Evaluation of the mowing frequency effect on floristic diversity of seminatural meadows using generalized diversity indices

The objectives of our research were: (1) to assess the influence of the frequency of mowing different types of seminatural meadows characteristic of Central Europe on their floristic diversity, (2) to indicate the optimal management method (3) to estimate changes in species richness of phytophagous...

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Main Authors: Andrzej Bochniak, Mariusz Kulik, Małgorzata Jaźwa, Joanna Sender, Radosław Ścibior
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024-02-01
Series:Ecological Indicators
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X24001766
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author Andrzej Bochniak
Mariusz Kulik
Małgorzata Jaźwa
Joanna Sender
Radosław Ścibior
author_facet Andrzej Bochniak
Mariusz Kulik
Małgorzata Jaźwa
Joanna Sender
Radosław Ścibior
author_sort Andrzej Bochniak
collection DOAJ
description The objectives of our research were: (1) to assess the influence of the frequency of mowing different types of seminatural meadows characteristic of Central Europe on their floristic diversity, (2) to indicate the optimal management method (3) to estimate changes in species richness of phytophagous beetles from the Chrysomelidae family under the influence of mowing, against the background of different types of meadows.Studies conducted in a single Natura 2000 site (The Middle Wieprz Valley PLH060005) in eastern Poland have shown that mowing frequency affects both the flora and fauna diversity of seminatural meadows typical of Central and Eastern Europe. The greatest alpha-diversity was found in double-mow meadows, while the least was found in the unmown ones. Therefore, double-mowing of meadows could be a recommendation for agri-environment-climate programs that support environmentally friendly farming methods in the European Union. The Renyi diversity profiles made it possible to observe differences resulting from the frequency of mowing, especially in relation to single-mow meadows. Wet meadows (Molinietalia) and mixed meadows (Molinio-Arrhenatheretea) had similar characteristics, both in the case of single and double mowing, with a more uniform coverage of species.The least floristic diversity, expressed in species richness, was characteristic of rush meadows, while the largest was of fresh meadows. The greatest decline in chrysomelid beetle species richness was observed in rush and wet meadows, while an increase was observed in fresh meadows. Higher-order indices are easier to interpret when expressed in Renyi series. The assessment could also apply to ecosystems other than grasslands. Due to the differences obtained in the values of individual orders, it is more advantageous to use Renyi indices, especially when it comes to interpreting the occurrence of dominant species in the community. Only in the case of fresh meadows, a simultaneous increase in the alpha and beta-diversity coincided with a higher frequency of mowing. In the case of the other meadow types, with an increase in mowing frequency, higher diversity but lower beta-diversity was found.
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spelling doaj.art-a53b9a8555af4119ac70cbb09e8d57392024-02-25T04:35:19ZengElsevierEcological Indicators1470-160X2024-02-01159111719Evaluation of the mowing frequency effect on floristic diversity of seminatural meadows using generalized diversity indicesAndrzej Bochniak0Mariusz Kulik1Małgorzata Jaźwa2Joanna Sender3Radosław Ścibior4Department of Applied Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Głęboka 28, 20-612 Lublin, PolandDepartment of Grassland and Landscape Planning, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka 15, 20-950 Lublin, PolandUniversity of Opole, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Technology, Institute of Biology, Plant Diversity Research Group, Oleska 22, 45-052 Opole, PolandDepartment of Hydrobiology and Protection of Ecosystems, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Dobrzańskiego 37, Lublin, Poland; Corresponding author.Department of Zoology and Animal Ecology, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka 15, 20-950 Lublin, PolandThe objectives of our research were: (1) to assess the influence of the frequency of mowing different types of seminatural meadows characteristic of Central Europe on their floristic diversity, (2) to indicate the optimal management method (3) to estimate changes in species richness of phytophagous beetles from the Chrysomelidae family under the influence of mowing, against the background of different types of meadows.Studies conducted in a single Natura 2000 site (The Middle Wieprz Valley PLH060005) in eastern Poland have shown that mowing frequency affects both the flora and fauna diversity of seminatural meadows typical of Central and Eastern Europe. The greatest alpha-diversity was found in double-mow meadows, while the least was found in the unmown ones. Therefore, double-mowing of meadows could be a recommendation for agri-environment-climate programs that support environmentally friendly farming methods in the European Union. The Renyi diversity profiles made it possible to observe differences resulting from the frequency of mowing, especially in relation to single-mow meadows. Wet meadows (Molinietalia) and mixed meadows (Molinio-Arrhenatheretea) had similar characteristics, both in the case of single and double mowing, with a more uniform coverage of species.The least floristic diversity, expressed in species richness, was characteristic of rush meadows, while the largest was of fresh meadows. The greatest decline in chrysomelid beetle species richness was observed in rush and wet meadows, while an increase was observed in fresh meadows. Higher-order indices are easier to interpret when expressed in Renyi series. The assessment could also apply to ecosystems other than grasslands. Due to the differences obtained in the values of individual orders, it is more advantageous to use Renyi indices, especially when it comes to interpreting the occurrence of dominant species in the community. Only in the case of fresh meadows, a simultaneous increase in the alpha and beta-diversity coincided with a higher frequency of mowing. In the case of the other meadow types, with an increase in mowing frequency, higher diversity but lower beta-diversity was found.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X24001766GrasslandHay meadowsWet meadowsRenyi diversity indexTsallis diversity indexAlpha-diversity
spellingShingle Andrzej Bochniak
Mariusz Kulik
Małgorzata Jaźwa
Joanna Sender
Radosław Ścibior
Evaluation of the mowing frequency effect on floristic diversity of seminatural meadows using generalized diversity indices
Ecological Indicators
Grassland
Hay meadows
Wet meadows
Renyi diversity index
Tsallis diversity index
Alpha-diversity
title Evaluation of the mowing frequency effect on floristic diversity of seminatural meadows using generalized diversity indices
title_full Evaluation of the mowing frequency effect on floristic diversity of seminatural meadows using generalized diversity indices
title_fullStr Evaluation of the mowing frequency effect on floristic diversity of seminatural meadows using generalized diversity indices
title_full_unstemmed Evaluation of the mowing frequency effect on floristic diversity of seminatural meadows using generalized diversity indices
title_short Evaluation of the mowing frequency effect on floristic diversity of seminatural meadows using generalized diversity indices
title_sort evaluation of the mowing frequency effect on floristic diversity of seminatural meadows using generalized diversity indices
topic Grassland
Hay meadows
Wet meadows
Renyi diversity index
Tsallis diversity index
Alpha-diversity
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X24001766
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AT małgorzatajazwa evaluationofthemowingfrequencyeffectonfloristicdiversityofseminaturalmeadowsusinggeneralizeddiversityindices
AT joannasender evaluationofthemowingfrequencyeffectonfloristicdiversityofseminaturalmeadowsusinggeneralizeddiversityindices
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