Biodiversity in temperate European grasslands: origin and conservation: 13th International Occasional Symposium of the European Grassland Federation
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Biodiversity in temperate European grasslands: origin and conservation : 13th International Occasional Symposium of the European Grassland Federation. / Pärtel, Meelis; Bruun, Hans Henrik; Sammul, Marek.
In: Integrating Efficient Grassland Farming and Biodiversity: Proceedings of the 13th International Occasional Symposium of the European Grassland Federation, Vol. 10, 2005, p. 1-14.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Biodiversity in temperate European grasslands: origin and conservation
T2 - 13th International Occasional Symposium of the European Grassland Federation
AU - Pärtel, Meelis
AU - Bruun, Hans Henrik
AU - Sammul, Marek
PY - 2005
Y1 - 2005
N2 - Northern Europe is in the forest zone, but wild megaherbivores have maintained grass-dominated vegetation here for the last 1.8 million years. Continuity of the grassland biome through glacial-interglacial cycles and connection to steppe vegetation has resulted in the evolution, immigration, and survival of a large number of grassland species. During the last millennia the effect of wild ungulates has been replaced by domestic grazers and hay making, and the persistence of grassland biodiversity depends on livestock farming. Local diversity is the outcome of colonisations and extinctions. Colonisations can be enhanced by maintaining networks of grasslands where species can migrate between sites, and by proper management that promotes establishment of new individuals. Extinction risk may be lowered in large grasslands, which may support large populations, and by proper management that promotes coexistence of species. Extinctions are accelerated by changes in environmental conditions favouring a few competitively superior plant species, especially increase in soil fertility. During the last century, natural grasslands in Europe have faced a dramatic loss of area and increased isolation of the remaining fragments, cessation of proper management, and increased load of nutrients. To achieve successful grassland biodiversity conservation there needs to be close cooperation between conservation managers and livestock farmers. For that, grassland management should take into account evolutionary and ecological rules behind the grassland biodiversity. Udgivelsesdato: 2005
AB - Northern Europe is in the forest zone, but wild megaherbivores have maintained grass-dominated vegetation here for the last 1.8 million years. Continuity of the grassland biome through glacial-interglacial cycles and connection to steppe vegetation has resulted in the evolution, immigration, and survival of a large number of grassland species. During the last millennia the effect of wild ungulates has been replaced by domestic grazers and hay making, and the persistence of grassland biodiversity depends on livestock farming. Local diversity is the outcome of colonisations and extinctions. Colonisations can be enhanced by maintaining networks of grasslands where species can migrate between sites, and by proper management that promotes establishment of new individuals. Extinction risk may be lowered in large grasslands, which may support large populations, and by proper management that promotes coexistence of species. Extinctions are accelerated by changes in environmental conditions favouring a few competitively superior plant species, especially increase in soil fertility. During the last century, natural grasslands in Europe have faced a dramatic loss of area and increased isolation of the remaining fragments, cessation of proper management, and increased load of nutrients. To achieve successful grassland biodiversity conservation there needs to be close cooperation between conservation managers and livestock farmers. For that, grassland management should take into account evolutionary and ecological rules behind the grassland biodiversity. Udgivelsesdato: 2005
M3 - Tidsskriftartikel
VL - 10
SP - 1
EP - 14
JO - Integrating Efficient Grassland Farming and Biodiversity: Proceedings of the 13th International Occasional Symposium of the European Grassland Federation
JF - Integrating Efficient Grassland Farming and Biodiversity: Proceedings of the 13th International Occasional Symposium of the European Grassland Federation
ER -
ID: 13717714