Echoes of the past: Agricultural legacies shape the successional dynamics of protected semi-natural dry grasslands
Academic Article
Publication Date:
2023
abstract:
European semi-natural dry grasslands are among the most endangered terrestrial ecosystems, being recognised as
habitats of community interest by the EU Habitats Directive. The occurrence and preservation of these habitats
depend on a combination of anthropogenic and natural factors, although little is known regarding the role of past
land-use changes. Here, we investigated the role of time since cultivation abandonment as a major driver of
grassland successional dynamics in the Mediterranean agro-pastoral system of Alta Murgia, southern Italy. By
integrating cartographic information on the past agricultural land-use with the main abiotic constraints (patch
area, slope and aspect), we used generalised additive mixed models to test for the probability of occurrence of
current grassland habitat types along time since cultivation abandonment (10 to 200 years). Our results disclosed
the successional sequence of grassland plant communities since crop abandonment in the study area, highlighting
that the distribution of semi-natural grassland communities largely depends on land use history besides
current environmental patterns. Among the habitat types protected under the EU Habitats Directive, we highlighted
that xero-thermic communities may represent an intermediate step of grassland succession after cultivation
abandonment, while more mesic perennial communities indicate a late successional stage. These
successional dynamics are further modulated by mesoclimatic conditions associated with slope and aspect, especially in case of long-standing pastures that were not historically affected by agricultural transformations.
Our findings can contribute to a deeper understanding of dynamics relevant to spontaneous vegetation recovery
in open environments, which is a prerequisite for setting up effective grassland conservation and restoration
actions. Furthermore, our results underline the value of integrating historical maps and current information for
the assessment of habitat conservation status.
habitats of community interest by the EU Habitats Directive. The occurrence and preservation of these habitats
depend on a combination of anthropogenic and natural factors, although little is known regarding the role of past
land-use changes. Here, we investigated the role of time since cultivation abandonment as a major driver of
grassland successional dynamics in the Mediterranean agro-pastoral system of Alta Murgia, southern Italy. By
integrating cartographic information on the past agricultural land-use with the main abiotic constraints (patch
area, slope and aspect), we used generalised additive mixed models to test for the probability of occurrence of
current grassland habitat types along time since cultivation abandonment (10 to 200 years). Our results disclosed
the successional sequence of grassland plant communities since crop abandonment in the study area, highlighting
that the distribution of semi-natural grassland communities largely depends on land use history besides
current environmental patterns. Among the habitat types protected under the EU Habitats Directive, we highlighted
that xero-thermic communities may represent an intermediate step of grassland succession after cultivation
abandonment, while more mesic perennial communities indicate a late successional stage. These
successional dynamics are further modulated by mesoclimatic conditions associated with slope and aspect, especially in case of long-standing pastures that were not historically affected by agricultural transformations.
Our findings can contribute to a deeper understanding of dynamics relevant to spontaneous vegetation recovery
in open environments, which is a prerequisite for setting up effective grassland conservation and restoration
actions. Furthermore, our results underline the value of integrating historical maps and current information for
the assessment of habitat conservation status.
Iris type:
01.01 Articolo in rivista
Keywords:
grassland ecology; habitats directive; plant succession; cultivation abandonment; land use history
List of contributors:
Labadessa, Rocco; Vicario, Saverio; Adamo, Maria; Tarantino, Cristina; Ancillotto, Leonardo
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