Vortrag, 7. Interdisziplinäres Expertentreffen zum Übereinkommen über die biologische Vielfalt, Vilm: 21.08.2006 - 25.08.2006
Abstract:
The convention on biological diversity requires their members to develop methods which consistently monitor changes of biodiversity. However, methods for effective and rapid monitoring which also link vegetation dynamics to drivers of global change, such as land use change, are still lacking. Therefore we develop a systematic grid method which incorporates different scales and diversity levels and links vegetation diversity to land use. The systematic grid method simultaneously quantifies alpha diversity on patch, grid cell (1ha) and landscape level. Beta diversity is analyzed within and between landscapes. Two case study sites significantly differ in vegetation diversity. Vegetation diversity is higher on all levels in the calcareous mosaic landscape than in the siliceous forest landscape. Alpha and beta diversity can be successfully linked to land use: vegetation diversity increases with land use diversity and heterogeneity. The systematic grid method has the potential for fast and efficient repeated monitoring of changes in biodiversity in agricultural landscapes. Such techniques are urgently needed to cope with and evaluate the impact of land use change and climate change on vegetation.