The Influence of Surrounding Arable Fields on the Species Diversity and Composition of Isolated Mountain Mesic Grassland Patches

Daniel Pruchniewicz (), Ludwik Żołnierz and Agnieszka Dradrach
Additional contact information
Daniel Pruchniewicz: Department of Botany and Plant Ecology, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, pl. Grunwaldzki 24a, 50-363 Wrocław, Poland
Ludwik Żołnierz: Department of Botany and Plant Ecology, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, pl. Grunwaldzki 24a, 50-363 Wrocław, Poland
Agnieszka Dradrach: Institute of Agroecology and Plant Production, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, pl. Grunwaldzki 24a, 50-363 Wrocław, Poland

Agriculture, 2024, vol. 14, issue 2, 1-10

Abstract: This study aimed to determine the impact of arable fields on the diversity and species composition of isolated meadow patches of the order Arrhenatheretalia . The study was conducted in the Sowie Mountains and the adjacent hills (SW Poland). The species composition of the vegetation was analyzed along transects designated from the edge up to 33 m into the meadow patches. The species composition varied significantly in zones directly affected by arable fields, proving their strong negative impact on the vegetation of the mesic grasslands examined. The highest values of the diversity index were recorded 9 m away from the edge, while the lowest values were found in the direct influence zone of arable fields—2 m from the edge. In the case of apophytes, synanthropic species of local origin, the lowest values were recorded within 1 m and the highest values were recorded within 9 m. A significant change in the percentage of graminoids and dicotyledonous herbs was found between 9 m and 33 m from the edge. The study found no significant differences in habitat parameters measured with ecological indicators. Species of the Artemisietea vulgaris class effectively penetrate deep into grassland patches and can visibly degrade their vegetation.

Keywords: mesic meadows; crop fields; diversity; environmental factors (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/14/2/180/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/14/2/180/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jagris:v:14:y:2024:i:2:p:180-:d:1325938

Access Statistics for this article

Agriculture is currently edited by Ms. Leda Xuan

More articles in Agriculture from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().