- Social-Ecological Systems, Hymenoptera, Ecological restoration, Ecosystems Ecology, Biodiversity and Ecosystem Function, Carabid Beetles, and 25 moreDry Grasslands, Urban Ecology, Conservation Biology, Restoration Ecology, Ecology, Insect Ecology, Pollination ecology, Social insects, Biodiversity Conservation, Conservation Ecology, Conservation, Wildlife Conservation, Carabidae, Ecosystem Services, Biodiversity, Movement Ecology, Biogeography, Pollination, Grassland Ecology, Pollinators, Fragmentation Ecology, Food web ecology, Functional Ecology, Pollination biology, and Landscape Ecologyedit
- I am an ecologist, working in Urban Ecology and Conservation Biology. I am also very involved in multidisciplinary re... moreI am an ecologist, working in Urban Ecology and Conservation Biology. I am also very involved in multidisciplinary research in both urban research and sustainability Science. I am Secretary-General of the Eurasian Dry Grassland Group and steering board member of the Urban Europe Research Alliance. My empirical ecological research focuses mainly on plant-insect interactions in grassland habitats.edit
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This working report presents the methods and results of research on two selected insect taxa, carried out on Olkiluoto Island and in the reference mire, Lastensuo, which was selected to represent the future landscape formed through... more
This working report presents the methods and results of research on two selected insect taxa, carried out on Olkiluoto Island and in the reference mire, Lastensuo, which was selected to represent the future landscape formed through post-glacial crustal rebound (land uplift). The purpose of the studies, carried out in 2010, 2012 and 2014, was to produce data on terrestrial invertebrates on Olkiluoto and the reference area, for the environmental monitoring program and the long-term safety assessment of the repository site. The aim of these studies was to produce estimates of the species density, dimensions and biomass of the two selected insect groups, Carabid beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae) and mound building Formica-ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Supplementary aims were to quantify the element concentrations in these groups and in their environment, to estimate the transfer of elements from the environment to the insects. The analyses were focused on the key elements (Ag, Cl, Cs, I, Mo, Nb, Ni, Pb, Se, Sn and Sr) that are analogues to the highest doses contributing radionuclides from the repositories. Carabid beetles were sampled from three habitats on Olkiluoto Island, and the soil samples were collected on the same occasion in September 2014. Samples of Formicaants were collected from two nests, one on Olkiluoto in 2010 and one on Lastensuo in 2012, to determine the element concentrations in the different developmental stages of ants and in their nest material. The concentration ratios were calculated from nest material to ants and from the humus soil layer to ants. Coarse estimates of the biomass distribution of carabid species were produced, though due to the short duration and late period of sampling, the data were not sufficient to generate reliable estimates of biomass per unit area. Beetle species composition, element concentrations and concentration ratios differed between the samples from coniferous forests and those from the hay field. Data from ants also indicated that element concentrations and concentration ratios may differ between different developmental stages. However, because of the small number of samples, the results on the ant element concentrations and concentration ratios are mainly preliminary.
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Research Interests: Biology, Ecology, Biodiversity, Habitat, Predation, and 3 moreSpecies Richness, Dytiscidae, and Invertebrate
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Many biological responses may develop over long periods of time, and annual community variation should therefore be controlled in ecological research. We sampled carabid beetles over ten years in Norway spruce dominated forests in... more
Many biological responses may develop over long periods of time, and annual community variation should therefore be controlled in ecological research. We sampled carabid beetles over ten years in Norway spruce dominated forests in Southern Finland, harvested using replicated logging treatments of different intensities. We collected carabids in 1995 (prior to logging) and during four post-harvest seasons, 1996-98 and in 2006. The treatments were clear-cutting (no retained trees), modified clear-cutting (retention of three groups of 20-30 trees within one-hectare core) and gap cutting (three 0.16-ha openings within a one-hectare core), and control (mature unharvested forest). 1. Carabids showed remarkable annual and regional variation at assemblage, ecological-group and species levels, such that was independent of treatments. 2. The total species richness, and that of open-habitat carabids, were higher in cleared sites of all treatments than in control stands in 1997-1998 but not in 2...
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Most semi-natural open habitats in Europe have been traditionally maintained by anthropogenic activities, such as grazing or mowing, preventing the establishment of woody vegetation. These habitats harbour a remarkably rich biodiversity... more
Most semi-natural open habitats in Europe have been traditionally maintained by anthropogenic activities, such as grazing or mowing, preventing the establishment of woody vegetation. These habitats harbour a remarkably rich biodiversity in terms of both plant and animal species, but are also highly threatened, mainly by agricultural intensification and land abandonment. With this Editorial we introduce a Special Issue initiated by the European Dry Grassland Group (EDGG) at the Open Landscapes Conference (Hildesheim, 2013) and the 11th European Dry Grassland Meeting (Kulikovo Pole, 2014). We aim to give a short introduction to the current conservation status, significance and research of semi-natural open habitats in Europe and present the collected articles of the Special Issue. These papers cover a wide range of different semi-natural open habitats, including wood-pastures, heathlands, steppes, semi-dry and dry grasslands across the Palearctic region and address issues related to t...
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Research Interests: Zoology, Migration, Biology, Disturbance Ecology, Biogeography, and 14 moreAnimal Biogeography, Dispersal Ecology, Oogenesis, Ecological biogeography, Insect flight, Coleoptera, Dispersal, Carabidae, Carabids, Entomology (Coleoptera), Evolutionary Biogeography, Carabid Beetles, Carabids Morphometry Sexual Size Shape Dimorphism in Insects, and Carabids Morphometry Sexual Size and Shape Dimorphism in Insects
Palaearctic grasslands encompass a diverse variety of habitats, many of high nature value and vulnerability. The main challenges are climate-change, land-use change, agricultural intensification and abandonment. Many measures are in place... more
Palaearctic grasslands encompass a diverse variety of habitats, many of high nature value and vulnerability. The main challenges are climate-change, land-use change, agricultural intensification and abandonment. Many measures are in place to address these challenges, through restoration and appropriate management, though more work is necessary. We present eight studies from China/Germany, Greece, Kazakhstan, Russia and Ukraine. The papers cover a wide range of grassland and steppe habitats and cover vegetation ecology, syntaxonomy and zoology. We also conducted a systematic search on steppe and grassland diversity. The greatest number of studies was from China, followed by Germany and England. We conclude that the amount of research being carried out on Eurasian grasslands is inadequate considering their high levels of biodiversity and vulnerability. We hope to encourage readers to address current major challenges, such as how to manage grasslands for the benefit of diverse taxa, to...
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The role of the ‘little things that run the world’ ( Wilson 1987 ) is challenged by the human enterprise in urban areas. High-density human habitation is associated with loss, fragmentation, isolation, and pollution of natural habitats,... more
The role of the ‘little things that run the world’ ( Wilson 1987 ) is challenged by the human enterprise in urban areas. High-density human habitation is associated with loss, fragmentation, isolation, and pollution of natural habitats, introduction and spread of exotic species, accumulation of waste products, and changes in climatic, edaphic, and hydrological processes ( Frankie & Ehler 1978 ; McIntyre et al . 2001 ). All of these impacts affect arthropod communities and their contributions to ecosystem function. On the other hand, this diversity of human actions also creates opportunities for arthropods to thrive in cities. Because they fi ll important functional roles in ecosystems, including decomposition, pollination, nutrient cycling, foodweb interactions, and biological control, arthropod communities refl ect urban environmental quality. Their short generation times and rapid responses to environmental change make arthropods especially well-suited for studying the biotic effects of urbanization. In addition, many arthropods have educational and aesthetic values to urban residents (Andersson et al . 2007) that increasingly balance negative perceptions of arthropods as pests in well-educated societies. Frankie and Ehler ( 1978 ) called for the establishment of ‘urban entomology’ as an independent discipline, but the fi eld has remained incompletely developed ( McIntyre 2000 ), although its importance is recognized, for example for urban pest management ( Robinson 1996 ). Nonetheless, urbanization reduces biodiversity ( Davis 1978 ; Connor et al . 2002 ) and thus has major implications for ecosystem function and the provision of ecological services, including a sense of human well-being. In hoping to stimulate research on non-pestiferous urban arthropods through this chapter, we review how urban arthropods are affected by: 1) habitat fragmentation, 2) habitat changes along the urban–rural gradient, 3) uniquely urban environments (such as domestic gardens, ruderal land, etc.), and 4) natural selection in urban environments. Based on this review, we consider major issues relevant to conservation of urban arthropods. Because of our collective experience with ground beetles, we draw extensively on that literature for examples, using studies of other arthropod species to amplify the generality of conclusions.
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Research Interests: Landscape Ecology, Evolutionary Biology, Systematics (Taxonomy), Zoology, Conservation Biology, and 15 moreConservation Ecology, Bioindicators, Biology, Ecology, Evolution, Biogeography, Dispersal Ecology, Medicine, Phylogeny/phylogenetics, Systematic Entomology, Phylogeny, Carabidae, Carabids, Evolutionary Biogeography, and Carabid Beetles
Research Interests: Environmental Science, Plant Ecology, Conservation Biology, Ecology, Urban Ecology, and 15 moreSoil Chemistry, Biodiversity, Grassland Ecology, Phosphorus, Heavy metals, Negative Affect, Nitrogen deposition, Potassium, Species Richness, Urban Green Space, Grassland restoration, soil pH, Urban Ecosystems, Ecological Applications, and Mowing
Research Interests: Business, Engineering, Green Infrastructure, Urban Planning, Urban Ecology, and 15 morePublic Health, Urban And Regional Planning, Ecosystem health, Urban Landscape, Literature Review, Environmental Sciences, Interdisciplinary research, Conceptual Framework, Urban Green Space, Human health, Ecosystem, Urban Ecosystem, Human Well being, Urban Landscape and Planning, and Urban Area
ABSTRACT Insect and plant assemblages of dry meadow habitats have declined dramatically since the late 19th century due to changes in grassland management practices and the resultant overgrowth of these with nitrophilic vegetation in... more
ABSTRACT Insect and plant assemblages of dry meadow habitats have declined dramatically since the late 19th century due to changes in grassland management practices and the resultant overgrowth of these with nitrophilic vegetation in Finland. The Municipality of Helsinki is committed to developing strategies for the maintenance of urban biodiversity, and networks of meadow habitats provide a potential opportunity for conserving declining plant and insect taxa. We showed that urban dry meadows are important habitats for carabid beetle diversity. Dry rocky meadows and managed sheep’s fescue type dry meadows had greater species diversity, more xerophilic species, granivores and autumn-breeding species than matrix grassland habitat. Many open habitat carabid species collected in our study are granivorous and some are known to predate on seeds of abundant generalist plant species. These carabid species may contribute to the maintenance of plant diversity by controlling dominant species. To further enhance urban biodiversity, we recommend (i) the supplementation of dry meadow networks by the appropriate management of existing meadows and potentially supplementary open habitats, (ii) the expansion of these by clearing adjacent scrub and secondary woodland (subject to their potential conservation value) and (iii) the retention of open vegetation, avoiding its replacement with asphalt. We also recommend the use of habitat creation, such as the construction of dry meadow habitats on landfill hills, traffic noise barriers or green roofs, to further supplement dry meadow networks.
Research Interests: Ecosystems Ecology, Ecosystem Services, Conservation Biology, Urban Biodiversity Conservation, Biodiversity and Ecosystem Function, and 14 moreUrban Studies, Pedagogy, Ecology, Urban Ecology, Social Ecological Systems, Biodiversity, Wildlife Conservation, Ecological restoration, Biological Sciences, Biodiversity Conservation, Environmental Sciences, Pedagogia, Insect Conservation, and Ecosystem Functions and Services
Most semi-natural open habitats in Europe have been traditionally maintained by anthropogenic activities, such as grazing or mowing, preventing the establishment of woody vegetation. These habitats harbour a remarkably rich biodiversity... more
Most semi-natural open habitats in Europe have been traditionally maintained by anthropogenic activities, such as grazing or mowing, preventing the establishment of woody vegetation. These habitats harbour a remarkably rich biodiversity in terms of both plant and animal species, but are also highly threatened, mainly by agricultural intensification and land abandonment. With this Editorial we introduce a Special Issue initiated by the European Dry Grassland Group (EDGG) at the Open Landscapes Conference (Hildesheim, 2013) and the 11th European Dry Grassland Meeting (Kulikovo Pole, 2014). We aim to give a short introduction to the current conservation status, significance and research of semi-natural open habitats in Europe and present the collected articles of the Special Issue. These papers cover a wide range of different semi-natural open habitats, including wood-pastures, heathlands, steppes, semi-dry and dry grasslands across the Palearctic region and address issues related to t...
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Research Interests: Geography, Urban Forestry, Biodiversity and Ecosystem Function, Forest Ecology And Management, Disturbance Ecology, and 15 moreUrban Ecology, Biodiversity, Grassland Ecology, Forest Ecology, Abiotic Stress, Biodiversity Conservation, Gradient, Carabidae, Isolation, Fragmentation Ecology, Gradient Method, Habitat Fragmentation and Loss, Carabid Beetles, Meadows, and Unified Neutral Theory
A disturbance gradient comprising three intensities of management of grasslands in urban parks is used to study the responses of carabid beetles to disturbance. The three levels of disturbance are: mown, intermediate and meadow. GLM is... more
A disturbance gradient comprising three intensities of management of grasslands in urban parks is used to study the responses of carabid beetles to disturbance. The three levels of disturbance are: mown, intermediate and meadow. GLM is used to analyze the response of two morphological traits to disturbance: body size, macroptery and wing length of brachypterous individuals. The proportion of macropterous individuals was greater in the populations of both disturbed and intermediate sites. Also wing-length of brachypterous individuals was longer in the disturbed and intermediate treatments. For body size, there was no change in mean body size for females, though males were larger in the disturbed and intermediate treatments. These males were similarly sized with females, whereas in the undisturbed treatment, there was strong sexual dimorphism for this trait. I conclude that disturbance results in changes that are important for population dynamics. There is a need for further study of ...
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Context: Structural and functional connectivity, as subconcepts of landscape connectivity, are key factors in biodiversity conservation and management. Previous studies have focused on the consequences of connectivity for populations of... more
Context: Structural and functional connectivity, as subconcepts of landscape connectivity, are key factors in biodiversity conservation and management. Previous studies have focused on the consequences of connectivity for populations of terrestrial organisms, which may not be appropriate for aquatic organisms. Objectives: As landscape connectivity critically affects the potential value of ponds for biodiversity, here we used diving beetles (Dytiscidae), an indicator taxon of wetland biodiversity, to investigate how structural connectivity affects functional connectivity to aquatic invertebrates in an urban landscape. Methods: We assessed pairwise similarities of dytiscid community, i.e. the variation of species composition between clustered and isolated ponds in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area, Finland. We investigated how dytiscid community similarity is affected by Euclidean distances between ponds, as an indicator of structural connectivity. Results: We found that clustered ponds ...
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The URGE project is attempting to review urban green space systems and their planning across Europe. Evaluation is made using interdisciplinary criteria. Our goal is to produce an objective review and subsequently provide tools for... more
The URGE project is attempting to review urban green space systems and their planning across Europe. Evaluation is made using interdisciplinary criteria. Our goal is to produce an objective review and subsequently provide tools for improving urban planning policy, and in particular, to improve the provision arid quality of urban green space. This paper presents background information to the project, the methodology used and some preliminary results from some of the ecological criteria used.
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Aquatic plants are important prey refugia for aquatic organisms, and their species richness is positively related with aquatic invertebrate species richness. Yet, little is known about how the quantity of refugia, i.e. aquatic vegetation... more
Aquatic plants are important prey refugia for aquatic organisms, and their species richness is positively related with aquatic invertebrate species richness. Yet, little is known about how the quantity of refugia, i.e. aquatic vegetation cover, affect aquatic invertebrate assemblages and their habitat use in different levels of predation risks. Here, we investigated how provision of refugia affects diving beetle (Dytiscidae) species richness and abundance in the presence and absence of fish predators. We found that plant cover affected dytiscid populations differently: (1) At the pond level, dytiscid presence was positively correlated with increasing plant cover, both with and without fish, indicating the importance of emergent plants for aquatic biodiversity. (2) At the microhabitat level, dytiscid species richness and abundance responded positively to increasing plant cover in ponds with fish, but there was no such relationship in fishless ponds, emphasizing that the level of pred...
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This report summarizes the activities and achievements of the Eurasian Dry Grassland Group (EDGG) from July 2019 to December 2020. During this period, Covid-19 allowed only one live event, the 14th EDGG Field Workshop to the alpine... more
This report summarizes the activities and achievements of the Eurasian Dry Grassland Group (EDGG) from July 2019 to December 2020. During this period, Covid-19 allowed only one live event, the 14th EDGG Field Workshop to the alpine vegetation of Switzerland, organised ad hoc as a replacement for the cancelled Field Workshop in the Ukrainian steppes. The cancelled Eurasian Grassland Conference in Spain found a partial replacement in “Talk Grasslands!”, a series of online talks during winter 2020/2021. EDGG’s own diamond open access periodical, Palaearctic Grasslands, is a novel combination of scientific journal, photo magazine and member newsletter. With five issues during the reporting time it contributed much to EDGG’s attractiveness. EDGG edited four Special Features in international journals (Tuexenia, Hacquetia, Flora) and contributed 13 chapters on grasslands and shrublands of the Palaearctic biogeographic realm to the Encyclopedia of the world’s biomes. EDGG’s vegetation-plot ...
This special issue is a collection of articles about the conservation, restoration and biodiversity of Palaearctic grasslands and was initiated by the Eurasian Dry Grassland Group at the 15th Eurasian Dry Grassland Conference (EDGC), held... more
This special issue is a collection of articles about the conservation, restoration and biodiversity of Palaearctic grasslands and was initiated by the Eurasian Dry Grassland Group at the 15th Eurasian Dry Grassland Conference (EDGC), held at Graz, Austria in 2019. The papers in this special issue cover a range of grassland habitats from montane dry grasslands to lowland sandy grasslands, feathergrass steppes and meadow steppes, and focus on the biodiversity values, conservation issues and restoration prospects of Palaearctic grasslands. We hope that the articles in this special issue will contribute to a better understanding of the ecology of grasslands and support their more effective conservation.
This article provides a perspective on nature-based solutions. First, the argument is developed that nature-based solutions integrate social and ecological systems. Then, theoretical considerations relating to relational values,... more
This article provides a perspective on nature-based solutions. First, the argument is developed that nature-based solutions integrate social and ecological systems. Then, theoretical considerations relating to relational values, multifunctionality, transdisciplinarity, and polycentric governance are briefly outlined. Finally, a conceptual model of the social–ecological system of nature-based solutions is synthesised and presented. This conceptual model comprehensively defines the social and ecological external and internal systems that make up nature-based solutions, and identifies theoretical considerations that need to be addressed at different stages of their planning and implementation The model bridges the normative gaps of existing nature-based solution frameworks and could be used for consistent, comprehensive, and transferable comparisons internationally. The theoretical considerations addressed in this article inform practitioners, policymakers, and researchers about the es...
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Review of two books: The Routledge Handbook of Urban Ecology. Douglas, I., D. Goode, M.C. Houck, and R. Wang, editors. 2015. Routledge, Oxon, U.K. 664 pp. US$87.95 (paperback). ISBN 978-1-138-82442-3 and Handbook of Road Ecology. Van der... more
Review of two books: The Routledge Handbook of Urban Ecology. Douglas, I., D. Goode, M.C. Houck, and R. Wang, editors. 2015. Routledge, Oxon, U.K. 664 pp. US$87.95 (paperback). ISBN 978-1-138-82442-3 and Handbook of Road Ecology. Van der Ree, R., D.J. Smith, and C. Grilo, editors. 2015. Wiley Blackwell, Chichester, West Sussex, U.K. 522 pp. €118.00 (hardcover). ISBN 978-1-118-56818-7.
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Blue infrastructure is an important component of urban green infrastructure, due to its capacity for water cycle regulation and soil formation, as well as supporting unique biodiversity. Urban ponds, as part of urban blue, can harbour a... more
Blue infrastructure is an important component of urban green infrastructure, due to its capacity for water cycle regulation and soil formation, as well as supporting unique biodiversity. Urban ponds, as part of urban blue, can harbour a diverse assemblage of aquatic macroinvertebrates. As yet, it is not clear how urbanisation affects macroinvertebrate diversity. In this study, we focus on diving beetles (Dytiscidae) in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area, Finland, to investigate how urbanisation affects their diversity, as well as the effects of margin steepness and the presence or absence of fish on urban dytiscids. We sampled dytiscids using 1-L activity traps in 14 fishless ponds and 11 ponds with fish, at ten sites. We applied generalised linear mixed models (GLMM) and non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) to analyse the effects on dytiscid assemblages. We found that urbanisation had a negative effect on species richness but not on abundance. Steepness of pond margins and the pr...
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This report summarizes the activities and achievements of the Eurasian Dry Grassland Group (EDGG) from mid-2016 through to the end of 2017. During this period, the 13th Eurasian Grassland Conference took place in Sighişoara, Romania, and... more
This report summarizes the activities and achievements of the Eurasian Dry Grassland Group (EDGG) from mid-2016 through to the end of 2017. During this period, the 13th Eurasian Grassland Conference took place in Sighişoara, Romania, and the 14th conference was held in Riga, Latvia. The 10th EDGG Field Workshop on Biodiversity patterns across a precipitation gradient in the Central Apennine mountains was conducted in the Central Apennines, Italy, this time in addition to multi-scale sampling of vascular plants, bryophytes and lichens, also including one animal group (leaf hoppers). Apart from the quarterly issues of its own electronic journal (Bulletin of the Eurasian Dry Grassland Group), EDGG also finalised five grassland-related Special Features/Issues during the past 1.5 years in the following international journals: Applied Vegetation Science, Biodiversity and Conservation, Phytocoenologia, Tuexenia and Hacquetia. Beyond that, EDGG facilitated various national and supra-nationa...
Grassland ecosystems of Europe comprise a variety of mostly semi-natural habitats, which have developed over long periods of traditional land-use regimes, such as grazing and mowing, and they support a remarkable level of biodiversity. At... more
Grassland ecosystems of Europe comprise a variety of mostly semi-natural habitats, which have developed over long periods of traditional land-use regimes, such as grazing and mowing, and they support a remarkable level of biodiversity. At some scales, the species diversity of these habitats is greater than that of tropical rain forests. Such valuable habitats are currently facing several threats, some natural but mostly anthropogenic, and many of them are threatened with extinction. The Eurasian Dry Grassland Group (EDGG, www.eddg.org) was established in 2008 by scientists, conservationists and others who are involved in the study and conservation of grassland habitats. The organization currently has 1299 members from a total of 64 countries. Since 2004, the EDGG has organized an annual scientific conference in different parts of Europe. Since 2009, the EDGG has also organized international field workshops to collect diversity data on the plant species composition of dry grasslands ...
This report summarises the activities and achievements of the Eurasian Dry Grassland Group (EDGG) from January 2018 through July 2019. During the reported period, two Eurasian Grassland Conference (EGCs) took place: the 15th EGC in... more
This report summarises the activities and achievements of the Eurasian Dry Grassland Group (EDGG) from January 2018 through July 2019. During the reported period, two Eurasian Grassland Conference (EGCs) took place: the 15th EGC in Sulmona, Italy, and the 16th EGC in Graz, Austria. The 11th and 12th EDGG Field Workshops studied vegetation diversity patterns in the inner alpine valleys of Austria and Switzerland, while the 13th Field Workshop was organised in Armenia. The formerly electronic newsletter of EDGG (Bulletin of the Eurasian Dry Grassland) was transformed into a peer-reviewed international journal, called Palaearctic Grasslands, which now is attracting both scientific and photographic contributions. Furthermore, the EDGG homepage was re-constructed with a new design and content management system. The EDGG has also finalised two grassland-related Special Features during the past 1.5 years in the international journals Tuexenia and Hacquetia, and contributed with eight chapt...
Palaearctic grasslands are diverse and dynamic ecosystems that are in the focus of ecology, conservation biology and agronomy. This special issue is dedicated to the biodiversity and conservation issues of Palaearctic grasslands and was... more
Palaearctic grasslands are diverse and dynamic ecosystems that are in the focus of ecology, conservation biology and agronomy. This special issue is dedicated to the biodiversity and conservation issues of Palaearctic grasslands and was initiated by the Eurasian Dry Grassland Group members attending the 14th Eurasian Dry Grassland Conference (EDGC) at Sulmona, Italy in 2018. The papers in this special issue cover a wide range of grassland ecosystems from mountain dry grasslands to lowland loess grasslands, feathergrass steppes and wet grasslands, and focus on the biodiversity values and conservation issues of Palaearctic grasslands. We believe that this compilation will contribute to a better understanding of the ecology of grasslands and support their more effective conservation.
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Disturbance by biomass removal is a crucial mechanism maintaining the diversity of Palaearctic grasslands, which are unique biodiversity hotspots. The century-long traditional land use of mowing, grazing and burning, has been... more
Disturbance by biomass removal is a crucial mechanism maintaining the diversity of Palaearctic grasslands, which are unique biodiversity hotspots. The century-long traditional land use of mowing, grazing and burning, has been fundamentally changed in many parts of the Palaearctic. Due to socio-economic changes, large areas of former pastures and meadows have been abandoned, leading to a succession towards secondary scrublands or forest and the encroachment of competitor grass species, all leading to a decrease in biodiversity. Here we report the causes and consequences of the cessation of traditional grassland management regimes, provide strategies for reducing the impact of abandonment and consider these from the perspective of sustainability. We consider the possibilities for initiating sustainable management regimes in the contemporary socio-economic environment, and discuss the prospects and limitation of alternative management regimes in the conservation of grassland biodiversi...