Vegetation responses to environmental conditions in floodplain grasslands: Prerequisites for preserving plant species diversity

Redecker, Bernd; Aßmann, Thorsten; Meyer, Hartmut

doi:10.1016/j.baae.2005.09.003

Cited by 42 publications

(47 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…Consequently, species-rich wet and mesic meadows belong today to the most threatened grassland types in Central Europe (Bergmeier and Nowak 1988;Dierßen et al 1988;Dierschke and Briemle 2002;Riecken et al 2006). While drainage and subsequent lowering of the groundwater table are the main causes for the loss of wet meadows (Rosenthal and Hölzel 2009;Prajs and Antkowiak 2010), application of fertilisers and increasing mowing frequency are key drivers of biodiversity loss in both wet and mesic meadows (Grevilliot et al 1998;Jannsens et al 1998;Härdtle et al 2006).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Habitat loss of floodplain meadows in north Germany since the 1950s

et al. 2011

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Floodplain meadows are severely threatened by land use change and intensification in Central Europe. This study investigates quantitative and qualitative changes in the vegetation of wet and species-rich mesic meadows in the floodplains of north Germany since the 1950s, considering their spatial extent, fragmentation, and replacement by other land use types. Historical high-resolution vegetation maps were compared with recent vegetation surveys in seven study regions (six unprotected areas, one protected reference area) in former West and East Germany. The unprotected sites showed alarming losses in wet and species-rich mesic meadows in the past 50 years ([80%). Wet meadows were substituted by species-poor, intensively managed grasslands (26-60% of the former area), arable fields (0-47%) or set-asides (2-33%). Species-rich mesic meadows were transformed to arable fields (42-72%) or species-poor, intensively managed meadows (14-72%). Decreases in effective mesh size and patch size indicated increasing fragmentation of wet meadows, whilst changes in landscape structure were less consistent in mesic meadows. Only slight changes in the protected floodplain study area indicate that landscape change is mostly caused by local effects such as fertilisation and drainage, but not by general trends such as atmospheric N deposition or climate warming. Despite the contrasting political systems in West and East Germany with different agroeconomic frames, all unprotected study areas showed similar losses and increasing fragmentation of floodplain meadows, which may negatively influence the natural dynamics of, and the gene flow between, meadow plant populations. We conclude that floodplain meadows in north Germany urgently call for high-priority conservation measures.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Habitat loss of floodplain meadows in north Germany since the 1950s

et al. 2011

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“…Restoration of floodplains requires the reinstatement of a more natural hydrology, including raised water levels and flooding, which may control the composition and connectivity of floodplain plant communities Amoros and Bornette 2002). However, the response of plant communities to hydrological restoration is difficult to predict, as changes occur in species assemblage and environmental factors, such as soil properties and water quality, following drainage (Grootjans et al 1996;Härdtle et al 2005).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Response of floodplain grassland plant communities to altered water regimes

Toogood¹,

Joyce

Waite

2007

Plant Ecol

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Floodplain grasslands are often composed of a mosaic of plant communities controlled by hydrological regime. This article examines the sensitivity of floodplain grassland plant communities to water regime using reciprocal transplantation of an inundation grassland and a flood-meadow within an English floodplain. Experimental treatments comprised control, transplanted and lifted plots; the last treatment, in order to elucidate any disturbance effects of transplantation. Plant community response was analysed using species abundance and their ecological traits. Results from both communities showed substantial annual variations related to hydrology, including significant\ud species changes, but generally, vegetation seemed to be responding to drier conditions following a major flood event. This ‘drying’ trend was characterised by increased species diversity, a greater abundance of competitive species and fewer typical wetland plants. Transplanted community composition increasingly resembled receptor sites and transplant effects were most pronounced the first year after treatment for both vegetation types. Differential responses to water regime were detected for the two plant communities. The inundation grassland community was particularly dynamic with a composition that rapidly reflected drying conditions following the major flood, but transplantation into a drier flood-meadow site prompted little additional change. The flood-meadow community appeared more resistant to postinundation drying, but was sensitive to increased wetness caused by transplantation into inundation grassland, which significantly reduced six species while none were significantly favoured. The effect of disturbance caused by lifting the transplants were limited in both communities, although five species showed significant annual fluctuations. The study shows that small alterations in water regime can prompt rapid vegetation changes and significant plant species responses in floodplain grasslands, with effects probably magnified through competitive interactions. The dynamic properties of\ud floodplain vegetation demonstrated by this study suggest that its classification, management and monitoring are challenging and ideally should be based on long-term studies

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“…Plant-available P is the most important measured nutrient in determining plant species composition (Härdtle et al 2006). It is negatively correlated with biodiversity what coincides with the fact that its high contents inhibit species richness (McCrea et al 2001).…”

Section: Floristic Gradients and Environmental Parametersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Wet meadows of the alliance Molinion and their environmental gradients in Slovenia

Zelnik

Čarni

2008

Biologia

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Abstract:The main objective of this study was to examine the relationships between wet meadow plant communities of Molinon alliance and their environmental conditions in Slovenia. The ecology of these communities was analysed in detail. The study provides the data on the vegetation and environmental parameters, the significance of parameters for the plant species composition, most important environmental gradients and differences between plant communities. In all plots the vegetation was recorded and soil parameters were analysed (pH, plant-available P and K, Nt, organic C, C/N ratio, exchangeable Ca 2+ , Mg 2+ , K + , Na + , H + , electrical conductivity, base saturation). Other conditions were also considered (e.g., mean annual temperature and precipitation, humidity index, mean Ellenberg moisture and nutrient value) to test possible correlations as well. Vegetation was classified by means of multivariate cluster analysis, while vegetation-site relationships were examined with direct gradient analysis (CCA). Six associations from the Molinon alliance (Selino-Molinietum, Plantagini altissimae-Molinietum, Carici davallianae-Molinietum, Gentiano-Molinietum litoralis, Junco conglomerati-Betonicetum and Sanguisorbo-Festucetum commutatae) were identified and analysed. Soil reaction was identified as most significant environmental parameter explaining the variation of the studied vegetation. There are several statistically significant differences in site conditions between the communities (pH, moisture, nutrient status, Ca 2+ ). The studied associations represent clearly defined ecological units.

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Vegetation responses to environmental conditions in floodplain grasslands: Prerequisites for preserving plant species diversity

Cited by 42 publications

References 19 publications

Habitat loss of floodplain meadows in north Germany since the 1950s

Habitat loss of floodplain meadows in north Germany since the 1950s

Response of floodplain grassland plant communities to altered water regimes

Wet meadows of the alliance Molinion and their environmental gradients in Slovenia

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