La localisation géographique a un effet majeur sur la faune et la flore des prairies permanentes en Europe

Translated title of the contribution: Geographic location is a main determinant of fauna and flora in European grasslands

G. Luscher, J.-P. Choisis, Philippe Jeanneret, Manuel Schneider, Andrew Hector, M. Arndorfer, Katalin Balázs, A. Báldi, D. Bailey, Peter Dennis, Sebastian Eiter, Zoltán Elek, Wendy Fjellstad, Phillipa Kirsty Gillingham, Max Kainz, A. Kovaks-Hostyanszki, Kurt-Jürgen Hülsbergen, Maurizio Paoletti, S. Papaja-Hülsbergen , Jean-Pierre SarthouN. Siebrecht, Sebastian Wolfrum, Felix Herzog

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference Proceeding (Non-Journal item)

Abstract

Wild bees, spiders, earthworms and plants contribute considerably to biodiversity in grasslands and provide valuable services to agriculture, such as pollination, pest control and maintenance of soil quality. We investigated the responses of these four taxa to geographic location, practices and surrounding landscape variables using a dataset of 357 grassland fields within 88 farms in six European regions, to capture the diversity of European grasslands. Geographic location alone had a dominant effect on all communities. Some practices and surrounding landscape variables alone had a small additional
significant effect on observed species richness, rarefied species richness or abundance. Bee species richness and abundance as well as rarefied plant species richness decreased with increasing number of mechanical operations. Observed spider species richness and abundance were unrelated to practices or landscape variables, whereas rarefied species richness showed significant relations to nitrogen input, habitat diversity and amount of grassland habitats in the surroundings. Earthworm abundance increased with nitrogen input but species richness did not. Observed plant species richness decreased with increasing nitrogen input and increased with woody habitats in the surroundings. Investigating multiple regions and taxonomic groups allowed identifying the main factors structuring communities, which is necessary for designing appropriate conservation measures and ensuring continued supply of services.
Translated title of the contributionGeographic location is a main determinant of fauna and flora in European grasslands
Original languageFrench
Title of host publicationProceedings of the 3R Recontres autours des Recherches sur les Ruminants
Number of pages4
Publication statusPublished - 03 Dec 2015
Event3R Rencontres Recherches Ruminants - Paris, France
Duration: 02 Dec 201503 Dec 2015

Conference

Conference3R Rencontres Recherches Ruminants
Country/TerritoryFrance
CityParis
Period02 Dec 201503 Dec 2015

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