Impact of land-use change in mountain semi-dry meadows on plants, litter decomposition and earthworms

IF 2.3 3区 环境科学与生态学 Q2 ECOLOGY
Web Ecology Pub Date : 2019-08-28 DOI:10.5194/we-19-53-2019
I. Jernej, A. Bohner, R. Walcher, R. Hussain, A. Arnberger, J. Zaller, T. Frank
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引用次数: 6

Abstract

Abstract. Traditionally managed mountain grasslands are biodiversity hotspots in central Europe. However, socio-economic trends in agriculture during the last decades have changed farming practices, leaving steep and remote sites abandoned. Especially the abandonment of meadows is well known to directly affect plant and insect diversity. However, not much is known about the effects on soil processes and soil biota. To assess this, we studied four extensively managed (mown once a year, no fertilization) and four abandoned (no mowing, no fertilization) semi-dry meadows in a mountain region in Austria. Plant species richness, plant cover, plant traits, plant biomass, litter decomposition (tea bag index), and earthworm species richness and density were assessed. Additionally, soil temperature, moisture and electrical conductivity were measured. Results showed that managed meadows contained more plant species than abandoned meadows (118 vs. 93 species, respectively). We also observed different plant species assemblages between the two management types. In managed meadows, hemirosette and ruderal plant species were more abundant, while more plant species without rosettes and a higher plant necromass were found in abandoned meadows. Additionally, decomposition rate was higher in abandoned meadows. There was a trend towards higher earthworm densities in managed meadows, but there was no difference in earthworm species richness. We conclude that meadow management has effects on both aboveground vegetation and belowground biota and processes. Both abandoned and extensively managed meadows were important to sustain overall biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in the study region.
山地半干草甸土地利用变化对植物、凋落物分解和蚯蚓的影响
摘要传统管理的山地草原是中欧生物多样性的热点地区。然而,过去几十年农业的社会经济趋势改变了耕作方式,使陡峭和偏远的地点被遗弃。特别是草甸的废弃直接影响了植物和昆虫的多样性。然而,对土壤过程和土壤生物群的影响知之甚少。为了评估这一点,我们研究了奥地利山区四个广泛管理的(每年刈割一次,不施肥)和四个废弃的(不刈割,不施肥)半干草地。评估植物物种丰富度、植物覆盖度、植物性状、植物生物量、凋落物分解(茶包指数)、蚯蚓物种丰富度和密度。此外,还测量了土壤温度、水分和电导率。结果表明:放牧草地的植物种类较多,分别为118种和93种;我们还观察到两种管理类型之间不同的植物种类组合。在有管理的草地中,半莲座和粗糙的植物种类更丰富,而在废弃的草地中,没有莲座的植物种类更多,植物坏死团也更高。此外,废弃草甸的分解速率更高。在有管理的草地上蚯蚓密度有升高的趋势,但蚯蚓种类丰富度没有差异。草甸管理不仅对地上植被有影响,而且对地下生物群和过程也有影响。撂荒和大面积管理的草甸对维持研究区整体生物多样性和生态系统功能都具有重要意义。
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来源期刊
Web Ecology
Web Ecology Agricultural and Biological Sciences-Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
CiteScore
4.60
自引率
0.00%
发文量
6
审稿时长
17 weeks
期刊介绍: Web Ecology (WE) is an open-access journal issued by the European Ecological Federation (EEF) representing the ecological societies within Europe and associated members. Its special value is to serve as a publication forum for national ecological societies that do not maintain their own society journal. Web Ecology publishes papers from all fields of ecology without any geographic restriction. It is a forum to communicate results of experimental, theoretical, and descriptive studies of general interest to an international audience. Original contributions, short communications, and reviews on ecological research on all kinds of organisms and ecosystems are welcome as well as papers that express emerging ideas and concepts with a sound scientific background.
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