scholarly journals Legacies of past land use challenge grassland recovery – An example from dry grasslands on ancient burial mounds

2020 ◽  
Vol 39 ◽  
pp. 113-132
Author(s):  
Balázs Deák ◽  
Orsolya Valkó ◽  
Csaba Albert Tóth ◽  
Ágnes Botos ◽  
Tibor József Novák
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Forest Steppe ◽  
Residual Soil ◽  
Grassland Vegetation ◽  
Dry Grassland ◽  
Dry Grasslands ◽  
Arable Farming ◽  
Habitat Islands ◽  
Burial Mounds

Due to large-scale agricultural intensification, grasslands are often restricted to habitat islands in human-transformed landscapes. There are approximately half a million ancient burial mounds built by nomadic steppic tribes in the Eurasian steppe and forest steppe zones, which act as habitat islands for dry grassland vegetation. Land use intensification, such as arable farming and afforestation by non-native woody species are amongst the major threats for Eurasian dry grasslands, including grasslands on mounds. After the launch of the Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition framework of the European Union, in Hungary there is a tendency for ceasing crop production and cutting non-native woody plantations, in order to conserve these unique landmarks and restore the historical grassland vegetation on the mounds. In this study, restoration prospects of dry grassland habitats were studied on kurgans formerly covered by croplands and Robinia pseudoacacia plantations. Soil and vegetation characteristics were studied in thespontaneously recovering grasslands. The following questions were addressed: 1; How does site history affect the spontaneous grassland recovery? 2; Do residual soil nutrients play a role in grassland recovery? In former croplands, excess phosphorus, while in former Robinia plantations, excess nitrogen was present in the soil even four years after the land use change and grassland vegetation was in an early or mid-successional stage both on the mounds. The results showed that, without proper management measures, recovery of grassland vegetation is slow on mounds formerly used as cropland or black locust plantation. However, restoration efforts, focused on the restoration of mounds formerly covered by croplands, can be more effective compared to the restoration of mounds formerly covered by forest plantations.

scholarly journals Dry Grassland Vegetation in the Transition Zone Between two Biogeographic Regions

Hacquetia ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 79-120 ◽  
Author(s):  
Desislava Sopotlieva ◽  
Iva Apostolova
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Soil Depth ◽  
Humus Content ◽  
Life Forms ◽  
Grassland Vegetation ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Total N ◽  
Dry Grassland ◽  
Dry Grasslands ◽  
Biogeographic Regions

Abstract The geographic position of Bulgaria results in a variety of climatic and biogeographic influences on the country’s vegetation. We aim to describe the plant diversity of dry grasslands distributed in the transitional belt between the south-eastern European and Mediterranean biogeographic regions in SE Bulgaria, and to reveal if there are any obvious differences in soil properties, presence of life forms and chorotypes between syntaxa. The data set consists of 349 releves of vascular plants and bryophytes sampled in different semi-natural herbaceous vegetation types. By applying TWINSPAN, we classified 176 releves of dry grasslands to eight associations and one unranked community. One association and two subassociations are described here for the first time. Data on soil depth, soil moisture, soil pH, humus and total N content, numbers of different life forms and chorotypes were analysed statistically. The dry grasslands in SE Bulgaria were classified into different vegetation classes sharing the same territory: their communities present similarities in species composition and they have similar ratios of hemicryptophytes/therophytes and Euro-Asiatic/Mediterranean species. Dry grassland vegetation occupies mostly shallow and dry soils that vary slightly in pH, humus content and soil moisture between associations.

scholarly journals Dry Grasslands in the Slovenský Kras MTS (Slovakia) and the Aggteleki-karszt MTS (Hungary) — A Comparison of Two Classification Approaches

Hacquetia ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 123-140 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniela Dübravková-Michálková ◽  
Monika JanišOvá ◽  
Jiří Kolbek ◽  
Róbert Šuvada ◽  
Viktor Virók ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Expert System ◽  
Central Europe ◽  
Numerical Classification ◽  
Grassland Vegetation ◽  
Dry Grassland ◽  
Dry Grasslands ◽  
Unsupervised Method ◽  
Formal Definitions ◽  
Phytosociological Relevés

Dry Grasslands in the Slovenský Kras MTS (Slovakia) and the Aggteleki-karszt MTS (Hungary) — A Comparison of Two Classification ApproachesThe paper brings numerical classification of 48 new phytosociological relevés of dry grassland vegetation from the Slovenský kras Mts and the Aggteleki-karszt Mts located on the border between Slovakia and Hungary (Central Europe). We performed a comparison of two classification approaches (an unsupervised method - modified TWINSPAN, and a supervised approach - electronic expert system based on formal definitions of associations), which were applied on the same dataset. Four associations were distinguished:Campanulo divergentiformis-Festucetum pallentisZólyomi (1936) 1966,Poo badensis-Caricetum humilis(Dostál 1933) Soó ex Michálková in Janišová et al. 2007,Alysso heterophylli-Festucetum valesiacae(Dostál 1933) Kliment in Kliment et al. 2000 andFestuco rupicolae-Caricetum humilisKlika 1939. A newly recorded stand of the rareStipetum tirsaeMeusel 1938 association is characterised. What is more, we established a neotype of theAlysso heterophylli-Festucetum valesiacaeassociation.

scholarly journals Organization of land use of territory of village of councils based on the landscape

2016 ◽  
pp. 177-188
Author(s):  
Fedir Kiptach ◽  
Iryna Koynova
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Self Regulation ◽  
Research Area ◽  
Crop Rotations ◽  
Forest Steppe ◽  
Land Resource ◽  
Row Crops ◽  
Forest Belts ◽  
Total Community

The large-scale landscape maps necessity in developing projects and proposals for agriculture, forestry land-use and erosion protection were justified. Natural conditions of land-use in Nova Syniava community in Stara Syniava district in Khmelnytskyi region were described and analyses of land structure were made. Accordingly, land structure is characterized by ecologically destabilizing lands, including arable lands, lands that were withdrawn from agriculture production and forestry (outbuildings, houses, roads, open-casts, exterior use lands) are prevailing. They cover 80,6 % (in particular, arable lands – 71,8 %) of total community lands. And, vice versa, ecologically stabilizing lands (gardens, pastures, grasslands, shrubs, forest belts, forests, swamps, water covered lands) cover a small percentage – 19,4 of total research area. Therefore, erosive soils cover a significant percentage – 51,3 % of total area. Soil erosion caused decreasing of soil fertility and yields of agriculture. The average weighted losses of humus in arable horizon of soils (0–30 cm) compared with full-profile standard analogues are 0,5–0,6 %. First step of developing sustainable ecological landscape systems were justified by using a principle of land resource restoration and strengthening of their self-regulation through increasing the area of ecologically stabilized lands by low productivity lands and by their location with taking into consideration a complex morphological structure of landscape systems. Landscape systems of research area were classified by genesis and type of their economic use. Arable lands should cover no more than 52,4 % of the total community area. In particular, 16,1 % is recommended to use for field grain-steam tilled crop rotations and cultivating all agriculture crops of this zone by using intensive agriculture systems and the widespread introduction of their ecological links; 27,9 % is recommended to use for field grain-steam tilled crop rotations and cultivating all agriculture crops of this zone by using ecological systems of agriculture provided soil cultivation, sowing and caring for crops according to the elevation line directions. 8,4% is recommended to use for field grain-grass or grass-grain soil protected crop rotations with total exclusion of row crops. 38,8 % of total community land area should be covered by perennial plants (6,6 %), grasslands (17,0 %), shrubs and forest belts (0,31 %), forests (11,7 %), swamps (1,09 %), lands covered by water (1,2 %). Other 8,8 % are covered by outbuildings and houses (1,2 %), roads (2,0 %), opencasts (0,8 %) and exterior use lands (4,8 %). Key words: forest steppe, landscape systems, land-use, lands, crop rotations.

scholarly journals Eastern European Steppe Database

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 149-150
Author(s):  
Denys Vynokurov ◽  
Yakiv Didukh ◽  
Olga Krasova ◽  
Hennadiy Lysenko ◽  
Igor Goncharenko ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Eastern Europe ◽  
Small Proportion ◽  
Vascular Plants ◽  
Forest Steppe ◽  
Eastern European ◽  
Mountain Regions ◽  
Grassland Vegetation ◽  
Dry Grassland ◽  
Card Index

The Eastern European Steppe Database (GIVD ID EU-00-030) includes 6961 vegetation plots of dry grassland vegetation from Eastern Europe (Steppe and Forest-Steppe zones, mountain regions), mainly from Ukraine (4579 relevés), Russia (2403 relevés) and Moldova (203 relevés). 3912 vegetation plots are from different literature sources (66 sources), 219 are from the phytosociological card-index of the M.G. Kholodny Institute of Botany, NAS of Ukraine, 2830 relevés are authors’ relevés. They were established in 1935-2019 years. The database comprises mainly the vegetation of the class Festuco-Brometea (around 95% of the dataset), and a small proportion of Koelerio-Corynephoretea canescentis, Artemisietea vulgaris, Crataego-Prunetea. The taxonomy of vascular species is given according to Cherepanov (1995) for vascular plants, Ignatov and Afonina (1992) for bryophytes and identification guides of the USSR (1971–1978) and Russia (1996, 1998) for lichens. The database is part of the European Vegetation Archive.

The efficiency of the crop rotations with short rotation with different levels of their saturation of cereals and crops in the conditions of Western Forest-Steppe

2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (92) ◽  
pp. 62-68
Author(s):  
R. Holod ◽  
О. Bilinska ◽  
H. Shubala
Keyword(s):  
Crop Rotation ◽  
Green Manure ◽  
Water Regime ◽  
Crop Rotations ◽  
Forest Steppe ◽  
Field Crop ◽  
Soil Water Regime ◽  
Short Rotation ◽  
Arable Farming ◽  
Green Manure Crops

There were analyzed and disclosed the basic components of arable farming systems and their Meaning, the current state and scientific principles in the context of the further development of field crop cultivation in the conditions of Western Forest-Steppe. The purpose of research. To study an effect of alternation of crop in crop rotation in conditions of brief rotation on the soil water regime, productivity and economic efficiency. Methods. Field, laboratory, comparative and analytical. Results. The results of researches on study of productivity of four-field crop rotations with short rotation depending on their saturation by the grain and tilled cultures, of various use of mineral fertilizers, green manure crops and collateral products which were conducted during 2014-2015 in the stationary experiment of the scientific and technological department of plant growing and arable farming, of the TDSGDS of the IKSGP of NAAN are resulted In the article. The elements of the biologization of farming are the basis of our development of crop rotations with short rotation. The study of the effect of green manure crops and collateral products in four-field crop rotations with a different set of crops on the change of soil fertility and productivity of crop rotations as a whole was carried out to this purpose. According to the results of the research, is provided the information on the effectiveness of improving the field crop rotations with short rotation with varying degrees of saturation by grain and tilled crops, that ensure the production of environmentally friendly products, reducing the cost of grain, improving the quality of marketable products. The study of the effect of alternation of crop in crop rotation in conditions of brief rotation on the soil water regime, productivity and economic efficiency showed that an increase in crop rotation productivity is observed in short-rotation crop rotations, if they are saturated by grain crops up to 100%, cereals crops reduction to 50% in crop rotations contributes to a decrease in crop productivity. Conclusion. Thus, the results of the research showed that with the correct construction of short rotational crop rotations, such problems as rational use of nutrients and soil moisture, control of weeds and pests of agricultural crops, improvement of the physical and chemical properties of the soil, increased efficiency in the use of fertilizers and equipment, Cheapening of the received agricultural product may be solved.

Classification of woody-shrub vegetation of the forest-steppe complex of Privolzhskaya Upland

2009 ◽  
pp. 27-53
Author(s):  
A. Yu. Kudryavtsev
Keyword(s):  
Plant Community ◽  
Plant Communities ◽  
Dominant Species ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Nature Reserve ◽  
Vegetation Mapping ◽  
Vegetation Classification ◽  
Forest Steppe ◽  
Mapping Data

Diversity of plant communities in the nature reserve “Privolzhskaya Forest-Steppe”, Ostrovtsovsky area, is analyzed on the basis of the large-scale vegetation mapping data from 2000. The plant community classi­fication based on the Russian ecologic-phytocoenotic approach is carried out. 12 plant formations and 21 associations are distinguished according to dominant species and a combination of ecologic-phytocoenotic groups of species. A list of vegetation classification units as well as the characteristics of theshrub and woody communities are given in this paper.

scholarly journals Enriching plant diversity in grasslands by large-scale experimental sward disturbance and seed addition along gradients of land-use intensity

2016 ◽  
pp. rtw062 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valentin H. Klaus ◽  
Deborah Schäfer ◽  
Till Kleinebecker ◽  
Markus Fischer ◽  
Daniel Prati ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Plant Diversity ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Land Use Intensity ◽  
Seed Addition

scholarly journals Current Wildland Fire Patterns and Challenges in Europe: A Synthesis of National Perspectives

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
pp. 117862212110281
Author(s):  
Nieves Fernandez-Anez ◽  
Andrey Krasovskiy ◽  
Mortimer Müller ◽  
Harald Vacik ◽  
Jan Baetens ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Wildland Fire ◽  
Human Life ◽  
Local Analysis ◽  
Wildland Fires ◽  
Fire Statistics ◽  
Quantitative Evidence ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Fire Patterns

Changes in climate, land use, and land management impact the occurrence and severity of wildland fires in many parts of the world. This is particularly evident in Europe, where ongoing changes in land use have strongly modified fire patterns over the last decades. Although satellite data by the European Forest Fire Information System provide large-scale wildland fire statistics across European countries, there is still a crucial need to collect and summarize in-depth local analysis and understanding of the wildland fire condition and associated challenges across Europe. This article aims to provide a general overview of the current wildland fire patterns and challenges as perceived by national representatives, supplemented by national fire statistics (2009–2018) across Europe. For each of the 31 countries included, we present a perspective authored by scientists or practitioners from each respective country, representing a wide range of disciplines and cultural backgrounds. The authors were selected from members of the COST Action “Fire and the Earth System: Science & Society” funded by the European Commission with the aim to share knowledge and improve communication about wildland fire. Where relevant, a brief overview of key studies, particular wildland fire challenges a country is facing, and an overview of notable recent fire events are also presented. Key perceived challenges included (1) the lack of consistent and detailed records for wildland fire events, within and across countries, (2) an increase in wildland fires that pose a risk to properties and human life due to high population densities and sprawl into forested regions, and (3) the view that, irrespective of changes in management, climate change is likely to increase the frequency and impact of wildland fires in the coming decades. Addressing challenge (1) will not only be valuable in advancing national and pan-European wildland fire management strategies, but also in evaluating perceptions (2) and (3) against more robust quantitative evidence.

scholarly journals Diversification of the Balloon bushcrickets (Orthoptera, Hexacentrinae, Aerotegmina) in the East African mountains

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Beata Grzywacz ◽  
Elżbieta Warchałowska-Śliwa ◽  
Maciej Kociński ◽  
Klaus-Gerhard Heller ◽  
Claudia Hemp
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Phylogeny ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Diploid Number ◽  
Karyotype Analysis ◽  
Spatial Separation ◽  
Eastern Arc Mountains ◽  
East African ◽  
Habitat Islands ◽  
Extinction Event ◽  
Underlying Processes

AbstractEast African mountains constitute a network of isolated habitat islands among dry savannah and are thus ideal for studying species diversification processes. This study elucidated the phylogenetic and phylogeographic relationships of all bushcricket species comprising the genus Aerotegmina. Our analysis indicated that large-scale climatic and topographic processes in Africa are likely to have driven speciation in this group, and revealed the cytogenetic traits of the species. Molecular phylogeny supported the monophyly of Aerotegmina and showed that the genus probably originated in the old Eastern Arc Mountains of Tanzania and Kenya. Two lineages were distinguished: small- and large-sized species with geographically distinct habitats. The underlying processes are thought to be eight dispersals, ten vicariance events, and one extinction event linked to repeated fragmentation of the African rainforest. Those processes, in conjunction with habitat change, probably also led to the spatial separation of the species into a northern clade with a diploid number of chromosomes 2n = 32 + X0 or 2n = 30 + neo-XY and a southern clade with a reduced number of chromosomes (2n = 28 + X0 or 24 + neo-X1X2Y). Karyotype analysis suggests that Aerotegmina is currently in the process of speciation.

Introduction: Configuring the Green New Deal

2021 ◽  
pp. 103530462110176
Author(s):  
Anna Sturman ◽  
Natasha Heenan
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Indigenous Peoples ◽  
New Deal ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Political Strategy ◽  
Right Wing ◽  
Jel Codes ◽  
Economic Stagnation ◽  
Political Project ◽  
The Right

We introduce a themed collection of articles on approaches to configuring a Green New Deal as a response to the current capitalist crisis marked by ecological breakdown, economic stagnation and growing inequality. The Green New Deal is a contested political project, with pro-market, right-wing nationalist, Keynesian, democratic socialist and ecosocialist variants. Critiques of the Green New Deal include pragmatic queries as the feasibility of implementation, and theoretical challenges from the right regarding reliance on state forms and from the left regarding efforts to ameliorate capitalism. They also include concerns about technocratic bias and complaints about lack of meaningful consultation with Indigenous peoples on proposals for large-scale shifts in land use. Debates over the ideological orientation, political strategy and implementation of the Green New Deal must now account for the economic and employment impacts of COVID. JEL Codes: Q43, Q54, Q56, Q58

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document