Publication Details

Category Text Publication
Reference Category Journals
DOI 10.3170/2007-8-18308
Title (Primary) Plant functional group composition and large-scale species richness in the European agricultural landscapes
Author Liira, L.; Schmidt, T.; Aavik, T.; Arens, P.; Augenstein, I.; Bailey, D.; Billeter, R.; Bukáček, R.; Burel, F.; de Blust, G.; de Cock, R.; Dirksen, J.; Edwards, P.J.; Hamerský, R.; Herzog, F.; Klotz, S.; Kühn, I. ORCID logo ; Le Coeur, D.; Miklová, P.; Roubalova, M.; Schweiger, O.; Smulders, M.J.M.; van Wingerden, W.K.R.E.; Bugter, R.; Zobel, M.
Source Titel Journal of Vegetation Science
Year 2008
Department BZF
Volume 19
Issue 1
Page From 3
Page To 14
Language englisch
Keywords Agricultural land use; Habitat fragmentation; Habitat loss; Landscape structure; Plant functional type; Plant growth form; Plant species richness
Abstract Question: Which are the plant functional groups responding most clearly to agricultural disturbances? Which are the relative roles of habitat availability, landscape configuration and agricultural land use intensity in affecting the functional composition and diversity of vascular plants in agricultural landscapes?Location: 25 agricultural landscape areas in seven European countries.Methods: We examined the plant species richness and abundance in 4 km × 4 km landscape study sites. The plant functional group classification was derived from the BIOLFLOR database. Factorial decomposition of functional groups was applied.Results: Natural habitat availability and low land use intensity supported the abundance and richness of perennials, sedges, pteridophytes and high nature quality indicator species. The abundance of clonal species, C and S strategists was also correlated with habitat area. An increasing density of field edges explained a decrease in richness of high nature quality species and an increase in richness of annual graminoids. Intensive agriculture enhanced the richness of annuals and low nature quality species.Conclusions: Habitat patch availability and habitat quality are the main drivers of functional group composition and plant species richness in European agricultural landscapes. Linear elements do not compensate for the loss of habitats, as they mostly support disturbance tolerant generalist species. In order to conserve vascular plant species diversity in agricultural landscapes, the protection and enlargement of existing patches of (semi-) natural habitats appears to be more effective than relying on the rescue effect of linear elements. This should be done in combination with appropriate agricultural management techniques to limit the effect of agrochemicals to the fields.
Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=1191
Liira, L., Schmidt, T., Aavik, T., Arens, P., Augenstein, I., Bailey, D., Billeter, R., Bukáček, R., Burel, F., de Blust, G., de Cock, R., Dirksen, J., Edwards, P.J., Hamerský, R., Herzog, F., Klotz, S., Kühn, I., Le Coeur, D., Miklová, P., Roubalova, M., Schweiger, O., Smulders, M.J.M., van Wingerden, W.K.R.E., Bugter, R., Zobel, M. (2008):
Plant functional group composition and large-scale species richness in the European agricultural landscapes
J. Veg. Sci. 19 (1), 3 - 14 10.3170/2007-8-18308