TY  - JOUR
A1  - Diekmann, Martin
A1  - Andres, Christian
A1  - Becker, Thomas
A1  - Bennie, Jonathan
A1  - Blueml, Volker
A1  - Bullock, James M.
A1  - Culmsee, Heike
A1  - Fanigliulo, Miriam
A1  - Hahn, Annett
A1  - Heinken, Thilo
A1  - Leuschner, Christoph
A1  - Luka, Stefanie
A1  - Meissner, Justus
A1  - Müller, Josef
A1  - Newton, Adrian
A1  - Peppler-Lisbach, Cord
A1  - Rosenthal, Gert
A1  - van den Berg, Leon J. L.
A1  - Vergeer, Philippine
A1  - Wesche, Karsten
T1  - Patterns of long-term vegetation change vary between different types of semi-natural grasslands in Western and Central Europe
JF  - Journal of vegetation science
N2  - Questions Has plant species richness in semi-natural grasslands changed over recent decades? Do the temporal trends of habitat specialists differ from those of habitat generalists? Has there been a homogenization of the grassland vegetation? Location Different regions in Germany and the UK. Methods We conducted a formal meta-analysis of re-survey vegetation studies of semi-natural grasslands. In total, 23 data sets were compiled, spanning up to 75 years between the surveys, including 13 data sets from wet grasslands, six from dry grasslands and four from other grassland types. Edaphic conditions were assessed using mean Ellenberg indicator values for soil moisture, nitrogen and pH. Changes in species richness and environmental variables were evaluated using response ratios. Results In most wet grasslands, total species richness declined over time, while habitat specialists almost completely vanished. The number of species losses increased with increasing time between the surveys and were associated with a strong decrease in soil moisture and higher soil nutrient contents. Wet grasslands in nature reserves showed no such changes or even opposite trends. In dry grasslands and other grassland types, total species richness did not consistently change, but the number or proportions of habitat specialists declined. There were also considerable changes in species composition, especially in wet grasslands that often have been converted into intensively managed, highly productive meadows or pastures. We did not find a general homogenization of the vegetation in any of the grassland types. Conclusions The results document the widespread deterioration of semi-natural grasslands, especially of those types that can easily be transformed to high production grasslands. The main causes for the loss of grassland specialists are changed management in combination with increased fertilization and nitrogen deposition. Dry grasslands are most resistant to change, but also show a long-term trend towards an increase in more mesotrophic species.
KW  - dry grasslands
KW  - fragmentation
KW  - homogenization
KW  - management
KW  - meta-analysis
KW  - nitrogen deposition
KW  - quasi-permanent plot
KW  - re-survey
KW  - species richness
KW  - wet grasslands
Y1  - 2019
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1111/jvs.12727
SN  - 1100-9233
SN  - 1654-1103
VL  - 30
IS  - 2
SP  - 187
EP  - 202
PB  - Wiley
CY  - Hoboken
ER  -