Semi-natural grassland continuity, long-term land-use change and plant species richness in an agricultural landscape on Öland, Sweden
(2008) In Landscape and Urban Planning 84(3-4). p.200-211- Abstract
- The study characterizes historical land-use change and the development of semi-natural grassland habitats, over 274 years, within a mosaic
agricultural landscape (22 km2) on the island of O¨ land (Sweden). We also explore the relationship between previous land-use, habitat continuity
and present-day vascular plant species richness in grassland patches. Land-cover maps, based on cadastral maps and aerial photographs, were
produced for six time-periods between 1723/1733 and 1994/1997. In 1723/1733, the landscape was dominated by grasslands, with arable land
surrounding the villages. The grassland area decreased throughout the study period and grassland patches became progressively more ... (More) - The study characterizes historical land-use change and the development of semi-natural grassland habitats, over 274 years, within a mosaic
agricultural landscape (22 km2) on the island of O¨ land (Sweden). We also explore the relationship between previous land-use, habitat continuity
and present-day vascular plant species richness in grassland patches. Land-cover maps, based on cadastral maps and aerial photographs, were
produced for six time-periods between 1723/1733 and 1994/1997. In 1723/1733, the landscape was dominated by grasslands, with arable land
surrounding the villages. The grassland area decreased throughout the study period and grassland patches became progressively more fragmented.
Present-day grasslands represent 18% of the grassland area in 1723/1733. The land-use structure of the early 18th century is still evident in the
modern landscape. The majority of the present-day grasslands are situated on former common grazing land and have had a continuity of at least
274 years: the remaining grasslands are younger and developed during the 20th century on arable or forested land. The proportion of plant species
that depend on grazing and are characteristic of semi-natural grasslands significantly reflects the continuity and previous land-use of grassland
sites. The study illustrates the way in which information on historical land-use and habitat continuity can help to explain the structuring of plant
assemblages in semi-natural grasslands within the modern landscape. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/639316
- author
- Johansson, Lotten
; Hall, Karin
LU
; Prentice, Honor C
LU
; Ihse, Margareta ; Reitalu, Triin LU ; Sykes, Martin LU and Kindström, Merit
- organization
- publishing date
- 2008
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Rural landscape, Land-use history, Habitat continuity, Aerial photographs, Cadastral maps, Vascular plant species
- in
- Landscape and Urban Planning
- volume
- 84
- issue
- 3-4
- pages
- 200 - 211
- publisher
- Elsevier
- external identifiers
-
- wos:000253749800003
- scopus:38849178127
- ISSN
- 1872-6062
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.landurbplan.2007.08.001
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- ee75fad1-530e-4de9-b45b-99fdc8dc3c64 (old id 639316)
- date added to LUP
- 2016-04-01 12:15:55
- date last changed
- 2022-04-21 05:04:10
@article{ee75fad1-530e-4de9-b45b-99fdc8dc3c64, abstract = {{The study characterizes historical land-use change and the development of semi-natural grassland habitats, over 274 years, within a mosaic<br/><br> agricultural landscape (22 km2) on the island of O¨ land (Sweden). We also explore the relationship between previous land-use, habitat continuity<br/><br> and present-day vascular plant species richness in grassland patches. Land-cover maps, based on cadastral maps and aerial photographs, were<br/><br> produced for six time-periods between 1723/1733 and 1994/1997. In 1723/1733, the landscape was dominated by grasslands, with arable land<br/><br> surrounding the villages. The grassland area decreased throughout the study period and grassland patches became progressively more fragmented.<br/><br> Present-day grasslands represent 18% of the grassland area in 1723/1733. The land-use structure of the early 18th century is still evident in the<br/><br> modern landscape. The majority of the present-day grasslands are situated on former common grazing land and have had a continuity of at least<br/><br> 274 years: the remaining grasslands are younger and developed during the 20th century on arable or forested land. The proportion of plant species<br/><br> that depend on grazing and are characteristic of semi-natural grasslands significantly reflects the continuity and previous land-use of grassland<br/><br> sites. The study illustrates the way in which information on historical land-use and habitat continuity can help to explain the structuring of plant<br/><br> assemblages in semi-natural grasslands within the modern landscape.}}, author = {{Johansson, Lotten and Hall, Karin and Prentice, Honor C and Ihse, Margareta and Reitalu, Triin and Sykes, Martin and Kindström, Merit}}, issn = {{1872-6062}}, keywords = {{Rural landscape; Land-use history; Habitat continuity; Aerial photographs; Cadastral maps; Vascular plant species}}, language = {{eng}}, number = {{3-4}}, pages = {{200--211}}, publisher = {{Elsevier}}, series = {{Landscape and Urban Planning}}, title = {{Semi-natural grassland continuity, long-term land-use change and plant species richness in an agricultural landscape on Öland, Sweden}}, url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2007.08.001}}, doi = {{10.1016/j.landurbplan.2007.08.001}}, volume = {{84}}, year = {{2008}}, }