“Healthy Alps” Alpine landscapes under global change: Impacts of land-use change on regulating ecosystem services, biodiversity, human health and well-being最新文献

{"title":"“Healthy Alps” Alpine landscapes under global change: Impacts of land-use change on regulating ecosystem services, biodiversity, human health and well-being","authors":"A. Arnberger, R. Eder, Brigitte Allex, Martin Ebenberger, Sarah Böhm, A. Bohner","doi":"10.1553/ess-healthy-alpss1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1553/ess-healthy-alpss1","url":null,"abstract":"Extensively managed, annually mown, mountain meadows are among the most diverse vegetation types in Europe. However, due to socioeconomic pressures many of these meadows are abandoned and not cut any more. This study investigated whether (i) abandonment of extensively managed mountain meadows affects plant diversity, litter decomposition and nutrient cycling and (ii) effects differ between different regions. Three meadows cut once a year were compared with three abandoned meadows in three study regions located along a 500 km west-east gradient in the Eastern European Alps in Switzerland and Austria. At each site plant species composition (vegetation relevés) and above-ground plant biomass, litter decomposition (tea bag method), efflux of soil CO2, CH4 and N2O gas (chamber method), soil microbes (phospholipid-derived fatty acids, PLFA) and soil temperature and moisture was measured. Across regions, abandonment led to a 45% decreased plant species richness, to an altered composition of plant species, functional groups, rosette types, strategy types and indicator values for light availability and soil humidity. The 20% increased litter decomposition rate, the increased soil N and C:N ratio in abandoned meadows was mainly the result of accumulated plant necromass. Abandonment neither affected soil microbes nor the efflux of greenhouse gases. Significant interactions between grassland management and regions indicate no general effect of abandonment on plant diversity or ecosystem functions. We conclude that annual mowing is essential for conserving the high plant diversity and ensuring the qualitative provision of soil-based ecosystem services in our study regions. Results Plant diversity Among regions, species richness was lower in V. Müstair than in C. Ennstal (P < 0.001) and G. Walsertal (P < 0.028), but Shannon-Index and Eveness were similar. Abandonment reduced species richness (29 species/m2 on managed, 16 species/m2 on abandoned meadows), Shannon-Index and Eveness (Table 5.1.1.1, Table 5.1.1.2) and increased vegetation cover, total above ground biomass, living biomass and necromass (Table 5.1.1.1, Table 5.1.1.2). Species richness was negatively correlated with NH4+ concentrations in the soil in June (ρspecies,NH4+ = P = 0.020) and the litter decomposition rate k (ρspecies,k = P = 0.003). Species composition was significantly affected by management (PERMANOVA, P = 0.001) with significant effects in all regions (G. Walsertal: P = 0.016; Val Müstair: P = 0.017; C. Ennstal: P = 0.001). Among regions, composition of plant communities was similar (PERMANOVA, P = 0.288). The dominant matrix species in managed meadows was the grass Bromus erectus (frequency = 83%, mean cover = 17%). In contrast, the grasses Brachypodium pinnatum (frequency = 90%, mean cover = 32%) and Molinia caerulea (frequency = 40%, mean cover = 10%) were the dominant species in abandoned meadows whereas B. erectus played a subordinate role (frequency = 35%, mean cover = 2%).","PeriodicalId":340011,"journal":{"name":"“Healthy Alps” Alpine landscapes under global change: Impacts of land-use change on regulating ecosystem services, biodiversity, human health and well-being","volume":"16 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1900-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"123693819","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}