Species-rich semi-natural grasslands have a higher resistance but a lower resilience than intensively managed agricultural grasslands in response to climate anomalies

De Keersmaecker, W., et al., 2016. Journal of Applied Ecology

Original research (primary data)
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Abstract

The stable delivery of ecosystem services provided by grasslands is strongly dependent on the stability of grassland ecosystem functions such as biomass production. Biomass production is in turn strongly affected by the frequency and intensity of climate extremes. The aim of this study is to evaluate to what extent species-poor intensively managed agricultural grasslands can maintain their biomass productivity under climate anomalies, as compared to species-rich, semi-natural grasslands. Our hypothesis is that species richness stabilizes biomass production over time. Biomass production stability was assessed in response to drought and temperature anomalies using 14 years of the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), temperature and drought index time series. More specifically, vegetation resistance (i.e. the ability to withstand the climate anomaly) and resilience (i.e. the recovery rate) were derived using an auto-regressive model with external input variables (ARx). The stability metrics for both grasslands were subsequently compared. We found that semi-natural grasslands exhibited a higher resistance but lower resilience than agricultural grasslands in the Netherlands. Furthermore, the difference in stability between semi-natural and agricultural grasslands was dependent on the physical geography: the most significant differences in resistance were observed in coastal dunes and riverine areas, whereas the differences in resilience were the most significant in coastal dunes and fens. Synthesis and applications. We conclude that semi-natural grasslands show a higher resistance to drought and temperature anomalies compared to agricultural grasslands. These results underline the need to reassess the ways agricultural practices are performed. More specifically, increasing the plant species richness of agricultural grasslands and lowering their mowing and grazing frequency may contribute to buffer their biomass production stability against climate extremes. We conclude that semi-natural grasslands show a higher resistance to drought and temperature anomalies compared to agricultural grasslands. These results underline the need to reassess the ways agricultural practices are performed. More specifically, increasing the plant species richness of agricultural grasslands and lowering their mowing and grazing frequency may contribute to buffer their biomass production stability against climate extremes.

Case studies

Basic information

  • Case ID: INT-055-1
  • Intervention type: Protection
  • Intervention description:

    semi-natural grasslands belonging to a Natura 2000 area; Through the designation of conservation and protection areas, which may also be privately owned, the network aims to ensure sustainable management

  • Landscape/sea scape ecosystem management: Yes
  • Climate change impacts Effect of Nbs on CCI Effect measures
    Biomass cover loss  Unclear results Biomass production stability in terms of: resistance against drought resistance against temperature anomalies resilience to stress
  • Approach implemented in the field: Yes
  • Specific location:

    grasslands across the Netherlands

  • Country: Netherlands
  • Habitat/Biome type: Coastal | Temperate grasslands | Streams, rivers, riparian |
  • Issue specific term: Not applicable

Evidence

  • Notes on intervention effectivness: effectiveness evaluated by looking at change in biomass over time. However, results are unclear (for ecosystem as well) b/c do not report specifically these results. The focus is on comparing the measures between the NbS and alternative land-use for the comparison to the alternative, results are mixed because outcomes depend on which measure is considered (for measures of resistance, NbS had a positive effect but for the measure of resilience, NbS had a negative effect compared to the non-adaptive landuse) and also vary depending on the phytogeographical region
  • Is the assessment original?: Yes
  • Broadtype of intervention considered: Other non-NbS approach(s)
  • Compare effectivness?: Yes
  • Compared to the non-NBS approach: Mixed
  • Report greenhouse gas mitigation?: No
  • Impacts on GHG: Not applicable
  • Assess outcomes of the intervention on natural ecosystems: Yes
  • Impacts for the ecosystem: Unclear
  • Ecosystem measures: Biomass production stability in terms of: resistance against drought resistance against temperature anomalies resilience to stress
  • Assess outcomes of the intervention on people: No
  • Impacts for people: Not reported
  • People measures:
  • Considers economic costs: No
  • Economic appraisal conducted: No
  • Economic appraisal described:
  • Economic costs of alternative considered: No
  • Compared to an alternative: Not reported

Evaluation methodology

  • Type of data: Quantitative
  • Is it experimental: No
  • Experimental evalution done: Not applicable
  • Non-experimental evalution done: Empirical case study
  • Study is systematic: