The landscape matrix modifies the effect of habitat fragmentation in grassland butterflies

Öckinger, Erik; Bergman, Karl‐Olof; Franzén, Markus; Kadlec, Tomáš; Krauß, Jochen; Kuussaari, Mikko; Pöyry, Juha; Smith, Henrik G.; Steffan‐Dewenter, Ingolf; Bommarco, Riccardo

doi:10.1007/s10980-011-9686-z

Cited by 89 publications

(53 citation statements)

References 51 publications

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“…Our results consolidated those of previous studies which demonstrated that habitat fragmentation was most detrimental to butterflies with low dispersal ability and/or specialist species (Brückmann et al, 2010;Ekroos et al, 2013;Öckinger et al, 2012a;Perović et al, 2015). Linear elements contained not only fewer species but also hosted a different species composition than large patches -there were lower proportions of sedentary species and grassland specialists -and this difference increased with isolation from grasslands.…”

Section: Trait-dependent Responsessupporting

confidence: 88%

“…Previous studies demonstrated a limited (Binzenhöfer et al, 2005;Krämer et al, 2012;Krauss et al, 2003) or positive effects (Brückmann et al, 2010;Öckinger et al, 2012a;Pöyry et al, 2009) of grassland connectivity. This apparent discrepancy may stem from differences in the amount of suitable habitat in the different studies.…”

Section: Limited Effect Of Grassland Connectivity For Semi-natural Grmentioning

confidence: 98%

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Mosaic of grasslands and woodlands is more effective than habitat connectivity to conserve butterflies in French farmland

Villemey

Halder

Ouin

et al. 2015

Biological Conservation

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Section: Trait-dependent Responsessupporting

confidence: 88%

Section: Limited Effect Of Grassland Connectivity For Semi-natural Grmentioning

confidence: 98%

Mosaic of grasslands and woodlands is more effective than habitat connectivity to conserve butterflies in French farmland

Villemey

Halder

Ouin

et al. 2015

Biological Conservation

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“…This process is expected to also affect a range of other taxa, particularly species with low dispersal capabilities or those vulnerable to environmental change. Efforts to increase matrix permeability and use by patch-associated species should be a key management objective for successful biodiversity conservation in fragmented landscapes (Eycott et al, 2012;Öckinger et al, 2012).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Plantations, not farmlands, cause biotic homogenisation of ground-active beetles in south-eastern Australia

Sweaney

Driscoll

Lindenmayer

et al. 2015

Biological Conservation

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a b s t r a c tFollowing landscape change, species invasions and extinctions may lead to biotic homogenisation, resulting in increased taxonomic and functional similarity between previously distinct biotas. Biotic homogenisation is more likely to occur in landscapes where the matrix contrasts strongly with native vegetation patches. To test this, we examined the distribution of ground-active beetles in a landscape of remnant Eucalyptus open woodland patches where large areas of lower contrast matrix (farmland) are being transformed to high-contrast pine plantations in south-eastern Australia. We sampled beetles from 30 sites including six replicates of five categories; (1) remnants adjacent to farmland, (2) remnants adjacent to plantation, (3) farmland, (4) plantation, and, (5) remnants between pine plantation and farmland. Community composition in the pine matrix was similar to native patches embedded in pine (ANOSIM, Global R = 0.49, P < 0.000), which we suggest is due to biotic homogenisation. Remnant patches with edges of both farmland and pine plantation did not represent an intermediate community composition between patches surrounded by either matrix type, but rather a unique habitat with unique species. Farmland supported the greatest number of individuals (F = 9.049, df = 25, P < 0.000) and species (F = 5.875, df = 25, P = 0.002), even compared to native remnant patches. Our results suggest that matrix transformations can reduce species richness and homogenise within-patch populations. This may increase the risk of species declines in fragmented landscapes where plantations are not only replacing native vegetation patches, but also other matrix types that may better support biodiversity. Our findings are particularly concerning given expanding plantation establishment worldwide.

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“…Thus, the switch from low intensity traditional farming to intensive farming has affected many animal and plant species dependent on semi-natural grasslands [22,36,57,58]. Loss, alteration, and fragmentation of semi natural grassland patches in Southern Sweden [59,60], and thus reduced functionality of semi-natural grasslands as green infrastructure, are linked to losses in species richness [61,62].…”

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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The landscape matrix modifies the effect of habitat fragmentation in grassland butterflies

Cited by 89 publications

References 51 publications

Mosaic of grasslands and woodlands is more effective than habitat connectivity to conserve butterflies in French farmland

Mosaic of grasslands and woodlands is more effective than habitat connectivity to conserve butterflies in French farmland

Plantations, not farmlands, cause biotic homogenisation of ground-active beetles in south-eastern Australia

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

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