Recovery of Mediterranean grasslands: New paper in Tuexenia

Our paper about the role of livestock grazing in the recovery of Mediterranean grasslands has recently been published in Tuexenia. We are happy that we could work together with our friend Rocco Labadessa on this interesting topic.

Citation

Labadessa, R., Deák, B., Valkó, O. (2020): No need for grazing exclusion – Sheep grazing supports the recovery of grasslands even from the early successional stages. Tuexenia 40: 429-443.

The paper can be downloaded from here.

Abstract

Availability and dispersal of target plant propagules and applied management techniques can considerably affect the success of grassland restoration. In our study we explored the effect of sheep grazing on plant species composition of an early staged recovering grassland, which developed on newly created soil surfaces. We recorded the presence and cover of vascular plant species in 17 grazed and 6 ungrazed plots during three consecutive years after the restoration of a landfill in southern Italy. A DCA ordination based on species percentage cover was calculated to assess the species composition of the plots in the three years. Plant assemblages were compared to adjacent reference grassland in terms of species composition and cover of functional groups based on their role (i.e. target species or weeds) and their seed dispersal potential (i.e. high or low epizoochorous ranking index). For each parameter, Relative Response Indices (RRIs) were calculated to assess the relationship between the vegetation characteristics of the restored areas and the reference grassland. The DCA ordination of plant communities in the restored area revealed gradients of increasing similarity to reference grassland as a function of successional age and grazing. For most of the considered vegetation characteristics, RRIs in restored grassland became more similar to the reference grassland with increasing successional age and under grazed conditions. Besides underlining the role of passive restoration in supporting effective grassland recovery, our results revealed that extensive sheep grazing even from the early successional stages can improve target species dispersal and establishment, and enhance grassland restoration. Our results suggest that grazing can improve the feasibility and sustainability of restoration projects by saving costs of fence installation and providing forage for local animal husbandry.

Unfortunately many years have passed since we last met Rocco. This picture was taken in Hortobágy, in a nice excursion, many years ago.

 

 

New paper in Basic and Applied Ecology: Acceptance of near-natural greenspace management relates to ecological and socio-cultural assigned values among European urbanites

The second paper yielding from the European urban questionnaire survey has been published in Basic and Applied Ecology, by Jussi Lampinen et al. Many thanks to Jussi Lampinen, Valentin Klaus, Leonie Fischer, Lena Neuenkamp and all the colleagues for this wonderful paper!

Lampinen, J., Tuomi, M., Fischer, L.K., Neuenkamp L., Alday, J.G., Casado-Arzuaga, I., Čeplová, N., Deák, B., Eriksson, O., Escriche, A.M., Fellowes, M.D.E., Fernández De Manuel, B., Filibeck, G., González-Guzmán, A., Hinojosa, M.B., Kowarik, I., Lampei Bucharová, A., Lumbierres, B., Pardo i Martín, R., Pons, X., Rodríguez-García, E., Schröder, R., Tatay, L.C., Unterweger, P., Valkó, O., Vázquez Manzanares, V.M., Klaus, V.H. (2020): Acceptance of near-natural greenspace management relates to ecological and socio-cultural assigned values among European urbanites. Basic and Applied Ecology (in press) [IF2019: 3.156]

The final paper will be soon available in the Journal webpage, until then, you can access the pre-proof version from here.

Urban greenspaces are important places for people living in cities, as these places provide our everyday contact with nature. In this European-scale study we were interested whether urban citizens accept near-natural greenspace managements, and what ecological and socio-cultural values are assinged to them accross Europe.

Abstract

Grasslands are widespread elements of urban greenspace providing recreational, psychological and aesthetic benefits to city residents. Two urban grassland types of contrasting management dominate urban greenspaces: frequently mown, species-poor short-cut lawns and less intensively managed, near-natural tall-grass meadows. The higher conservation value of tall-grass meadows makes management interventions such as converting short-cut lawns into tall-grass meadows a promising tool for urban biodiversity conservation. The societal success of such interventions, however, depends on identifying the values urban residents assign to different types of urban grasslands, and how these values translate to attitudes towards greenspace management. Using 2027 questionnaires across 19 European cities, we identify the assigned values that correlate with people's personal greenspace use and their preferences for different types of urban grasslands to determine how these values relate to the agreement with a scenario of converting 50% of their cities’ short-cut lawns into tall-grass meadows. We found that most people assigned nature-related values, such as wildness, to tall-grass meadows and utility-related values, such as recreation, to short-cut lawns. Positive value associations of wildness and species richness with tall-grass meadows, and social and nature-related greenspace activities, positively correlated with agreeing to convert short-cut lawns into tall-grass meadows. Conversely, disapproval of lawn conversion correlated with positive value associations of cleanliness and recreation potential with short-cut lawns. Here, people using greenspaces for nature-related activities were outstandingly positive about lawn conversion. The results show that the plurality of values assigned to different types of urban grasslands should be considered in urban greenspace planning. For example, tall-grass meadows could be managed to also accommodate the values associated with short-cut lawns, such as tidiness and recreation potential, to support their societal acceptance.

 

The two main types of urban grasslands: tall-grass meadows and short-cut lawns.