A functional method for classifying European grasslands for use in joint ecological and economic studies.

J.G. Hodgson; G. Montserrat-Marti; B. Cerabolini; R.M. Seriani; M. Maestro-Martinez; B. Peco; P.J. Wilson; K. Thompson; J.P. Grime; S.R. Band; A. Bogard; P. Castro-Diez; M. Charles; G. Jones; M.C. Perez-Rontome; M. Caccianiga; D. Allard; J.P. Bakker; J.H.C. Cornelissen; T. Dutoit; A.P. Grootjans; J. Guerrero-Campo; P.L. Gupta; A. Hynd; S. Kahmen; P. Poschlod; A. Romo-Diez; I.H. Rorison; E. Rosen; K.F. Schreiber; J. Tallowin; L. De Torres Espuny; P. Villar-Salvador

doi:10.1016/j.baae.2005.01.006

A functional method for classifying European grasslands for use in joint ecological and economic studies.

J.G. Hodgson, G. Montserrat-Marti, B. Cerabolini, R.M. Seriani, M. Maestro-Martinez, B. Peco, P.J. Wilson, K. Thompson, J.P. Grime, S.R. Band, A. Bogard, P. Castro-Diez, M. Charles, G. Jones, M.C. Perez-Rontome, M. Caccianiga, D. Allard, J.P. Bakker, J.H.C. Cornelissen, T. DutoitA.P. Grootjans, J. Guerrero-Campo, P.L. Gupta, A. Hynd, S. Kahmen, P. Poschlod, A. Romo-Diez, I.H. Rorison, E. Rosen, K.F. Schreiber, J. Tallowin, L. De Torres Espuny, P. Villar-Salvador

Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

A simple protocol is presented for a functional classification of European grassland species using attributes that can be quickly and easily measured. These attributes relate to habitat fertility, intensity of grazing and disturbance. As a surrogate for habitat fertility we use leaf nitrogen predicted by multiple regression from three leaf characters, specific leaf area, dry matter content and size. Average maximum canopy height of the component species of our vegetation, weighted by abundance, provides a rough assessment of the intensity of grazing. The percentage of annuals and vernal geophytes assesses disturbance. Functional descriptions of the CLIMB grasslands were produced and trends relating to both ecosystem and economic processes were detected. Most importantly, our estimate of habitat fertility predicts land use change. Within NW Europe the threat to grassland of conservation value from agricultural 'improvement' increases with fertility while in the Mediterranean increased fertility decreases the likelihood of abandonment. These mathematical relationships between an ecological attribute and a perception of economic potential can help us to routinely combine ecological and economic data. This is an important preliminary step as we attempt to reconcile practical economic concerns and conservation objectives within working landscapes. © 2005 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	119-131
Journal	Basic and Applied Ecology
Volume	6
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.baae.2005.01.006
Publication status	Published - 2005

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Hodgson, J. G., Montserrat-Marti, G., Cerabolini, B., Seriani, R. M., Maestro-Martinez, M., Peco, B., Wilson, P. J., Thompson, K., Grime, J. P., Band, S. R., Bogard, A., Castro-Diez, P., Charles, M., Jones, G., Perez-Rontome, M. C., Caccianiga, M., Allard, D., Bakker, J. P., Cornelissen, J. H. C., ... Villar-Salvador, P. (2005). A functional method for classifying European grasslands for use in joint ecological and economic studies. Basic and Applied Ecology, 6, 119-131. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.baae.2005.01.006

@article{04ca142a06fa4a478ca1c1c8599ff819,

title = "A functional method for classifying European grasslands for use in joint ecological and economic studies.",

abstract = "A simple protocol is presented for a functional classification of European grassland species using attributes that can be quickly and easily measured. These attributes relate to habitat fertility, intensity of grazing and disturbance. As a surrogate for habitat fertility we use leaf nitrogen predicted by multiple regression from three leaf characters, specific leaf area, dry matter content and size. Average maximum canopy height of the component species of our vegetation, weighted by abundance, provides a rough assessment of the intensity of grazing. The percentage of annuals and vernal geophytes assesses disturbance. Functional descriptions of the CLIMB grasslands were produced and trends relating to both ecosystem and economic processes were detected. Most importantly, our estimate of habitat fertility predicts land use change. Within NW Europe the threat to grassland of conservation value from agricultural 'improvement' increases with fertility while in the Mediterranean increased fertility decreases the likelihood of abandonment. These mathematical relationships between an ecological attribute and a perception of economic potential can help us to routinely combine ecological and economic data. This is an important preliminary step as we attempt to reconcile practical economic concerns and conservation objectives within working landscapes. {\textcopyright} 2005 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.",

author = "J.G. Hodgson and G. Montserrat-Marti and B. Cerabolini and R.M. Seriani and M. Maestro-Martinez and B. Peco and P.J. Wilson and K. Thompson and J.P. Grime and S.R. Band and A. Bogard and P. Castro-Diez and M. Charles and G. Jones and M.C. Perez-Rontome and M. Caccianiga and D. Allard and J.P. Bakker and J.H.C. Cornelissen and T. Dutoit and A.P. Grootjans and J. Guerrero-Campo and P.L. Gupta and A. Hynd and S. Kahmen and P. Poschlod and A. Romo-Diez and I.H. Rorison and E. Rosen and K.F. Schreiber and J. Tallowin and {De Torres Espuny}, L. and P. Villar-Salvador",

year = "2005",

doi = "10.1016/j.baae.2005.01.006",

language = "English",

volume = "6",

pages = "119--131",

journal = "Basic and Applied Ecology",

issn = "1439-1791",

publisher = "Elsevier GmbH",

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Hodgson, JG, Montserrat-Marti, G, Cerabolini, B, Seriani, RM, Maestro-Martinez, M, Peco, B, Wilson, PJ, Thompson, K, Grime, JP, Band, SR, Bogard, A, Castro-Diez, P, Charles, M, Jones, G, Perez-Rontome, MC, Caccianiga, M, Allard, D, Bakker, JP, Cornelissen, JHC, Dutoit, T, Grootjans, AP, Guerrero-Campo, J, Gupta, PL, Hynd, A, Kahmen, S, Poschlod, P, Romo-Diez, A, Rorison, IH, Rosen, E, Schreiber, KF, Tallowin, J, De Torres Espuny, L & Villar-Salvador, P 2005, 'A functional method for classifying European grasslands for use in joint ecological and economic studies.', Basic and Applied Ecology, vol. 6, pp. 119-131. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.baae.2005.01.006

TY - JOUR

T1 - A functional method for classifying European grasslands for use in joint ecological and economic studies.

AU - Hodgson, J.G.

AU - Montserrat-Marti, G.

AU - Cerabolini, B.

AU - Seriani, R.M.

AU - Maestro-Martinez, M.

AU - Peco, B.

AU - Wilson, P.J.

AU - Thompson, K.

AU - Grime, J.P.

AU - Band, S.R.

AU - Bogard, A.

AU - Castro-Diez, P.

AU - Charles, M.

AU - Jones, G.

AU - Perez-Rontome, M.C.

AU - Caccianiga, M.

AU - Allard, D.

AU - Bakker, J.P.

AU - Cornelissen, J.H.C.

AU - Dutoit, T.

AU - Grootjans, A.P.

AU - Guerrero-Campo, J.

AU - Gupta, P.L.

AU - Hynd, A.

AU - Kahmen, S.

AU - Poschlod, P.

AU - Romo-Diez, A.

AU - Rorison, I.H.

AU - Rosen, E.

AU - Schreiber, K.F.

AU - Tallowin, J.

AU - De Torres Espuny, L.

AU - Villar-Salvador, P.

PY - 2005

Y1 - 2005

N2 - A simple protocol is presented for a functional classification of European grassland species using attributes that can be quickly and easily measured. These attributes relate to habitat fertility, intensity of grazing and disturbance. As a surrogate for habitat fertility we use leaf nitrogen predicted by multiple regression from three leaf characters, specific leaf area, dry matter content and size. Average maximum canopy height of the component species of our vegetation, weighted by abundance, provides a rough assessment of the intensity of grazing. The percentage of annuals and vernal geophytes assesses disturbance. Functional descriptions of the CLIMB grasslands were produced and trends relating to both ecosystem and economic processes were detected. Most importantly, our estimate of habitat fertility predicts land use change. Within NW Europe the threat to grassland of conservation value from agricultural 'improvement' increases with fertility while in the Mediterranean increased fertility decreases the likelihood of abandonment. These mathematical relationships between an ecological attribute and a perception of economic potential can help us to routinely combine ecological and economic data. This is an important preliminary step as we attempt to reconcile practical economic concerns and conservation objectives within working landscapes. © 2005 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

AB - A simple protocol is presented for a functional classification of European grassland species using attributes that can be quickly and easily measured. These attributes relate to habitat fertility, intensity of grazing and disturbance. As a surrogate for habitat fertility we use leaf nitrogen predicted by multiple regression from three leaf characters, specific leaf area, dry matter content and size. Average maximum canopy height of the component species of our vegetation, weighted by abundance, provides a rough assessment of the intensity of grazing. The percentage of annuals and vernal geophytes assesses disturbance. Functional descriptions of the CLIMB grasslands were produced and trends relating to both ecosystem and economic processes were detected. Most importantly, our estimate of habitat fertility predicts land use change. Within NW Europe the threat to grassland of conservation value from agricultural 'improvement' increases with fertility while in the Mediterranean increased fertility decreases the likelihood of abandonment. These mathematical relationships between an ecological attribute and a perception of economic potential can help us to routinely combine ecological and economic data. This is an important preliminary step as we attempt to reconcile practical economic concerns and conservation objectives within working landscapes. © 2005 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

U2 - 10.1016/j.baae.2005.01.006

DO - 10.1016/j.baae.2005.01.006

M3 - Article

SN - 1439-1791

VL - 6

SP - 119

EP - 131

JO - Basic and Applied Ecology

JF - Basic and Applied Ecology

ER -

A functional method for classifying European grasslands for use in joint ecological and economic studies.

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