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Török P, Teleki B, Erdős L, McIntosh-Buday A, Ruprecht E, Tóthmérész B. Scale dependency of taxonomic and functional diversity in pristine and recovered loess steppic grasslands. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 949:175110. [PMID: 39084393 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.175110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 07/25/2024] [Accepted: 07/26/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024]
Abstract
Widespread campaigns on forest restoration and various tree planting actions lower the awareness of the importance of grasslands for carbon sequestration and biodiversity conservation. Even lower attention is given to the conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in remnants of ancient, so-called pristine grasslands. Pristine grasslands generally harbour high biodiversity, and even small patches can act as important refuges for many plant and animal species in urbanised or agricultural landscapes. Spontaneous succession of grassland is frequently viewed as a cost-effective tool for grassland restoration, but its applicability is strongly dependent on many local to landscape-scale factors, and the recovery is often slow. It is therefore essential to monitor the success of grassland restoration projects that rely on spontaneous succession. We compared the species diversity and functional attributes of pristine and recovered grasslands by studying the taxonomic and functional diversity in thirteen (8 pristine and 5 recovered) loess steppic grasslands using differently sized sampling plots from 0.01 to 100 m2. Our results indicate that there are remarkable differences in taxonomic and functional diversity between pristine and recovered grasslands. We also found that during secondary succession there is a likely functional saturation of the species assembly in the first few decades of recovery, and while patterns and structure of recovered grasslands became quite similar to those of pristine grasslands, species richness and diversity still remained much lower. Pristine grasslands support considerable plant diversity, and species composition is slow to recover if destroyed by agricultural land use. This underlines the importance of preserving existing pristine grassland remnants, which might serve as sources of species for future restoration measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Péter Török
- Department of Ecology, University of Debrecen, Egyetem sqr. 1, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary; HUN-REN-UD Functional and Restoration Ecology Research Group, Egyetem sqr. 1, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary; Polish Academy of Sciences, Botanical Garden - Centre for Biological Diversity Conservation in Powsin, Prawdziwka St., 02-973 Warszawa, Poland.
| | - Balázs Teleki
- HUN-REN-UD Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Research Group, Egyetem sqr. 1, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
| | - László Erdős
- HUN-REN-UD Functional and Restoration Ecology Research Group, Egyetem sqr. 1, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary; Institute of Ecology and Botany, Centre for Ecological Research, Alkotmány street 2-4, 2163 Vácrátót, Hungary
| | - Andrea McIntosh-Buday
- Department of Ecology, University of Debrecen, Egyetem sqr. 1, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary; HUN-REN-UD Functional and Restoration Ecology Research Group, Egyetem sqr. 1, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Eszter Ruprecht
- Hungarian Department of Biology and Ecology, Babeș-Bolyai University, Republicii street 42, Cluj-Napoca 400015, Romania
| | - Béla Tóthmérész
- Department of Ecology, University of Debrecen, Egyetem sqr. 1, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary; HUN-REN-UD Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Research Group, Egyetem sqr. 1, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
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2
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Dias PB, Horn Kunz S, Pezzopane JEM, Xavier TMT, Zorzanelli JPF, Toledo JV, Gomes LP, Gorsani RG. Water restriction alters seed bank traits and ecology in Atlantic Forest seasonal forests under climate change. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2024; 30:e17494. [PMID: 39243166 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.17494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2024] [Revised: 08/20/2024] [Accepted: 08/21/2024] [Indexed: 09/09/2024]
Abstract
The soil seed bank (SSB) is one of the key mechanisms that ensure the perpetuity of forests, but how will it behave in the scenarios projected for the future climate? Faced with this main question, still little explored in seasonal tropical forests, this study evaluated the germination, ecological attributes, and functional traits of the SSB in a seasonal forest in the Atlantic Forest. Forty-eight composite samples of the SSB were collected from 12 plots, distributed across four treatments, each with 12 replicates. The samples were placed in two climate-controlled greenhouses, establishing two environments of controlled climatic conditions, both with two levels of water, as follows: Cur: current scenario without water restriction; Cur_WR: current scenario with water restriction; RCP8.5: future scenario without water restriction; RCP8.5_WR: future scenario with water restriction. The germinants were identified, and their ecological attributes and functional traits were obtained. Leaf area and biomass production, differences in abundance, richness, and diversity were evaluated, along with analysis of variance to assess the interaction between water levels and scenarios. All ecological attributes and functional traits evaluated drastically decreased in the future projection with water restriction, with this restriction being the main component influencing this response. The increased temperature in the future scenario significantly raised water consumption compared to the current scenario. However, persistent water restrictions in the future could undermine the resilience of seasonal forests, hindering seed germination in the soil. Richness and abundance were also adversely affected by water scarcity in the future scenario, revealing a low tolerance to the projected prolonged drought. These changes found in the results could alter the overall structure of seasonal forests in the future, as well as result in the loss of the regeneration potential of the SSB due to decreased seed viability and increased seedling mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrícia Borges Dias
- Department of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Jerônimo Monteiro, Espírito Santo, Brazil
| | - Sustanis Horn Kunz
- Department of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Jerônimo Monteiro, Espírito Santo, Brazil
| | - José Eduardo Macedo Pezzopane
- Department of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Jerônimo Monteiro, Espírito Santo, Brazil
| | - Talita Miranda Teixeira Xavier
- Department of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Jerônimo Monteiro, Espírito Santo, Brazil
| | | | - João Vitor Toledo
- Department of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Jerônimo Monteiro, Espírito Santo, Brazil
| | - Lhoraynne Pereira Gomes
- Laboratory of Ecology and Evolution of Plants-LEEP, Department of Plant Biology, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Gomes Gorsani
- Laboratory of Ecology and Evolution of Plants-LEEP, Department of Plant Biology, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- ProBioDiversa Brazil, Association for the Conservation of Biodiversity, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil
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Bertuol-Garcia D, Ladouceur E, Brudvig LA, Laughlin DC, Munson SM, Curran MF, Davies KW, Svejcar LN, Shackelford N. Testing the hierarchy of predictability in grassland restoration across a gradient of environmental severity. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2023; 33:e2922. [PMID: 37776043 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/01/2023]
Abstract
Ecological restoration is critical for recovering degraded ecosystems but is challenged by variable success and low predictability. Understanding which outcomes are more predictable and less variable following restoration can improve restoration effectiveness. Recent theory asserts that the predictability of outcomes would follow an order from most to least predictable from coarse to fine community properties (physical structure > taxonomic diversity > functional composition > taxonomic composition) and that predictability would increase with more severe environmental conditions constraining species establishment. We tested this "hierarchy of predictability" hypothesis by synthesizing outcomes along an aridity gradient with 11 grassland restoration projects across the United States. We used 1829 vegetation monitoring plots from 227 restoration treatments, spread across 52 sites. We fit generalized linear mixed-effects models to predict six indicators of restoration outcomes as a function of restoration characteristics (i.e., seed mixes, disturbance, management actions, time since restoration) and used variance explained by models and model residuals as proxies for restoration predictability. We did not find consistent support for our hypotheses. Physical structure was among the most predictable outcomes when the response variable was relative abundance of grasses, but unpredictable for total canopy cover. Similarly, one dimension of taxonomic composition related to species identities was unpredictable, but another dimension of taxonomic composition indicating whether exotic or native species dominated the community was highly predictable. Taxonomic diversity (i.e., species richness) and functional composition (i.e., mean trait values) were intermittently predictable. Predictability also did not increase consistently with aridity. The dimension of taxonomic composition related to the identity of species in restored communities was more predictable (i.e., smaller residuals) in more arid sites, but functional composition was less predictable (i.e., larger residuals), and other outcomes showed no significant trend. Restoration outcomes were most predictable when they related to variation in dominant species, while those responding to rare species were harder to predict, indicating a potential role of scale in restoration predictability. Overall, our results highlight additional factors that might influence restoration predictability and add support to the importance of continuous monitoring and active management beyond one-time seed addition for successful grassland restoration in the United States.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Bertuol-Garcia
- School of Environmental Studies, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Emma Ladouceur
- Institute of Computer Science, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Leipzig-Halle-Jena, Leipzig, Germany
- Department of Physiological Diversity, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research-UFZ, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Lars A Brudvig
- Department of Plant Biology and Program in Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | | | - Seth M Munson
- US Geological Survey, Southwest Biological Science Center, Flagstaff, Arizona, USA
| | | | - Kirk W Davies
- USDA, Agricultural Research Service, Burns, Oregon, USA
| | | | - Nancy Shackelford
- School of Environmental Studies, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
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Zhou W, Li C, Wang S, Ren Z, Stringer LC. Effects of vegetation restoration on soil properties and vegetation attributes in the arid and semi-arid regions of China. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2023; 343:118186. [PMID: 37224686 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.118186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Revised: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 05/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Driven by the goal of reversing desertification and recovering degraded lands, a wide range of vegetation restoration practices (such as planting and fencing) have been implemented in China's drylands. It is essential to examine the effects of vegetation restoration and environmental factors on soil nutrients to optimize restoration approaches. However, quantitative evaluation on this topic is insufficient due to a lack of long-term field monitoring data. This study evaluated the effects of sandy steppe restoration and sand dune fixation in the semi-arid desert, and natural and artificial vegetation restoration in the arid desert. It considered soil and plant characteristics using long-term (2005-2015) data from the Naiman Research Station located in the semi-arid region and Shapotou Research Station in the arid region of China's drylands. Results showed the sandy steppe had higher soil nutrient contents, vegetation biomass and rate of accumulating soil organic matter (OM) than the fixed dunes and moving dunes. Soil nutrient contents and vegetation biomass of the natural vegetation of Artemisia ordosica were higher than those of the artificial restoration of Artemisia ordosica since 1956. Artificial restoration had a higher rate of accumulating soil OM, total nitrogen (TN) and grass litter biomass than natural restoration. Soil water indirectly affected soil OM by affecting vegetation. Grass diversity was the main influencing factor on soil OM variance in the semi-arid Naiman desert while shrub diversity was the main factor in the arid Shapotou desert. These findings indicate that sand fixation in the semi-arid desert and vegetation restoration in the arid desert bring benefits for soil nutrient accumulation and vegetation improvement, and that natural restoration is preferable to artificial restoration. Results can be used to formulate sustainable vegetation restoration strategies, such as encouraging natural restoration, considering local resource constraints, and giving priority to restoring shrubs in arid areas with limited water.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenxin Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China; Institute of Land Surface System and Sustainable Development, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Changjia Li
- State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China; Institute of Land Surface System and Sustainable Development, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China.
| | - Shuai Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China; Institute of Land Surface System and Sustainable Development, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhuobing Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China; Institute of Land Surface System and Sustainable Development, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Lindsay C Stringer
- Department of Environment and Geography, University of York, York, UK; York Environmental Sustainability Institute, University of York, York, UK
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Tölgyesi C, Hábenczyus AA, Kelemen A, Török P, Valkó O, Deák B, Erdős L, Tóth B, Csikós N, Bátori Z. How to not trade water for carbon with tree planting in water-limited temperate biomes? THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 856:158960. [PMID: 36167140 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.158960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2022] [Revised: 09/18/2022] [Accepted: 09/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The most widespread nature-based solution for mitigating climate change is tree planting. When realized as forest restoration in historically forested biomes, it can efficiently contribute to the sequestration of atmospheric carbon and can also entail significant biodiversity and ecosystem service benefits. Conversely, tree planting in naturally open biomes can have adverse effects, of which water shortage due to increased evapotranspiration is among the most alarming ones. Here we assessed how soil texture affects the strength of the trade-off between tree cover and water balance in the forest-steppe biome, where the global pressure for afforestation is threatening with increasing tree cover above historical levels. Here we monitored vertical soil moisture dynamics in four stands in each of the most common forest types of lowland Hungary on well-drained, sandy (natural poplar groves, and Robinia and pine plantations) and on poorly drained, silty-clayey soils (natural oak stands and Robinia plantations), and neighboring grasslands. We found that forests on sand retain moisture in the topsoil (approx. 20 cm) throughout the year, but a thick dry layer develops below that during the vegetation period, significantly impeding groundwater recharge. Neighboring sandy grasslands showed an opposite pattern, with often dry topsoil but intact moisture reserves below, allowing deep percolation. In contrast, forests on silty-clayey soils did not desiccate lower soil layers compared neighboring grasslands, which in turn showed moisture patterns similar to sandy grasslands. We conclude that, in water-limited temperate biomes where landscape-wide water regime depends on deep percolation, soil texture should drive the spatial allocation of tree-based climate mitigation efforts. On sand, the establishment of new forests should be kept to a minimum and grassland restoration should be preferred. The trade-off between water and carbon is less pronounced on silty-clayey soils, making forest patches and wooded rangelands viable targets for both climate mitigation and ecosystem restoration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Csaba Tölgyesi
- Department of Ecology, University of Szeged, Közép fasor 52, Szeged 6726, Hungary; MTA-SZTE Lendület Applied Ecology Research Group, Közép fasor 52, Szeged 6726, Hungary.
| | | | - András Kelemen
- Department of Ecology, University of Szeged, Közép fasor 52, Szeged 6726, Hungary; ÖK Lendület Seed Ecology Research Group, Institute of Ecology and Botany, Centre for Ecological Research, Alkotmány utca 2-4, Vácrátót 2163, Hungary
| | - Péter Török
- ELKH-DE Functional and Restoration Ecology Research Group, University of Debrecen, Egyetem tér 1, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary; Polish Academy of Sciences, Botanical Garden - Center for Biological Diversity Conservation in Powsin, Prawdziwka St., 202-973 Warszawa, Poland
| | - Orsolya Valkó
- ÖK Lendület Seed Ecology Research Group, Institute of Ecology and Botany, Centre for Ecological Research, Alkotmány utca 2-4, Vácrátót 2163, Hungary
| | - Balázs Deák
- ÖK Lendület Seed Ecology Research Group, Institute of Ecology and Botany, Centre for Ecological Research, Alkotmány utca 2-4, Vácrátót 2163, Hungary
| | - László Erdős
- ELKH-DE Functional and Restoration Ecology Research Group, University of Debrecen, Egyetem tér 1, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary; Institute of Ecology and Botany, Centre for Ecological Research, Alkotmány utca 2-4, 2163 Vácrátót, Hungary
| | - Benedek Tóth
- Department of Ecology, University of Szeged, Közép fasor 52, Szeged 6726, Hungary
| | - Nándor Csikós
- MTA-SZTE Lendület Applied Ecology Research Group, Közép fasor 52, Szeged 6726, Hungary; Department of Soil Mapping and Environmental Informatics, Institute for Soil Sciences, Centre for Agricultural Research, Herman Ottó út 15, Budapest 122, Hungary
| | - Zoltán Bátori
- Department of Ecology, University of Szeged, Közép fasor 52, Szeged 6726, Hungary
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6
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Growth-survival trade-offs and the restoration of non-forested open ecosystems. Glob Ecol Conserv 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2023.e02383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
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Kiss R, Deák B, Tóth K, Lukács K, Rádai Z, Kelemen A, Miglécz T, Tóth Á, Godó L, Valkó O. Co-seeding grasses and forbs supports restoration of species-rich grasslands and improves weed control in ex-arable land. Sci Rep 2022; 12:21239. [PMID: 36481682 PMCID: PMC9732298 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-25837-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Sowing is widely used for the restoration of species-rich grasslands but still there are knowledge gaps regarding the most suitable application of different seed mixtures. We tested the effect of seed mixtures application timing on the establishment of sown forbs and weed control. 36 experimental plots with nine sowing treatments were established in an abandoned cropland in Hungary. Grass-seeds, diverse forb seed mixture and the combination of the two were applied: diverse forb mixture was sown simultaneously or 1, 2 or 3 years after grass sowing, in plots sown previously with grass or in empty plots (fallows). All sowing treatments supported the rapid establishment of the sown species in large cover and hampered weed encroachment. Forbs performed better when sown into fallows than in grass-matrix and forbs establishment was worse in older fallows than in younger ones. Grasses expressed a strong priority effect, especially when forbs were sown at least two years later than grasses. We also investigated the relation between seed germinability, weather parameters and establishment success. Germination rate in the greenhouse could not predict the establishment success of forbs in the field and showed great differences between years, hence we recommend sowing target forbs in multiple years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Réka Kiss
- 'Lendület' Seed Ecology Research Group, Institute of Ecology and Botany, Centre for Ecological Research, Alkotmány str. 2-4, Vácrátót, 2163, Hungary
| | - Balázs Deák
- 'Lendület' Seed Ecology Research Group, Institute of Ecology and Botany, Centre for Ecological Research, Alkotmány str. 2-4, Vácrátót, 2163, Hungary
| | - Katalin Tóth
- Department of Ecology, University of Debrecen, Egyetem sqr. 1, Debrecen, 4032, Hungary
| | - Katalin Lukács
- 'Lendület' Seed Ecology Research Group, Institute of Ecology and Botany, Centre for Ecological Research, Alkotmány str. 2-4, Vácrátót, 2163, Hungary
- Department of Ecology, University of Debrecen, Egyetem sqr. 1, Debrecen, 4032, Hungary
- Juhász-Nagy Pál Doctoral School, University of Debrecen, Egyetem sqr. 1, Debrecen, 4032, Hungary
- Centre for Ecological Research, National Laboratory for Health Security, Karolina út 29, Budapest, 1113, Hungary
| | - Zoltán Rádai
- 'Lendület' Seed Ecology Research Group, Institute of Ecology and Botany, Centre for Ecological Research, Alkotmány str. 2-4, Vácrátót, 2163, Hungary
| | - András Kelemen
- 'Lendület' Seed Ecology Research Group, Institute of Ecology and Botany, Centre for Ecological Research, Alkotmány str. 2-4, Vácrátót, 2163, Hungary
- Department of Ecology, University of Szeged, Közép Fasor 52, Szeged, 6726, Hungary
| | - Tamás Miglécz
- Hungarian Research Institute for Organic Agriculture, Miklós tér 1, Budapest, 1033, Hungary
| | - Ágnes Tóth
- 'Lendület' Seed Ecology Research Group, Institute of Ecology and Botany, Centre for Ecological Research, Alkotmány str. 2-4, Vácrátót, 2163, Hungary
- Department of Ecology, University of Szeged, Közép Fasor 52, Szeged, 6726, Hungary
| | - Laura Godó
- 'Lendület' Seed Ecology Research Group, Institute of Ecology and Botany, Centre for Ecological Research, Alkotmány str. 2-4, Vácrátót, 2163, Hungary
- Department of Ecology, University of Debrecen, Egyetem sqr. 1, Debrecen, 4032, Hungary
- Juhász-Nagy Pál Doctoral School, University of Debrecen, Egyetem sqr. 1, Debrecen, 4032, Hungary
| | - Orsolya Valkó
- 'Lendület' Seed Ecology Research Group, Institute of Ecology and Botany, Centre for Ecological Research, Alkotmány str. 2-4, Vácrátót, 2163, Hungary.
- Centre for Ecological Research, National Laboratory for Health Security, Karolina út 29, Budapest, 1113, Hungary.
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Erdős L, Török P, Veldman JW, Bátori Z, Bede‐Fazekas Á, Magnes M, Kröel‐Dulay G, Tölgyesi C. How climate, topography, soils, herbivores, and fire control forest-grassland coexistence in the Eurasian forest-steppe. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2022; 97:2195-2208. [PMID: 35942892 PMCID: PMC9804691 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2022] [Revised: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Recent advances in ecology and biogeography demonstrate the importance of fire and large herbivores - and challenge the primacy of climate - to our understanding of the distribution, stability, and antiquity of forests and grasslands. Among grassland ecologists, particularly those working in savannas of the seasonally dry tropics, an emerging fire-herbivore paradigm is generally accepted to explain grass dominance in climates and on soils that would otherwise permit development of closed-canopy forests. By contrast, adherents of the climate-soil paradigm, particularly foresters working in the humid tropics or temperate latitudes, tend to view fire and herbivores as disturbances, often human-caused, which damage forests and reset succession. Towards integration of these two paradigms, we developed a series of conceptual models to explain the existence of an extensive temperate forest-grassland mosaic that occurs within a 4.7 million km2 belt spanning from central Europe through eastern Asia. The Eurasian forest-steppe is reminiscent of many regions globally where forests and grasslands occur side-by-side with stark boundaries. Our conceptual models illustrate that if mean climate was the only factor, forests should dominate in humid continental regions and grasslands should prevail in semi-arid regions, but that extensive mosaics would not occur. By contrast, conceptual models that also integrate climate variability, soils, topography, herbivores, and fire depict how these factors collectively expand suitable conditions for forests and grasslands, such that grasslands may occur in more humid regions and forests in more arid regions than predicted by mean climate alone. Furthermore, boundaries between forests and grasslands are reinforced by vegetation-fire, vegetation-herbivore, and vegetation-microclimate feedbacks, which limit tree establishment in grasslands and promote tree survival in forests. Such feedbacks suggest that forests and grasslands of the Eurasian forest-steppe are governed by ecological dynamics that are similar to those hypothesised to maintain boundaries between tropical forests and savannas. Unfortunately, the grasslands of the Eurasian forest-steppe are sometimes misinterpreted as deforested or otherwise degraded vegetation. In fact, the grasslands of this region provide valuable ecosystem services, support a high diversity of plants and animals, and offer critical habitat for endangered large herbivores. We suggest that a better understanding of the fundamental ecological controls that permit forest-grassland coexistence could help us prioritise conservation and restoration of the Eurasian forest-steppe for biodiversity, climate adaptation, and pastoral livelihoods. Currently, these goals are being undermined by tree-planting campaigns that view the open grasslands as opportunities for afforestation. Improved understanding of the interactive roles of climate variability, soils, topography, fire, and herbivores will help scientists and policymakers recognise the antiquity of the grasslands of the Eurasian forest-steppe.
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Affiliation(s)
- László Erdős
- Institute of Ecology and BotanyCentre for Ecological ResearchAlkotmány utca 2‐42163VácrátótHungary,MTA‐DE Lendület Functional and Restoration Ecology Research GroupEgyetem tér 14032DebrecenHungary
| | - Péter Török
- MTA‐DE Lendület Functional and Restoration Ecology Research GroupEgyetem tér 14032DebrecenHungary,Department of EcologyUniversity of DebrecenEgyetem tér 14032DebrecenHungary,Botanical Garden – Center for Biological Diversity Conservation in PowsinPolish Academy of SciencesPrawdziwka street 202‐973WarszawaPoland
| | - Joseph W. Veldman
- Department of Ecology and Conservation BiologyTexas A&M UniversityCollege StationTX77843‐2258USA
| | - Zoltán Bátori
- Department of EcologyUniversity of SzegedKözép fasor 526726SzegedHungary
| | - Ákos Bede‐Fazekas
- Institute of Ecology and BotanyCentre for Ecological ResearchAlkotmány utca 2‐42163VácrátótHungary,Department of Environmental and Landscape GeographyEötvös Loránd UniversityPázmány Péter sétány 1/C1117BudapestHungary
| | - Martin Magnes
- Institute of BiologyUniversity of GrazHolteigasse 68010GrazAustria
| | - György Kröel‐Dulay
- Institute of Ecology and BotanyCentre for Ecological ResearchAlkotmány utca 2‐42163VácrátótHungary
| | - Csaba Tölgyesi
- MTA‐SZTE ‘Momentum’ Applied Ecology Research GroupKözép fasor 526726SzegedHungary
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9
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Herzon I, Raatikainen KJ, Helm A, Rūsiņa S, Wehn S, Eriksson O. Semi-natural habitats in the European boreal region: Caught in the socio-ecological extinction vortex? AMBIO 2022; 51:1753-1763. [PMID: 35150395 PMCID: PMC9200910 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-022-01705-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2021] [Revised: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
We propose to consider semi-natural habitats-hotspots for biodiversity-being caught in a socio-ecological extinction vortex, similar to the phenomenon described for species threatened with extinction. These habitats are essentially socioecological systems, in which socioeconomic drivers are interlinked with ecological processes. We identify four highly interlinked and mutually reinforcing socio-economic processes, pertaining to the importance of semi-natural habitats for (i) agricultural production, (ii) policy, research and development; (iii) vocational education in the fields of agricultural sciences and (iv) public's experiences with semi-natural habitats. Evidence from six countries in the boreal region demonstrates that recent slowing down or even reversal of two processes are insufficient to stop the extinction vortex phenomenon. We suggest research directions to ascertain the phenomenon, monitor its development and develop proactive actions to weaken the vortex. It is highly plausible that interventions directed at most, if not all, of the key vortex processes are needed to reverse the overall deteriorating trends of a socio-ecological system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irina Herzon
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 27, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
- Helsinki Institute of Sustainability Science, HELSUS, University of Helsinki, P. O. 20 Box 65, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Kaisa J. Raatikainen
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, School of Resource Wisdom, University of Jyvaskyla, P.O.Box 35, 40014 Jyvaskyla, Finland
| | - Aveliina Helm
- Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Lai 40, 51005 Tartu, Estonia
| | - Solvita Rūsiņa
- Faculty of Geography and Earth Sciences, University of Latvia, Jelgavas iela 1, 1004 Riga, Latvia
| | - Sølvi Wehn
- Milticonsult Renewable Energy, Sluppenveien 15, 7037 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Ove Eriksson
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences, Stockholm University, 106 91, Stockholm, Sweden
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