are frequently drier than natural riparian areas (Hille et al, 2018) due to the high degree of drainage and channelization of streams in agricultural areas, which have probably turned them into unsuitable habitats for rare wetland species. Harvesting, which leads to removal of nutrients from the buffer soil, could in the long term create more favorable conditions for rare species, maybe in combination with sowing, to help establish viable populations.…”

Section: Consequences For Floristic Quality Of Buffer Stripsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Buffer strips are sometimes attributed a higher biodiversity, compared to the otherwise impoverished agricultural landscape; although they are usually not implemented with the goal of conservation. Their value for at least plant conservation has however often been questioned and, indeed, very few species of conservation value occur in Danish buffer strips (Hille et al, 2018). Harvesting, could present a management practice to improve the plant diversity value of buffer strips.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Does Regular Harvesting Increase Plant Diversity in Buffer Strips Separating Agricultural Land and Surface Waters?

Hille

Larsen

Rubæk

et al. 2018

Front. Environ. Sci.

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Vegetated buffer strips are often established in agricultural landscapes as an "edge of the field" mitigation measure against diffuse nutrient pollution of the aquatic environment. Harvesting of the vegetation has been suggested as a possible management strategy to prevent build-up of excessive amounts of nutrients in buffer soils and, at the same time, harvesting can have a positive effect on the diversity of the vegetation. However, the response of the vegetation to harvesting likely depends on taxonomic and functional characteristics. In the present study, we explored effects of harvesting frequency (by comparing harvesting once, twice, and four times per year to an unharvested control) on the taxonomic and functional trait composition of four different types of plant communities in buffer strips in Denmark. We found that one to two harvests per year mediated an increase in the diversity of the vegetation in low diversity buffer strips dominated by tall and productive herbs (tall herb fringe), whereas the diversity remained unchanged in buffer strips dominated by grasses as well as in more diverse buffer strips with rich fen and wet meadow species. We also found that harvesting changed the compositional patterns in the tall herb fringe community, with an increasing abundance of grasses and a declining abundance of tall herb species, in particular at a high harvesting frequency. Concomitant with these taxonomic changes, we observed changes in the trait composition of the community. The abundance of tall species declined in the tall herb fringe and in the tall grass community. Similarly, the abundance of productive species (as indicated by high Ellenberg N and Ellenberg R values) declined in the tall herb fringe (in areas harvested four times per year). We conclude that low frequency harvesting is a promising management strategy to increase plant diversity in buffer strips with an initially low diversity and high productivity and that harvesting over time can mediate a shift in compositional patterns toward less productive species.

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What is Latin America Doing Regarding the Research and Teaching of Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) to Boost Environmental Education?

et al. 2022

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Structural and functional characteristics of buffer strip vegetation in an agricultural landscape – high potential for nutrient removal but low potential for plant biodiversity

Cited by 46 publications

References 58 publications

Relationships between Soil Nutrients and Plant Diversity in Riparian Woodlands Along the Middle and Lower Reaches of the Yellow River, China

Relationships between Soil Nutrients and Plant Diversity in Riparian Woodlands Along the Middle and Lower Reaches of the Yellow River, China

Does Regular Harvesting Increase Plant Diversity in Buffer Strips Separating Agricultural Land and Surface Waters?

What is Latin America Doing Regarding the Research and Teaching of Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) to Boost Environmental Education?

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