The biodiversity cost of reducing management intensity in species-rich grasslands: Mowing annually vs. every third year |
| |
| Affiliation: | 1. Cooperative Extension Specialist, University of California Sierra Foothill Research and Extension Center, Browns Valley, CA 95918, USA;2. Cooperative Extension Natural Resource and Livestock Advisor, Red Bluff, CA 96080, USA;3. Cooperative Extension Natural Resource and Livestock Advisor, Fairfield, CA 94533,USA;4. Cooperative Extension Natural Resource and Livestock Advisor Modesto, CA 95358, USA;5. Academic Coordinator, University of California Sierra Foothill Research and Extension Center, Browns Valley, CA 95918, USA;6. Professor, Department of Plant Science, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA;1. Centre for Ecology and Hydrology Bangor, Environment Centre Wales, Deiniol Road, Bangor LL57 2UW, UK;2. Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, UK;3. Environment, University of York, Heslington, York YO10 5DD, UK;4. School of Science and the Environment, Manchester Metropolitan University, John Dalton Building, Chester Street, Manchester M1 5GD, UK |
| |
| Abstract: | Mowing is an important management method for species-rich semi-natural grasslands in Europe. Since mowing is costly, it is important to find a balance between mowing frequency and conservation benefits. We compared vegetation data from eleven field trials situated in southern Sweden that involved two mowing regimes, annually and every third year, as well as a no-management control. After approximately 14 years, mowing every third year showed (i) a drop in species richness and Shannon and Gini–Simpson diversity indices, (ii) an increase in woody species, and (iii) increases in tall-grown species. However, there were no apparent changes in (iv) species that were indicative of poor management, nor (v) those indicating good management. For one of the trials, data after 38 years were also evaluated. Compared with annual mowing, there were strong negative changes in the number of species in the untreated control, while the results were conflicting for mowing every third year. In conclusion, the expected loss of conservation values from reduced mowing intensity was 50–60% of the loss after abandonment. The outcomes, however, varied among the eleven sites. |
| |
| Keywords: | Cutting Indicators Meta-analysis Mowing Odds ratio Response ratio Semi-natural grassland Sweden |
| 本文献已被 ScienceDirect 等数据库收录！ |
|
