Abstract
Climatic and land-use drivers of multiple animal-mediated ecosystem processes in grasslands
Fritschiana, pp.6-6
Eurasian Grassland Conference (EGC), 16th (Austria , 29-May-2019–05-Jun-2019)
2019
Abstract
Question: Global change impacts on biodiversity are likely to translate into reduced ecosystem functioning. However, we have limited information about the effects of global change drivers on the rates of animal-mediated processes human-modified habitats. Therefore
we questioned the effects of climatic conditions and land-use intensity on dung removal, seed removal, predation and herbivory in semi-natural grasslands.
Methods: We measured process rates in 134 plots in three regions of Germany: the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Schorfheide-Chorin (SCH), the National Park Hainich and UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Schwäbische Alb. To measure dung removal, seed removal and predation,
we set up five regularly placed circular subplots in June 2017 (2 m in diameter) and placed baits: fresh cattle dung, non-viable sunflower seeds and dummy caterpillars, respectively. After 48 h, we re-collected the baits and measured amount of removal for dung and seed but attack marks on caterpillars. We measured herbivory as percent damage of the leaf area from biomass samples taken in May 2017. We tested the effects of short- and medium-term climate and land-use intensity, which are two major actors of global change, by using generalized linear mixed models.
Results: We found significant regional differences: higher dung removal, seed removal and herbivory but lower predation rates in SCH. Within-plot variation of rates were high (40-180%) and were correlated with the land-use intensity. Climatic factors had stronger effects on the rates compared to land use intensity except predation. Temperature during the survey period had negative effects on herbivory. Minimum temperatures of the pervious winter had positive effects on other processes. Intensities of grazing and mowing activities weeks before the surveys had negative effects on predation but fertilization and grazing intensity in previous two years had positive effects.
Conclusions: Two drivers of global change had significant impacts on the rates of animal-mediated ecosystem processes. None of the short- or medium-term climatic or land-use drivers had consistent positive or negative effects across processes; hence responses of processes were highly idiosyncratic. This also brings the difficulty that there is no single optimal management that promotes all processes, and no single process can be used as an indicator for other processes.
Details
- Title
- Climatic and land-use drivers of multiple animal-mediated ecosystem processes in grasslands
- Authors
- Didem Ambarli (Author) - Leibniz-Institute for Food Systems Biology at the Technical University of MunichNadja K Simons (Author) - Leibniz-Institute for Food Systems Biology at the Technical University of MunichKatja Wehner (Author) - Technische Universität Darmstadt (Darmstadt, Germany)Wiebke Kaemper (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, GeneCology Research Centre - LegacyThomas Nauss (Author) - Philipps University of MarburgSebastian Seibold (Author) - University of WürzburgWolfgang Weisser (Author) - Leibniz-Institute for Food Systems Biology at the Technical University of MunichNico Bluthgen (Author) - Technische Universität Darmstadt (Darmstadt, Germany)
- Contributors
- Martin Magnes (Editor) - University of Graz
- Publication details
- Fritschiana, pp.6-6
- Conference details
- Eurasian Grassland Conference (EGC), 16th (Austria , 29-May-2019–05-Jun-2019)
- Publisher
- Wirtschaftsabteilung der Karl-Franzens-Universität
- Date published
- 2019
- ISSN
- 1024-0306
- Organisation Unit
- School of Science and Engineering - Legacy; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99513801002621
- Output Type
- Abstract
Metrics
19 Record Views