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Aim
We assess changes in plant species richness and changes in species dissimilarity at local scale in Swiss grassland between the time periods 2001–2004 and 2006–2009. Further, we provide an ecological interpretation of the observed taxonomic homogenization of vascular plants.
Location
Switzerland.
Methods
Changes in species richness and changes in Simpson dissimilarity index of vascular plants in grassland (meadows and pastures) were examined. The analyses were based on species lists recorded on 339 10-m2 sample plots from a systematic sample covering the entire Switzerland. Each sample plot had been surveyed once in 2001–2004 and once in 2006–2009 with 5 years between the first and the second survey. Changes in species dissimilarity were interpreted by comparing the relative contribution of several indicator species groups.
Results
Mean species richness of vascular plants in grassland increased during the study period. In contrast, species dissimilarity of plants decreased, suggesting local-scale floristic homogenization of grassland in Switzerland. It was mostly because of the spread of common species, namely the species that are tolerant to high nutrient levels, the species of low conservation value and the species adapted to moderate temperature levels that led to taxonomic homogenization. Target species for conservation did only marginally affect taxonomic homogenization. In contrast to the predictions from studies of taxonomic homogenization on larger scales, the taxonomic homogenization of grassland at local scale was not explained by the spread of neophytic species.
Main conclusions
The biotic diversity of grassland in Switzerland changed considerably between 2001–2004 and 2006–2009. The observed taxonomic homogenization was merely because of the spread of common species. Local-scale changes in land use regimes implemented by agri-environmental schemes and other conservation efforts on parts of the entire grassland area were, apparently, not enough to prevent the total grassland from recent taxonomic homogenization.
Bühler, C., & Roth, T. (2011). Spread of common species results in local-scale floristic homogenization in grassland of Switzerland: Floristic homogenization in Swiss grassland. Diversity and Distributions, 17(6), 1089–1098. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1472-4642.2011.00799.x
Questions: Species rarefaction curves have long been used for estimating the expected number of species as a function of sampling effort. Nonetheless, sampling species based on standard plant inventories represents an effort-intensive approach. Hence, rarefaction based on remotely sensed information can provide a rapid tool for identifying regions with exceptional richness and turnover. The aim of this paper is to examine (i) if the rates of spectral and species accumulation are positively correlated with one another at different spatial scales, and (ii) if the strength of this correlation differs between regions of varying landscape complexity.
Location: Switzerland, Europe.
Methods: The plant species data were derived from the Swiss “Biodiversity Monitoring” programme. Seven Landsat ETM+ images covering the whole study area were acquired. We applied species and spectral rarefaction for five biogeographical areas ranging from flat to mountainous zones. The relative increments (rates) of the species and spectral rarefaction curves were compared using Pearson correlation together with locally weighted scatterplot smoothing (LOWESS).
Results: The biogeographic regions differed from one another in both their spectral and species diversity. The relationship between spectrally- and species-derived rates of accumulation was non-significant in simple landscapes, but we observed a significant positive correlation in complex landscapes over fine-to-intermediate spatial scales.
Conclusions: Spectral rarefaction represents a powerful tool for measuring landscape diversity and potentially predicting species diversity at regional to global spatial scales. Based on remotely sensed information, more efficient diversity-based monitoring programmes can be developed.
Rocchini, D., McGlinn, D., Ricotta, C., Neteler, M., & Wohlgemuth, T. (2011). Landscape complexity and spatial scale influence the relationship between remotely sensed spectral diversity and survey-based plant species richness: Rarefaction for spectral and species diversity. Journal of Vegetation Science, 22(4), 688–698. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1654-1103.2010.01250.x
The contribution lists all 182 vegetation-plot databases registered in the Global Index of Vegetation-Plot Databases (GIVD) as of 12 July 2012. For each database, the GIVD ID, the proper name, and, where applicable, a descriptive subtitle, as well as the number of non-overlapping plots are given. The databases are arranged by their GIVD ID and grouped according to continents. For each database it is indicated whether it is presented with a Long Database Report, a Short Database Report, or not at all in this volume and the web link where up-to-date metadata are available.
Glöckler, F. (2012). Overview of the GIVD-registered databases. In: Dengler, J., Oldeland, J., Jansen, F., Chytrý, M., Ewald, J., Finckh, M., Glöckler, F., Lopez-Gonzalez, G., Peet, R.K., & Schaminée, J.H.J. (2012) [Eds.]: Vegetation databases for the 21st century. Biodiversity & Ecology 4: 89 - 94.
Maddalena, T., & Marchesi, P. (2012). Approfondimento delle conoscenze sulla distribuzione del Topo selvatico alpino (Apodemus alpicola Heinrich, 1952) nel Cantone Ticino (Svizzera). Bollettino della Società ticinese di Scienze naturali 100: 131-132.
Der starke Rückgang der Trockenwiesen ist eine der Hauptursachen für die Bedrohung vieler spezialisierter Tagfalterarten in der Schweiz. Mittlerweile stehen Trockenwiesen und -weiden von nationaler Bedeutung unter gesetzlichem Schutz. Die zu schützenden Trockenwiesen wurden dabei auf Basis von Vegetationsaufnahmen ausgewählt - ohne Berücksichtigung von faunistischen Daten. Ziel unserer Untersuchung war es, zu prüfen, inwiefern das Inventar auch jene Gebiete abdeckt, welche für den Erhalt von spezialisierten Tagfalterarten besonders bedeutend sind. Mit Hilfe von Daten aus dem schweizerischen Biodiversitätsmonitoring wurden die maßgeblichen Umweltvariablen für das Vorkommen typischer Tagfalterarten der Trockenwiesen bestimmt. Die Verteilung der Tagfalter-Hot-Spots wurde mittels Habitatmodellen modelliert und deren Übereinstimmung mit der Lage der gesetzlich geschützten Trockenwiesen verglichen. Die so modellierte Verteilung der Hot Spots zeigte, dass diese überdurchschnittlich oft mit den gesetzlich geschützten Trockenwiesen zusammenfallen. Somit können auch die typischen Tagfalterarten vom Schutz der Trocken-wiesen profitieren.
Huwyler, S., Plattner, M., & Roth, T. (2012). Modellierung der Tagfaltervielfalt im Schweizer Alpenraum: Mehr als ein Drittel der Tagfalter-Hot-Spots liegt in gesetzlich geschützten Trockenwiesen. Natur und Landschaft 87 (7): 298-304.
- Tracking the state of forest biodiversity - Why? How?
- Estimation of required sampling effort for monitoring the possible effects of transgenic crops on butterflies: Lessons from long-term monitoring schemes in Switzerland.
- L’Arvicola di Savi (Pitymys savii de Sélys-Longchamps, 1838) nel Cantone Ticino (Svizzera), situazione attuale e proposte per la sua conservazione.
- Altitude modifies species richness–nutrient indicator value relationships in a country-wide survey of grassland vegetation.
Sonderheft Hotspot
Das Hotspot Sonderheft zu 20 Jahren BDM zeigt, wer hinter den Daten steckt und beleuchtet aktuelle Entwicklungen der Biodiversität.
Publikationen
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