Project work has focused on 36 landscapes in Belgium, Germany and Sweden. These study areas all contain semi-natural grasslands that are managed by grazing livestock, but differ in the characteristics of the wider landscape.
This allowed the effect of green infrastructure such as hedgerows, road verges and forest borders on plant species to be observed. In order to do this, multiple aspects of both the landscape and plant species present have been measured.
This allowed the effect of green infrastructure such as hedgerows, road verges and forest borders on plant species to be observed. In order to do this, multiple aspects of both the landscape and plant species present have been measured.
Work packages
Work Package 1. Countryside biogeography and historical change in green infrastructure and functional connectivity
WP leader: Sara Cousins, Stockholm University, Sweden.
The amount of landscape change that has occurred within each region has been assessed, using historical maps and aerial photographs. These data have been used to investigate how loss of green infrastructure and functional connectivity is reflected in the species found in grassland habitats.
We have also carried out detailed surveys of plants in grasslands (360 small scale vegetation sampling plots) and surrounding habitats (356 larger areas of green-infrastructure habitat around focal grasslands). This will be used to assess how grassland plants use human activity and green infrastructure to move around the landscape.
Work Package 2. Mechanisms of dispersal for functional connectivity
WP leader: Anna Traveset, Mediterranean Institute of Advanced Studies (UIB-CSIC), Spain.
Animals contribute to plant dispersal by transferring both pollen and seeds between sites. This work package aims to better understand the way in which changes in the abundance of these dispersal vectors within the landscape are likely to affect different plant species.
The number of pollinators in each region have been counted, and their interactions with different plant species used to build detailed pollination networks. Alongside this, controlled experiments were used to measure how effectively seeds produced in different landscapes are able to germinate and produce adult plants.
Work Package 3 Infer functional connectivity through genotyping of four model species
WP leader: Professor Olivier Honnay, KU Leuven, Belgium
DNA was gathered from individuals from Galium verum and Campanula rotundifolia in a number of locations across the study landscapes, and used to investigate the dispersal patterns of plants in different areas.
The relatedness of individuals from known locations allow us to estimate rates of movement and the sources of dispersing individuals. This will help investigate the way in which green infrastructure and grazing animals contribute to functional connectivity in greater detail.
Work Package 4. Quantitative assessment of functional connectivity, dispersal potential, and ecosystem services
WP leader: James Bullock, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, UK (self-funded partner).
Data from other work packages has been used to model the importance of green infrastructure and functional connectivity for providing ecosystem services within landscapes. Important functions such as crop pollination, carbon storage and cultural services are provided by semi-natural grasslands. This work package investigates how we can manage functional connectivity to optimise these benefits.
WP leader: Sara Cousins, Stockholm University, Sweden.
The amount of landscape change that has occurred within each region has been assessed, using historical maps and aerial photographs. These data have been used to investigate how loss of green infrastructure and functional connectivity is reflected in the species found in grassland habitats.
We have also carried out detailed surveys of plants in grasslands (360 small scale vegetation sampling plots) and surrounding habitats (356 larger areas of green-infrastructure habitat around focal grasslands). This will be used to assess how grassland plants use human activity and green infrastructure to move around the landscape.
Work Package 2. Mechanisms of dispersal for functional connectivity
WP leader: Anna Traveset, Mediterranean Institute of Advanced Studies (UIB-CSIC), Spain.
Animals contribute to plant dispersal by transferring both pollen and seeds between sites. This work package aims to better understand the way in which changes in the abundance of these dispersal vectors within the landscape are likely to affect different plant species.
The number of pollinators in each region have been counted, and their interactions with different plant species used to build detailed pollination networks. Alongside this, controlled experiments were used to measure how effectively seeds produced in different landscapes are able to germinate and produce adult plants.
Work Package 3 Infer functional connectivity through genotyping of four model species
WP leader: Professor Olivier Honnay, KU Leuven, Belgium
DNA was gathered from individuals from Galium verum and Campanula rotundifolia in a number of locations across the study landscapes, and used to investigate the dispersal patterns of plants in different areas.
The relatedness of individuals from known locations allow us to estimate rates of movement and the sources of dispersing individuals. This will help investigate the way in which green infrastructure and grazing animals contribute to functional connectivity in greater detail.
Work Package 4. Quantitative assessment of functional connectivity, dispersal potential, and ecosystem services
WP leader: James Bullock, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, UK (self-funded partner).
Data from other work packages has been used to model the importance of green infrastructure and functional connectivity for providing ecosystem services within landscapes. Important functions such as crop pollination, carbon storage and cultural services are provided by semi-natural grasslands. This work package investigates how we can manage functional connectivity to optimise these benefits.