The relationships between biodiversity and ecosystem services and the effects of grazing cessation in semi-natural grasslands
Land use change can affect biodiversity, and this has an impact on ecosystem services (ESs), but the relationships between biodiversity and ESs are complex and poorly understood. Biodiversity is declining due to the abandonment of extensively grazed semi-natural grasslands.<br><br>We...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Copernicus Publications
2018-04-01
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| Series: | Web Ecology |
| Online Access: | https://www.web-ecol.net/18/55/2018/we-18-55-2018.pdf |
| _version_ | 1811208278600843264 |
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| author | S. Wehn K. A. Hovstad L. Johansen |
| author_facet | S. Wehn K. A. Hovstad L. Johansen |
| author_sort | S. Wehn |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Land use change can affect biodiversity, and this has an impact on ecosystem
services (ESs), but the relationships between biodiversity and ESs are
complex and poorly understood. Biodiversity is declining due to the
abandonment of extensively grazed semi-natural grasslands.<br><br>We therefore aim to explore relationships between biodiversity and ESs
provided by extensively managed semi-natural grasslands. Focusing on vascular
plant species richness, as well as the ESs fodder quantity, quality, and stability,
allergy control, climate regulation, nutrient cycling, pollination, and
aesthetic appreciation, we carried out botanical field surveys of 28 paired
extensively grazed and abandoned semi-natural grassland plots, with four
subplots of 4 m<sup>2</sup> in each plot. The management of the semi-natural
grasslands is and has been at low intensity. We calculated the influence of
abandonment on the ES indicators, measured the correlation between the
biodiversity measure of vascular plant species richness and ES indicators,
and finally determined how the relationships between plant species richness
and the ES indicators were affected by the cessation of the extensive
management.<br><br>ES indicators are often, but not always, positively correlated with species
richness. Cessation of extensive grazing has both negative and positive
effects on ES indicators but the relationships between species richness and
ES indicators are often different in extensively managed and abandoned
semi-natural grasslands. The relationships between species richness and ES
indicators are less pronounced in the extensively managed semi-natural
grassland than for the abandoned. One possible reason for this outcome is
high functional redundancy in the extensively managed semi-natural
grasslands. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T04:19:08Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a86da629bcd440d78ff222070467531d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2193-3081 1399-1183 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T04:19:08Z |
| publishDate | 2018-04-01 |
| publisher | Copernicus Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Web Ecology |
| spelling | doaj.art-a86da629bcd440d78ff222070467531d2022-12-22T03:48:17ZengCopernicus PublicationsWeb Ecology2193-30811399-11832018-04-0118556510.5194/we-18-55-2018The relationships between biodiversity and ecosystem services and the effects of grazing cessation in semi-natural grasslandsS. Wehn0K. A. Hovstad1L. Johansen2The Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research (NIBIO), Klæbuveien 153, 7031 Tronheim, NorwayThe Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research (NIBIO), Klæbuveien 153, 7031 Tronheim, NorwayThe Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research (NIBIO), Klæbuveien 153, 7031 Tronheim, NorwayLand use change can affect biodiversity, and this has an impact on ecosystem services (ESs), but the relationships between biodiversity and ESs are complex and poorly understood. Biodiversity is declining due to the abandonment of extensively grazed semi-natural grasslands.<br><br>We therefore aim to explore relationships between biodiversity and ESs provided by extensively managed semi-natural grasslands. Focusing on vascular plant species richness, as well as the ESs fodder quantity, quality, and stability, allergy control, climate regulation, nutrient cycling, pollination, and aesthetic appreciation, we carried out botanical field surveys of 28 paired extensively grazed and abandoned semi-natural grassland plots, with four subplots of 4 m<sup>2</sup> in each plot. The management of the semi-natural grasslands is and has been at low intensity. We calculated the influence of abandonment on the ES indicators, measured the correlation between the biodiversity measure of vascular plant species richness and ES indicators, and finally determined how the relationships between plant species richness and the ES indicators were affected by the cessation of the extensive management.<br><br>ES indicators are often, but not always, positively correlated with species richness. Cessation of extensive grazing has both negative and positive effects on ES indicators but the relationships between species richness and ES indicators are often different in extensively managed and abandoned semi-natural grasslands. The relationships between species richness and ES indicators are less pronounced in the extensively managed semi-natural grassland than for the abandoned. One possible reason for this outcome is high functional redundancy in the extensively managed semi-natural grasslands.https://www.web-ecol.net/18/55/2018/we-18-55-2018.pdf |
| spellingShingle | S. Wehn K. A. Hovstad L. Johansen The relationships between biodiversity and ecosystem services and the effects of grazing cessation in semi-natural grasslands Web Ecology |
| title | The relationships between biodiversity and ecosystem services and the effects of grazing cessation in semi-natural grasslands |
| title_full | The relationships between biodiversity and ecosystem services and the effects of grazing cessation in semi-natural grasslands |
| title_fullStr | The relationships between biodiversity and ecosystem services and the effects of grazing cessation in semi-natural grasslands |
| title_full_unstemmed | The relationships between biodiversity and ecosystem services and the effects of grazing cessation in semi-natural grasslands |
| title_short | The relationships between biodiversity and ecosystem services and the effects of grazing cessation in semi-natural grasslands |
| title_sort | relationships between biodiversity and ecosystem services and the effects of grazing cessation in semi natural grasslands |
| url | https://www.web-ecol.net/18/55/2018/we-18-55-2018.pdf |
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