Using the old-growth concept to identify old species-rich semi-natural grasslands
The concept of ‘old growth’, originally developed for forests, was recently extended to grassland to distinguish old natural grasslands (NG) from semi-natural grassland (SNG). Comparing mesophile SNGs of different ages, we show that the concept is also able to distinguish old SNGs from young SNGs an...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2023-11-01
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| Series: | Ecological Indicators |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X23010956 |
| _version_ | 1797655099544174592 |
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| author | André Pornon Christophe Andalo |
| author_facet | André Pornon Christophe Andalo |
| author_sort | André Pornon |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The concept of ‘old growth’, originally developed for forests, was recently extended to grassland to distinguish old natural grasslands (NG) from semi-natural grassland (SNG). Comparing mesophile SNGs of different ages, we show that the concept is also able to distinguish old SNGs from young SNGs and also that assembly time plays a determining role in the ecology and evolution of SNG. As expected from the old-growth concept and like NG, old SNGs have an unique floristic composition with a higher greater proportion of long-lived species with underground storage, clonal growth organs and bud banks, higher species richness, diversity and evenness. Furthermore, they have much greater floral abundances and contain sedge species not found in younger SNGs such as Carex caryophyllea which is a reliable indicator of old unimproved species-rich grasslands. Comparison with other old grassland systems suggests that the old SNGs are probably remnants of the rich biodiversity of the grassland vegetation that was once widespread in the Atlantic biogeographic region. Given their ecological, cultural and aesthetic values and their role in essential ecosystem services, these threatened old SNGs deserve urgent protection. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T17:09:14Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-50f6d7dc152b45ba8e27c2ddf72a1118 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1470-160X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T17:09:14Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecological Indicators |
| spelling | doaj.art-50f6d7dc152b45ba8e27c2ddf72a11182023-10-20T06:38:30ZengElsevierEcological Indicators1470-160X2023-11-01155110953Using the old-growth concept to identify old species-rich semi-natural grasslandsAndré Pornon0Christophe Andalo1Corresponding author at: Laboratoire Evolution et Diversité Biologique, UMR 5174 CNRS-UPS-IRD, Université Paul Sabatier/Toulouse III, Bât. 4R1; 118 Rte de Narbonne, F-31062 Toulouse cedex 04, France.; Laboratoire Evolution and Diversité Biologique (EDB), UMR 5174, CNRS, Université Paul Sabatier/Toulouse III, F-31062 Toulouse, FranceLaboratoire Evolution and Diversité Biologique (EDB), UMR 5174, CNRS, Université Paul Sabatier/Toulouse III, F-31062 Toulouse, FranceThe concept of ‘old growth’, originally developed for forests, was recently extended to grassland to distinguish old natural grasslands (NG) from semi-natural grassland (SNG). Comparing mesophile SNGs of different ages, we show that the concept is also able to distinguish old SNGs from young SNGs and also that assembly time plays a determining role in the ecology and evolution of SNG. As expected from the old-growth concept and like NG, old SNGs have an unique floristic composition with a higher greater proportion of long-lived species with underground storage, clonal growth organs and bud banks, higher species richness, diversity and evenness. Furthermore, they have much greater floral abundances and contain sedge species not found in younger SNGs such as Carex caryophyllea which is a reliable indicator of old unimproved species-rich grasslands. Comparison with other old grassland systems suggests that the old SNGs are probably remnants of the rich biodiversity of the grassland vegetation that was once widespread in the Atlantic biogeographic region. Given their ecological, cultural and aesthetic values and their role in essential ecosystem services, these threatened old SNGs deserve urgent protection.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X23010956Old-growth conceptOld natural grasslandOld semi-natural grasslandGrassland ageSpecies richness and diversityAssembly time |
| spellingShingle | André Pornon Christophe Andalo Using the old-growth concept to identify old species-rich semi-natural grasslands Ecological Indicators Old-growth concept Old natural grassland Old semi-natural grassland Grassland age Species richness and diversity Assembly time |
| title | Using the old-growth concept to identify old species-rich semi-natural grasslands |
| title_full | Using the old-growth concept to identify old species-rich semi-natural grasslands |
| title_fullStr | Using the old-growth concept to identify old species-rich semi-natural grasslands |
| title_full_unstemmed | Using the old-growth concept to identify old species-rich semi-natural grasslands |
| title_short | Using the old-growth concept to identify old species-rich semi-natural grasslands |
| title_sort | using the old growth concept to identify old species rich semi natural grasslands |
| topic | Old-growth concept Old natural grassland Old semi-natural grassland Grassland age Species richness and diversity Assembly time |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X23010956 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT andrepornon usingtheoldgrowthconcepttoidentifyoldspeciesrichseminaturalgrasslands AT christopheandalo usingtheoldgrowthconcepttoidentifyoldspeciesrichseminaturalgrasslands |