Scrub encroachment promotes biodiversity in temperate European wetlands under eutrophic conditions
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Scrub encroachment promotes biodiversity in temperate European wetlands under eutrophic conditions. / Brunbjerg, Ane Kirstine; Fløjgaard, Camilla; Frøslev, Tobias Guldberg; Andersen, Dagmar Kappel; Bruun, Hans Henrik; Dalby, Lars; Goldberg, Irina; Lehmann, Louise Juhl; Moeslund, Jesper Erenskjold; Ejrnæs, Rasmus.
In: Ecology and Evolution, Vol. 12, No. 11, e9445, 2022.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Scrub encroachment promotes biodiversity in temperate European wetlands under eutrophic conditions
AU - Brunbjerg, Ane Kirstine
AU - Fløjgaard, Camilla
AU - Frøslev, Tobias Guldberg
AU - Andersen, Dagmar Kappel
AU - Bruun, Hans Henrik
AU - Dalby, Lars
AU - Goldberg, Irina
AU - Lehmann, Louise Juhl
AU - Moeslund, Jesper Erenskjold
AU - Ejrnæs, Rasmus
PY - 2022
Y1 - 2022
N2 - Wetlands are important habitats, often threatened by drainage, eutrophication, and suppression of grazing. In many countries, considerable resources are spent combatting scrub encroachment. Here, we hypothesize that encroachment may benefit biodiversity-especially under eutrophic conditions where asymmetric competition among plants compromises conservation targets. We studied the effects of scrub cover, nutrient levels, and soil moisture on the richness of vascular plants, bryophytes, soil fungi, and microbes in open and overgrown wetlands. We also tested the effect of encroachment, eutrophication, and soil moisture on indicators of conservation value (red-listed species, indicator species, and uniqueness). Plant and bryophyte species richness peaked at low soil fertility, whereas soil fertility promoted soil microbes. Soil fungi responded negatively to increasing soil moisture. Lidar-derived variables reflecting the degree of scrub cover had predominantly positive effects on species richness measures. Conservation value indicators had a negative relationship to soil fertility and a positive to encroachment. For plant indicator species, the negative effect of high nutrient levels was offset by encroachment, supporting our hypothesis of competitive release under shade. The positive effect of soil moisture on indicator species was strong in open habitats only. Nutrient-poor mires and meadows host many rare species and require conservation management by grazing and natural hydrology. On former agricultural lands, where restoration of infertile conditions is unfeasible, we recommend rewilding with opportunities for encroachment toward semi-open willow scrub and swamp forest, with the prospect of high species richness in bryophytes, fungi, and soil microbes and competitive release in the herb layer.
AB - Wetlands are important habitats, often threatened by drainage, eutrophication, and suppression of grazing. In many countries, considerable resources are spent combatting scrub encroachment. Here, we hypothesize that encroachment may benefit biodiversity-especially under eutrophic conditions where asymmetric competition among plants compromises conservation targets. We studied the effects of scrub cover, nutrient levels, and soil moisture on the richness of vascular plants, bryophytes, soil fungi, and microbes in open and overgrown wetlands. We also tested the effect of encroachment, eutrophication, and soil moisture on indicators of conservation value (red-listed species, indicator species, and uniqueness). Plant and bryophyte species richness peaked at low soil fertility, whereas soil fertility promoted soil microbes. Soil fungi responded negatively to increasing soil moisture. Lidar-derived variables reflecting the degree of scrub cover had predominantly positive effects on species richness measures. Conservation value indicators had a negative relationship to soil fertility and a positive to encroachment. For plant indicator species, the negative effect of high nutrient levels was offset by encroachment, supporting our hypothesis of competitive release under shade. The positive effect of soil moisture on indicator species was strong in open habitats only. Nutrient-poor mires and meadows host many rare species and require conservation management by grazing and natural hydrology. On former agricultural lands, where restoration of infertile conditions is unfeasible, we recommend rewilding with opportunities for encroachment toward semi-open willow scrub and swamp forest, with the prospect of high species richness in bryophytes, fungi, and soil microbes and competitive release in the herb layer.
KW - biodiversity conservation
KW - eDNA
KW - fen
KW - meadow
KW - nutrients
KW - succession
KW - SPECIES RICHNESS
KW - NITROGEN DEPOSITION
KW - SHRUB ENCROACHMENT
KW - FEN MEADOWS
KW - CONSERVATION
KW - RESTORATION
KW - GRASSLANDS
KW - MANAGEMENT
KW - CONSEQUENCES
KW - ABANDONMENT
U2 - 10.1002/ece3.9445
DO - 10.1002/ece3.9445
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 36340817
VL - 12
JO - Ecology and Evolution
JF - Ecology and Evolution
SN - 2045-7758
IS - 11
M1 - e9445
ER -
ID: 325834991