Grassland Changes in the Eastern Alps Over Four Decades: Unveiling Patterns Along an Elevation Gradient DOI Creative Commons
Gianmaria Bonari, Alessandro Bricca, Giulia Tomasi

et al.

Applied Vegetation Science, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 28(1)

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

ABSTRACT Aims Alpine valleys have faced escalating global changes in recent decades such as a decline of traditional management and rural expansion. Grasslands are likely the type vegetation most affected by these transformations. This study investigates multifaceted plant diversity over past four major valley Italian Eastern Alps examines whether occurred uniformly across different elevations. Location Valsugana Valley, Alps, Italy. Methods In 2022, we resurveyed 115 plots (including vascular plants, mosses, lichens) originally sampled 1986–1988. Plots were collected grasslands span along an elevation gradient 2000 m. At each time period, automatically classified using EUNIS expert system habitats. We analysed variation species richness, diversity, beta (turnover nestedness), relative proportion life form, woodiness, neophyte gradient, subdivided low‐, middle‐, high‐elevation belts. Lastly, quantified number gained, winning, stable, losing, lost species. Results found differences classification habitats elevation‐dependent community composition. Many grassland types transformed into other or forests man‐made Species richness varied time, being constant at lower elevations but markedly increasing high Temporal turnover dominated elevations, especially sites, while nestedness components increased towards Neophytes hemicryptophytes decreased low‐elevation belt, therophytes geophytes low‐ middle‐elevation many dry replaced nitrophilous woody High‐elevation witnessed replacement with loss mountain increase therophyte geophyte Conclusions undergone substantial decades. Different processes acted gradient. Nonetheless driver, impoverishment semi‐natural was observed Understanding is essential for comprehensive evaluation ecological variations time. Conservation strategies should be tailored to address biodiversity varying counteract negative trends ongoing habitat transformation Alps.

Language: Английский

Grassland Changes in the Eastern Alps Over Four Decades: Unveiling Patterns Along an Elevation Gradient DOI Creative Commons
Gianmaria Bonari, Alessandro Bricca, Giulia Tomasi

et al.

Applied Vegetation Science, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 28(1)

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

ABSTRACT Aims Alpine valleys have faced escalating global changes in recent decades such as a decline of traditional management and rural expansion. Grasslands are likely the type vegetation most affected by these transformations. This study investigates multifaceted plant diversity over past four major valley Italian Eastern Alps examines whether occurred uniformly across different elevations. Location Valsugana Valley, Alps, Italy. Methods In 2022, we resurveyed 115 plots (including vascular plants, mosses, lichens) originally sampled 1986–1988. Plots were collected grasslands span along an elevation gradient 2000 m. At each time period, automatically classified using EUNIS expert system habitats. We analysed variation species richness, diversity, beta (turnover nestedness), relative proportion life form, woodiness, neophyte gradient, subdivided low‐, middle‐, high‐elevation belts. Lastly, quantified number gained, winning, stable, losing, lost species. Results found differences classification habitats elevation‐dependent community composition. Many grassland types transformed into other or forests man‐made Species richness varied time, being constant at lower elevations but markedly increasing high Temporal turnover dominated elevations, especially sites, while nestedness components increased towards Neophytes hemicryptophytes decreased low‐elevation belt, therophytes geophytes low‐ middle‐elevation many dry replaced nitrophilous woody High‐elevation witnessed replacement with loss mountain increase therophyte geophyte Conclusions undergone substantial decades. Different processes acted gradient. Nonetheless driver, impoverishment semi‐natural was observed Understanding is essential for comprehensive evaluation ecological variations time. Conservation strategies should be tailored to address biodiversity varying counteract negative trends ongoing habitat transformation Alps.

Language: Английский

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