Karin Hall
Professor
Semi-natural grassland continuity, long-term land-use change and plant species richness in an agricultural landscape on Öland, Sweden
Författare
Summary, in English
The study characterizes historical land-use change and the development of semi-natural grassland habitats, over 274 years, within a mosaic
agricultural landscape (22 km2) on the island of O¨ land (Sweden). We also explore the relationship between previous land-use, habitat continuity
and present-day vascular plant species richness in grassland patches. Land-cover maps, based on cadastral maps and aerial photographs, were
produced for six time-periods between 1723/1733 and 1994/1997. In 1723/1733, the landscape was dominated by grasslands, with arable land
surrounding the villages. The grassland area decreased throughout the study period and grassland patches became progressively more fragmented.
Present-day grasslands represent 18% of the grassland area in 1723/1733. The land-use structure of the early 18th century is still evident in the
modern landscape. The majority of the present-day grasslands are situated on former common grazing land and have had a continuity of at least
274 years: the remaining grasslands are younger and developed during the 20th century on arable or forested land. The proportion of plant species
that depend on grazing and are characteristic of semi-natural grasslands significantly reflects the continuity and previous land-use of grassland
sites. The study illustrates the way in which information on historical land-use and habitat continuity can help to explain the structuring of plant
assemblages in semi-natural grasslands within the modern landscape.
agricultural landscape (22 km2) on the island of O¨ land (Sweden). We also explore the relationship between previous land-use, habitat continuity
and present-day vascular plant species richness in grassland patches. Land-cover maps, based on cadastral maps and aerial photographs, were
produced for six time-periods between 1723/1733 and 1994/1997. In 1723/1733, the landscape was dominated by grasslands, with arable land
surrounding the villages. The grassland area decreased throughout the study period and grassland patches became progressively more fragmented.
Present-day grasslands represent 18% of the grassland area in 1723/1733. The land-use structure of the early 18th century is still evident in the
modern landscape. The majority of the present-day grasslands are situated on former common grazing land and have had a continuity of at least
274 years: the remaining grasslands are younger and developed during the 20th century on arable or forested land. The proportion of plant species
that depend on grazing and are characteristic of semi-natural grasslands significantly reflects the continuity and previous land-use of grassland
sites. The study illustrates the way in which information on historical land-use and habitat continuity can help to explain the structuring of plant
assemblages in semi-natural grasslands within the modern landscape.
Avdelning/ar
- Institutionen för naturgeografi och ekosystemvetenskap
- Biodiversitet
- Naturvetenskapliga fakulteten
Publiceringsår
2008
Språk
Engelska
Sidor
200-211
Publikation/Tidskrift/Serie
Landscape and Urban Planning
Volym
84
Issue
3-4
Länkar
Dokumenttyp
Artikel i tidskrift
Förlag
Elsevier
Ämne
- Ecology
- Physical Geography
Nyckelord
- Rural landscape
- Land-use history
- Habitat continuity
- Aerial photographs
- Cadastral maps
- Vascular plant species
Status
Published
ISBN/ISSN/Övrigt
- ISSN: 1872-6062