Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Prediction of changes in the occurrence of forest herbs in hedgerow networks along a climate gradient in north-western Europe

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Biodiversity and Conservation Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Many herbaceous forest plant species are endangered and suffer from habitat loss and fragmentation, especially in agricultural landscapes. Hedgerow networks represent a forested habitat that may serve as a refuge for forest herbs, even though also hedges have recently been strongly reduced in number and size. It is yet disputed to which extent hedgerows offer a suitable environment for forest herbs and which environmental factors may affect the frequency of these species in hedgerows. To develop an effective conservation strategy for forest herbs in hedgerows on a larger spatial scale, we aimed to combine a set of ecological and life history traits for predicting the frequency of these species in a local data set. A literature data set was used to examine the regional differences in the species composition of forest herbs and environmental conditions in hedgerows along a climate gradient across north-western Europe. Contrary to our expectations, the chosen set of variables in combination had a lower ability of predicting the local frequency of forest herbs in hedgerows than the single variable light availability. An ordination of species lists in the literature data set showed pronounced regional differences in the species pools of forest herbs in hedgerows, the floristic gradient being closely related to climatic continentality. Hedgerows in more continental regions had lower proportions of chamaephytes and, according to an indicator species analysis, drier and less acid soils.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Agger P, Brandt J (1988) Dynamics of small biotopes in Danish agricultural landscapes. Landsc Ecol 1:227–240

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Andrews M, Mercer C, Griffin P, Andrews ME, Cherrill A (1999) Autecology of common herbaceous hedgerow species in Britain. Asp Appl Biol 54:353–360

    Google Scholar 

  • Bailey SA (2007) Increasing connectivity in fragmented landscapes: an investigation of evidence for biodiversity gain in woodlands. For Ecol Manage 238:7–23

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barnes G, Williamson T (2006) Hedgerow history: ecology history and landscape character. Windgather Press, Bollington, UK

    Google Scholar 

  • Barr CJ, Gillespie MK (2000) Estimating hedgerow length and pattern characteristics in Great Britain using Countryside Survey data. J Environ Manage 60:23–32

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bates GH (1937) The vegetation of wayside and hedgerow. J Ecol 25:469–481

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baudry J (1988) Hedgerows and hedgerow networks as wildlife habitats in agricultural landscapes. In: Park JR (ed) Environmental management in agriculture—European perspectives. Belhaven Press, London, UK, pp 111–124

    Google Scholar 

  • Baudry J, Bunce RGH, Burel F (2000) Hedgerows: an international perspective on their origin, function and management. J Environ Manage 60:7–22

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boutin C, Jobin B, Bélanger L, Choiniére L (2002) Plant diversity in three types of hedgerows adjacent to cropfields. Biodivers Conserv 11:1–25

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Burel F (1996) Hedgerows and their role in agricultural landscapes. Crit Rev Plant Sci 15:169–190

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Burel F, Baudry J (1990) Structural dynamic of a hedgerow network landscape in Brittany France. Landsc Ecol 4:197–210

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Burel F, Baudry J (1995) Species biodiversity in changing agricultural landscapes: a case study in Pays d’Auge, France. Agric Ecosyst Environ 55:193–200

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cherrill A, Mercer C, McClean C, Tudor G (2001) Assessing the floristic diversity of hedge networks: a landscape perspective. Landsc Res 26:55–64

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chincarini M, Padoa-Schioppa E (2001) The ecological evaluation of hedgerows: a first attempt at a practical approach. In: Barr CJ, Petit S (eds) Hedgerows of the world: their ecological functions in different landscapes. IALE, Birmingham, UK, pp 81–92

    Google Scholar 

  • Conrad V (1946) Methods in climatology. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, USA

    Google Scholar 

  • Corbit M, Marks PL, Gardescu S (1999) Hedgerows as habitat corridors for forest herbs in central New York, USA. J Ecol 87:220–232

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cummins RP, French DD (1994) Floristic diversity, management and associated land use in British hedgerows. In: Watt TA, Buckley P (eds) Hedgerow management and nature conservation. Wye College Press, Ashford, UK, pp 95–106

    Google Scholar 

  • Cunningham SA (2000) Effects of habitat fragmentation on the reproductive ecology of four plant species in mallee woodland. Conserv Biol 14:758–768

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • De Keersmaeker L, Martens L, Verheyen K, Hermy M, De Schrijver A, Lust N (2004) Impact of soil fertility and insolation on diversity of herbaceous woodland species colonizing afforestations in Muizen forest (Belgium). For Ecol Manage 188:291–304

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Deckers B, Hermy M, Muys B (2004a) Factors affecting plant species composition of hedgerows: relative importance and hierarchy. Acta Oecol 26:23–37

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Deckers B, Verheyen K, Hermy M, Muys B (2004b) Differential environmental response of plant functional types in hedgerow habitats. Basic Appl Ecol 5:551–566

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Deckers B, De Becker P, Honnay O, Hermy M, Muys B (2005a) Sunken roads as habitats for forest plant species in a dynamic agricultural landscape: effects of age and isolation. J Biogeogr 32:99–109

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Deckers B, Kerselaers E, Gulinck H, Muys B, Hermy M (2005b) Long-term spatio-temporal dynamics of a hedgerow network landscape in Flanders, Belgium. Environ Conserv 32:20–29

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dzwonko Z, Loster S (1989) Distribution of vascular plant species in small woodlands on the western Carpathian foothills. Oikos 56:77–86

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ellenberg H (1996) Vegetation Mitteleuropas mit den Alpen. Ulmer, Stuttgart, Germany

    Google Scholar 

  • Ellenberg H, Weber HE, Düll R, Wirth V, Werner W, Paulißen D (1992) Zeigerwerte von Pflanzen in Mitteleuropa. Scr Geobot 18:1–258

    Google Scholar 

  • Forman RTT (1995) Land mosaics: the ecology of landscapes and regions. University Press, Cambridge, USA

    Google Scholar 

  • Forman RTT, Baudry J (1984) Hedgerows and hedgerow networks in landscape ecology. Environ Manage 8:495–510

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Freemark KE, Boutin C, Keddy CJ (2002) Importance of farmland habitats for conservation of plant species. Conserv Biol 16:399–412

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • French DD, Cummins RP (2001) Classification, composition, richness and diversity of British hedgerows. Appl Veg Sci 4:213–228

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fritz R, Merriam G (1996) Fencerow and forest edge architecture in eastern Ontario farmland. Agric Ecosyst Environ 59:159–170

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Helliwell DR (1975) The distribution of woodland plant species in some Shropshire hedgerows. Biol Conserv 7:61–72

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hermy M, Honnay O, Firbank L, Grashof-Bokdam C, Lawesson JE (1999) An ecological comparison between ancient and other forest plant species of Europe, and the implications for forest conservation. Biol Conserv 91:9–22

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Honnay O, Hermy M, Coppin P (1999) Effects of area, age and diversity of forest patches in Belgium on plant species richness, and implications for conservation and reforestation. Biol Conserv 87:73–84

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Honnay O, Verheyen K, Butaye J, Jacquemyn H, Bossuyt B, Hermy M (2002) Possible effects of habitat fragmentation and climate change on the range of forest plant species. Ecol Lett 5:525–530

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Klotz S, Kühn I, Durka W (2002) Eine Datenbank mit biologisch-ökologischen Merkmalen zur Flora von Deutschland. Schriftenreihe für Vegetationskunde 38:1–334

    Google Scholar 

  • Lauer W, Bendix J (2004) Klimatologie. Westermann, Braunschweig, Germany

    Google Scholar 

  • Le Cœur D, Baudry J, Burel F (1997) Field margins plant assemblages: variation partitioning between local and landscape factors. Landsc Urb Plan 37:57–71

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Le Cœur D, Baudry J, Burel F, Thenail C (2002) Why and how we should study field boundary biodiversity in an agrarian landscape context. Agric Ecosyst Environ 89:23–40

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • MacDonald DW, Johnson P (2000) Farmers and the custody of the countryside: trends in loss and conservation of non-productive habitats. Biol Conserv 94:221–234

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McCollin D, Jackson JI, Bunce RGH, Barr CJ, Stuart R (2000) Hedgerows as habitat for woodland plants. J Environ Manage 60:77–90

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peterken GF (1974) A method for assessing woodland flora for conservation using indicator species. Biol Conserv 6:239–245

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Petit S, Stuart R, Gillespie MK, Barr CJ (2003) Field boundaries in Great Britain: stock and change between 1984, 1990 and 1998. J Environ Manage 67:229–238

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pollard E (1973) Hedges: VII. Woodland relic hedges in Huntington and Peterborough. J Ecol 61:343–352

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pollard E, Hooper MD, Moore NW (1974) Hedges. William Collins Sons & Co Ltd, London, UK

    Google Scholar 

  • Reif A, Schulze ED, Zahner K (1982) Der Einfluß des geologischen Untergrundes, der Hangneigung, der Feldgröße und der Flurbereinigung auf die Heckendichte in Oberfranken. Berichte der ANL 6:231–253

    Google Scholar 

  • Rounsevell MDA, Annetts JE, Audsley E, Mayr T, Reginster I (2003) Modelling the spatial distribution of agricultural land use at the regional scale. Agric Ecosyst Environ 95:465–479

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roy V, de Blois S (2006) Using functional traits to assess the role of hedgerow corridors as environmental filters for forest herbs. Biol Conserv 130:592–603

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schmidt M, von Oheimb G, Kriebitzsch WU, Ellenberg H (2002) Liste der im norddeutschen Tiefland typischen Waldgefäßpflanzen. Mitt Bundesforsch Forst- und Holzwirtschaft 206:1–37

    Google Scholar 

  • Schmucki R, de Blois S (2009) Population structure and individual performances of Trillium grandiflorum in hedgerows and forest habitats. Plant Ecol 202:67–78

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sitzia T (2007) Hedgerows as corridors for woodland plants: a test on the Po Plain, northern Italy. Plant Ecol 188:235–252

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smart SM, Bunce RGH, Stuart RC (2001) An assessment of the potential of British hedges to act as corridors and refuges for Ancient Woodland Indicator plants. In: Barr CJ, Petit S (eds) Hedgerows of the world: their ecological functions in different landscapes. IALE, Birmingham, UK, pp 137–146

    Google Scholar 

  • Sparks TH, Meek WR, Mountford JO, Pywell RF (2000) The spatial distribution of herbs and woody species in the hedgerows of an arable farm. Asp Appl Biol 58:401–406

    Google Scholar 

  • Stoate C, Boatman N, Borralho RJ, Carvalho CR, De Snoo GR, Eden P (2001) Ecological impacts of arable intensification in Europe. J Environ Manage 63:337–365

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sumner ME (ed) (2000) Handbook of soil science. CRC Press, Boca Raton, USA

    Google Scholar 

  • Tack G, van der Bremt P, Hermy M (1993) Flanders forests: a historical ecology. Davidsfonds, Leuven, Belgium

    Google Scholar 

  • Tang Y, Zhang Y, Xie J, Sun H (2003) Incorporation of mulberry in contour hedgerows to increase overall benefits: a case study from Ningnan County, Sichuan Province, China. Agric Syst 76:775–785

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • van Calster H, Vandenberghe R, Ruysen M, Verheyen K, Hermy M, Decocq G (2008) Unexpectedly high 20th century floristic losses in a rural landscape in northern France. J Ecol 96:927–936

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Verheyen K, Guntenspergen GR, Biesbrouck B, Hermy M (2003) An integrated analysis of the effects of past land use on forest herb colonization at the landscape level. J Ecol 91:731–742

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vitousek PM, Mooney HA, Lubchenco J, Melillo JM (1997) Human domination of earth’s ecosystems. Science 277:494–499

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Weber HE (2003) Gebüsche, Hecken, Krautsäume. Ulmer, Stuttgart, Germany

    Google Scholar 

  • Wehling S, Diekmann M (2008) Factors influencing the spatial distribution of forest plant species in hedgerows of North-western Germany. Biodivers Conserv 17:2799–2813

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wehling S, Diekmann M (2009a) Hedgerows as an environment for forest plants: a comparative case study of five species. Plant Ecol 204:11–20

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wehling S, Diekmann M (2009b) Importance of hedgerows as habitat corridors for forest plants in agricultural landscapes. Biol Conserv 142:2522–2530

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wisskirchen R, Haeupler H (1998) Standardliste der Farn- und Blütenpflanzen Deutschlands. Ulmer, Stuttgart

    Google Scholar 

  • Woodward FI (1987) Climate and plant distribution. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK

    Google Scholar 

  • Zuria I, Gates JE (2006) Vegetated field margins in Mexico: their history, structure and function, and management. Human Ecol 34:53–77

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We are grateful to the German Federal Environmental Foundation (Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt, DBU) providing a grant to S.W. We also thank our colleagues at the University of Bremen and two anonymous reviewers for their useful comments and suggestions on an earlier draft of this paper.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Vegetation Ecology and Conservation Biology, Department of Ecology (ECO), University of Bremen, Leobener Str., 28359, Bremen, Germany

    Stephan Wehling & Martin Diekmann

Authors
  1. Stephan Wehling
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Martin Diekmann
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Stephan Wehling.

Appendix

Appendix

See Table 5.

Table 5 List of taxa considered as forest herbs and their presence/absence (+/−) in the selected studies
Full size table

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Wehling, S., Diekmann, M. Prediction of changes in the occurrence of forest herbs in hedgerow networks along a climate gradient in north-western Europe. Biodivers Conserv 19, 2537–2552 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-010-9858-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-010-9858-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation