Biodiversity in temperate European grasslands: origin and conservation.
(2005) 10. p.1-14- Abstract
- 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 glacialinterglacial
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been replaced by domestic grazers and hay making, and the persistence of grassland biodiversity depends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... (More) - 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 glacialinterglacial
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been replaced by domestic grazers and hay making, and the persistence of grassland biodiversity depends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. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/532202
- author
- Pärtel, Meelis ; Bruun, Hans Henrik LU and Sammul, Marek
- organization
- publishing date
- 2005
- type
- Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
- publication status
- published
- subject
- host publication
- Grassland Science in Europe
- volume
- 10
- pages
- 1 - 14
- publisher
- Grassland Science in Europe
- ISBN
- 9985-9611-3-7
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- additional info
- The information about affiliations in this record was updated in December 2015. The record was previously connected to the following departments: Plant Ecology and Systematics (Closed 2011) (011004000)
- id
- 81d611f2-b3e5-41af-bab3-f015049fae9d (old id 532202)
- alternative location
- http://www.planteco.lu.se/people/hhb/Partel_Bruun_Sammul_2005_Grassland_Science_in_Europe_10.pdf
- date added to LUP
- 2016-04-04 10:23:41
- date last changed
- 2018-11-21 20:58:29
@inproceedings{81d611f2-b3e5-41af-bab3-f015049fae9d,
abstract = {{Northern Europe is in the forest zone, but wild megaherbivores have maintained grass-dominated<br/><br>
vegetation here for the last 1.8 million years. Continuity of the grassland biome through glacialinterglacial<br/><br>
cycles and connection to steppe vegetation has resulted in the evolution, immigration, and<br/><br>
survival of a large number of grassland species. During the last millennia the effect of wild ungulates has<br/><br>
been replaced by domestic grazers and hay making, and the persistence of grassland biodiversity depends<br/><br>
on livestock farming. Local diversity is the outcome of colonisations and extinctions. Colonisations can<br/><br>
be enhanced by maintaining networks of grasslands where species can migrate between sites, and by<br/><br>
proper management that promotes establishment of new individuals. Extinction risk may be lowered in<br/><br>
large grasslands, which may support large populations, and by proper management that promotes<br/><br>
coexistence of species. Extinctions are accelerated by changes in environmental conditions favouring<br/><br>
a few competitively superior plant species, especially increase in soil fertility. During the last century,<br/><br>
natural grasslands in Europe have faced a dramatic loss of area and increased isolation of the remaining<br/><br>
fragments, cessation of proper management, and increased load of nutrients. To achieve successful<br/><br>
grassland biodiversity conservation there needs to be close cooperation between conservation managers<br/><br>
and livestock farmers. For that, grassland management should take into account evolutionary and<br/><br>
ecological rules behind the grassland biodiversity.}},
author = {{Pärtel, Meelis and Bruun, Hans Henrik and Sammul, Marek}},
booktitle = {{Grassland Science in Europe}},
isbn = {{9985-9611-3-7}},
language = {{eng}},
pages = {{1--14}},
publisher = {{Grassland Science in Europe}},
title = {{Biodiversity in temperate European grasslands: origin and conservation.}},
url = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/5528474/625284.pdf}},
volume = {{10}},
year = {{2005}},
}