Journalartikel

Jahr der Veröffentlichung: 2006

Seiten: 1150-1160

Zeitschrift: Conservation Biology

Bandnummer: 20

Heftnummer: 4

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1523-1739.2006.00373.x

Verlag: Wiley

Abstract: 

Seminatural grasslands in Europe are susceptible to habitat
destruction and fragmentation that result in negative effects on
biodiversity because of increased isolation and area effects on
extinction rate. However, even small habitat patches of seminatural
grasslands might be of value for conservation and restoration of species
richness in a landscape with a long history of management, which has
been argued to lead to high species richness. We tested whether ant
communities have been negatively affected by habitat loss and increased
isolation of seminatural grasslands during the twentieth century. We
examined species richness and community composition in seminatural
grasslands of different size in a mosaic landscape in Central Sweden.
Grasslands managed continuously over centuries harbored species‐rich and
ecologically diverse ant communities. Grassland remnant size had no
effect on ant species richness. Small grassland remnants did not harbor a
nested subset of the ant species of larger habitats. Community
composition of ants was mainly affected by habitat conditions. Our
results suggest that the abandonment of traditional land use and the
encroachment of trees, rather than the effects of fragmentation, are
important for species composition in seminatural grasslands. Our results
highlight the importance of considering land‐use continuity and
dispersal ability of the focal organisms when examining the effects of
habitat loss and fragmentation on biodiversity. Landscape history should
be considered in conservation programs focusing on effects of land‐use
change.

Harvard-Zitierstil: Dauber, J., Begntsson, J. and Lenoir, L. (2006) Evaluating Effects of Habitat Loss and Land‐Use Continuity on Ant Species Richness in Seminatural Grassland Remnants, Conservation Biology, 20(4), pp. 1150-1160. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1523-1739.2006.00373.x

APA-Zitierstil: Dauber, J., Begntsson, J., & Lenoir, L. (2006). Evaluating Effects of Habitat Loss and Land‐Use Continuity on Ant Species Richness in Seminatural Grassland Remnants. Conservation Biology. 20(4), 1150-1160. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1523-1739.2006.00373.x