Changes in vegetation structure and composition of a lowland mire over a sixty‐five‐year interval
Abstract Mires are characterized by plant communities of high conservation and societal value, which have experienced a major decline in area in many parts of the world, particularly Europe. Evidence suggests that they may be particularly vulnerable to changes in climate and nutrient addition. Altho...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2020-12-01
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| Series: | Ecology and Evolution |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.6984 |
| _version_ | 1818822403187277824 |
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| author | Alexander T. Lovegrove Adrian C. Newton Paul M. Evans Anita Diaz Arthur C. Newton Lynn Davy Palmer J. Newbould |
| author_facet | Alexander T. Lovegrove Adrian C. Newton Paul M. Evans Anita Diaz Arthur C. Newton Lynn Davy Palmer J. Newbould |
| author_sort | Alexander T. Lovegrove |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Mires are characterized by plant communities of high conservation and societal value, which have experienced a major decline in area in many parts of the world, particularly Europe. Evidence suggests that they may be particularly vulnerable to changes in climate and nutrient addition. Although they have been the focus of extensive paleoecological research, few attempts have been made to examine the dynamics of mire vegetation during the current era of anthropogenic environmental change. To assess long‐term change in the spatial structure and composition of a lowland mire community, in 2016 we resurveyed plots first surveyed in 1951. Measures of species richness and composition were compared between the two surveys, and changes in community composition were related to plant traits. Overall, mean species richness declined by 26%. The area of occupancy declined in 37% of species, which were primarily oligotrophic species typical of nutrient‐poor bog communities. Conversely, occupancy increased in 21% of species, especially those that were more tolerant of higher nutrient availability. These changes were associated with variation in plant functional traits, as indicated by an increase mean Ellenberg trait values for nitrogen and mean temperature, and a decline in values for precipitation. These results suggest that eutrophication and climate change have been key drivers of floristic change on this site. Synthesis. This investigation provides a rare assessment of the dynamics of a mire community over a multi‐decadal interval. Results indicate that substantial change has occurred in the composition of the community, and the distribution of species within it. The investigation provides evidence of the impact of environmental change on the composition and structure of a lowland mire community, and highlights challenges for its future conservation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-18T23:23:32Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ed897727676143e48386ec3803a9b414 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-7758 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-18T23:23:32Z |
| publishDate | 2020-12-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecology and Evolution |
| spelling | doaj.art-ed897727676143e48386ec3803a9b4142022-12-21T20:47:52ZengWileyEcology and Evolution2045-77582020-12-011024139131392510.1002/ece3.6984Changes in vegetation structure and composition of a lowland mire over a sixty‐five‐year intervalAlexander T. Lovegrove0Adrian C. Newton1Paul M. Evans2Anita Diaz3Arthur C. Newton4Lynn Davy5Palmer J. Newbould6Centre for Ecology, Environment and Sustainability Faculty of Science and Engineering Bournemouth University PooleUKCentre for Ecology, Environment and Sustainability Faculty of Science and Engineering Bournemouth University PooleUKCentre for Ecology, Environment and Sustainability Faculty of Science and Engineering Bournemouth University PooleUKCentre for Ecology, Environment and Sustainability Faculty of Science and Engineering Bournemouth University PooleUKCollege of Life and Environmental Sciences University of Exeter Penryn UKWimborne UKCirencester UKAbstract Mires are characterized by plant communities of high conservation and societal value, which have experienced a major decline in area in many parts of the world, particularly Europe. Evidence suggests that they may be particularly vulnerable to changes in climate and nutrient addition. Although they have been the focus of extensive paleoecological research, few attempts have been made to examine the dynamics of mire vegetation during the current era of anthropogenic environmental change. To assess long‐term change in the spatial structure and composition of a lowland mire community, in 2016 we resurveyed plots first surveyed in 1951. Measures of species richness and composition were compared between the two surveys, and changes in community composition were related to plant traits. Overall, mean species richness declined by 26%. The area of occupancy declined in 37% of species, which were primarily oligotrophic species typical of nutrient‐poor bog communities. Conversely, occupancy increased in 21% of species, especially those that were more tolerant of higher nutrient availability. These changes were associated with variation in plant functional traits, as indicated by an increase mean Ellenberg trait values for nitrogen and mean temperature, and a decline in values for precipitation. These results suggest that eutrophication and climate change have been key drivers of floristic change on this site. Synthesis. This investigation provides a rare assessment of the dynamics of a mire community over a multi‐decadal interval. Results indicate that substantial change has occurred in the composition of the community, and the distribution of species within it. The investigation provides evidence of the impact of environmental change on the composition and structure of a lowland mire community, and highlights challenges for its future conservation.https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.6984biodiversitybogconservationdeterminants of plant community diversity and structureenvironmental changepeatland |
| spellingShingle | Alexander T. Lovegrove Adrian C. Newton Paul M. Evans Anita Diaz Arthur C. Newton Lynn Davy Palmer J. Newbould Changes in vegetation structure and composition of a lowland mire over a sixty‐five‐year interval Ecology and Evolution biodiversity bog conservation determinants of plant community diversity and structure environmental change peatland |
| title | Changes in vegetation structure and composition of a lowland mire over a sixty‐five‐year interval |
| title_full | Changes in vegetation structure and composition of a lowland mire over a sixty‐five‐year interval |
| title_fullStr | Changes in vegetation structure and composition of a lowland mire over a sixty‐five‐year interval |
| title_full_unstemmed | Changes in vegetation structure and composition of a lowland mire over a sixty‐five‐year interval |
| title_short | Changes in vegetation structure and composition of a lowland mire over a sixty‐five‐year interval |
| title_sort | changes in vegetation structure and composition of a lowland mire over a sixty five year interval |
| topic | biodiversity bog conservation determinants of plant community diversity and structure environmental change peatland |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.6984 |
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