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https://doi.org/10.1515/botcro-2016-0021

Long-term cropland abandonment does not lead per se to the recovery of semi-natural herb communities deemed habitats of community interest

Natalia Troiani ; University of Bologna, Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, Botanic Garden via Irnerio 42, 40126, Bologna, Italy
Federico Maria Tardella orcid.org/0000-0002-4319-9131 ; University of Camerino, School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, via Pontoni 5, 62032, Camerino, MC, Italy
Luca Malatesta ; University of Camerino, School of Advanced Studies, via Lili 55, 62032, Camerino, MC, Italy
Marcello Corazza ; University of Bologna, Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, Botanic Garden via Irnerio 42, 40126, Bologna, Italy
Carlo Ferrari ; University of Bologna, Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, Botanic Garden via Irnerio 42, 40126, Bologna, Italy
Andrea Catorci ; University of Camerino, School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, via Pontoni 5, 62032, Camerino, MC, Italy

Sažetak

Abandoned croplands can be considered a new category of »scattered elements« of mountain landscapes. To gain a deeper understanding of the conservation status (sensu EEC Directive 92/43) of abandoned cropland in the northern Apennines, we used the concept of the social behavior type (SBT) of plant communities. SBTs refer to the behaviour and ecological attributes of species at a given observation level and allow the understanding of the plant community conservation status. We found that topographic and soil conditions drive species assemblage in pastures after crop abandonment, but that long-term abandonment does not lead per se to the recovery of the semi-natural grassland communities deemed worthy of conservation in the EEC Directive. It was mainly the lack of appropriate disturbance regimes that allowed the spread of dominant tall herbs, which, in turn, reduced site suitability for subordinate plants. Moreover, their spread fostered the presence of elements such as ruderals and fringe species. We concluded that these abandoned croplands had a good potential to develop into a Habitat as defined in the EU Directive but without appropriate management plans they would remain of low representativeness.

Ključne riječi

abandonment; croplands; Ellenberg’s indicator values; grassland recovery management; protected habitats; social behaviour types

Hrčak ID:

166906

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/166906

Datum izdavanja:

1.10.2016.

Posjeta: 1.935 *