Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Diversity and floristic patterns of mediterranean grasslands: the relative influence of environmental and land management factors

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

Abstract

Managed grasslands are normally ecosystems with high species diversity. They are associated with traditional extensive livestock grazing. Land-use changes, in particular gradual abandonment or grazing intensification, lead to major changes in floristic patterns of these grasslands, some included in priority habitats of the EU Habitats Directive. In order to analyse these patterns of change, Mediterranean grasslands of eastern areas of mainland Portugal were studied aiming to: (1) establish ecological gradients underlying their floristic patterns; (2) examine the relative importance of both environmental and land-use factors on their floristic composition; (3) assess how floristic composition and species richness are affected by land-use factors. Vegetation sampling was carried out from 2008 to 2009 following phytosociological procedures. Canonical Correspondence Analysis was applied. Variation partitioning was used to assess the relative influence of land-use variables. Richness, legumes cover, endemic species and bryophytes cover were compared in four land-management regimes: unmanaged; extensive grazing by sheep; extensive grazing by cattle and sheep; frequent soil tillage. Significant differences were found in floristic and diversity patterns, revealing the importance of grazing as a management tool for maintaining or improving floristic diversity. From our findings slight extensive grazing can contribute to both maintenance of species diversity and to the increase in legumes cover and thus to palatability and economic value of studied grasslands. Interactions between herbivores and grasslands, considering also their influences on soil properties, have an important role in the equilibrium states which promote biodiversity and conservation of the services of these ecosystems.

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
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aedo C, Herrero A (eds) (2005) Flora Iberica. Plantas vasculares de la Península Ibérica e Islas Baleares, vol 21. Real Jardín Botánico, CSIC, Madrid

  • Aguiar M (2005) Biodiversity in grasslands: Current changes and future scenarios. In: Reynolds SG, Frame J (eds) Grasslands: developments opportunities perspectives. FAO and Science Publishers, Enfield, pp 261–280

    Google Scholar 

  • Anderson MJ (2001) A new method for non-parametric multivariate analysis of variance. Austral Ecol 26:32–46

    Google Scholar 

  • Anderson MJ (2005) PERMANOVA: a FORTRAN computer program for permutational multivariate analysis of variance. Department of Statistics, University of Auckland, New Zealand

  • Anderson MJ, Gorley RN (2007) PERMANOVA+ for PRIMER: guide to software and statistical methods. PRIMER-E, Plymouth

  • Anderson MJ, ter Braak CJF (2003) Permutation tests for multi-factorial analysis of variance. J Stat Comput Simul 73:85–113

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Asner GP, Elmore AJ, Olander LP, Martin RE, Harris AT (2004) Grazing systems, ecosystem responses, and global change. Annu Rev Environ Resour 29:261–299

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aude E, Ejrnæs R (2005) Bryophyte colonisation and persistence in experimental microcosms: the role of nutrients, defoliation and vascular vegetation. Oikos 109:323–330

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Belsky AJ (1992) Effects of grazing, competition, disturbance and fire on species composition and diversity in grassland communities. J Veg Sci 3:187–200

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Benedí C, Rico E, Güemes J, Herrero A (eds) (2009) Flora Iberica. Plantas vasculares de la Península Ibérica e Islas Baleares, vol 13. Real Jardín Botánico, CSIC, Madrid

  • Blasi C, Burrascano S, Del Vico E, Di Pietro R, Locchi M, Rosati L (2010) Cynosurion cristati grasslands in the central Apennines (Tyrrhenian sector): a phytosociological survey in the Lepini and Prenestini mountains. Plant Biosyst 143:S69–S77

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Borcard D, Legendre P (1994) Environmental control and spatial structure in ecological communities: an example using oribatid mites (Acari, Oribatei). Environ Ecol Stat 1:37–53

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Borcard D, Legendre P, Drapeau P (1992) Partialling out the spatial component of ecological variation. Ecology 73:1045–1055

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Braun-Blanquet J (1964) Pflanzensoziologie, 3th ed. Grundzüge der Vegetationskunde. Springer, Vienna

  • Braun-Blanquet J (1979) Fitosociologia. Bases para el estudio de las comunidades vegetales. Blume, Madrid

  • Carroll JA, Johnson D, Morecroft M, Taylor A, Caporn SJM, Lee JA (2000) The effect of long-term nitrogen addition on the bryophyte cover of upland acidic grasslands. J Bryol 22:83–89

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Casasús I, Bernués A, Sanz A, Villalba D, Riedel JL, Revilla R (2007) Vegetation dynamics in Mediterranean forest pastures as affected by beef cattle grazing. Agric Ecosyst Environ 121(4):365–370

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Castroviejo S, Laínz M, López González G, Montserrat P, Muñoz Garmendia F, Paiva J, Villar L (eds) (1986, 1990) Flora Iberica. Plantas vasculares de la Península Ibérica e Islas Baleares, vols 1–2. Real Jardín Botánico, CSIC, Madrid

  • Castroviejo S, Aedo C, Cirujano S, Laínz M, Montserrat P, Morales R, Munñoz Garmendia F, Navarro C, Paiva J, Soriano C (eds) (1993a) Flora Iberica. Plantas vasculares de la Península Ibérica e Islas Baleares, vol 3. Real Jardín Botánico, CSIC, Madrid

  • Castroviejo S, Aedo C, Gómez Campo C, Laínz M, Montserrat P, Morales R, Munñoz Garmendia F, Nieto Feliner G, Rico E, Talavera S, Villar L (eds) (1993b) Flora Iberica. Plantas vasculares de la Península Ibérica e Islas Baleares, vol 4. Real Jardín Botánico, CSIC, Madrid

  • Castroviejo S, Aedo C, Benedí C, Laínz M, Muñoz Garmendia F, Nieto Feliner G, Paiva J (eds) (1997a) Flora Iberica. Plantas vasculares de la Península Ibérica e Islas Baleares, vol 8. Real Jardín Botánico, CSIC, Madrid

  • Castroviejo S, Aedo C, Laínz M, Morales R, Muñoz Garmendia F, Nieto Feliner G, Paiva J (eds) (1997b) Flora Iberica. Plantas vasculares de la Península Ibérica e Islas Baleares. Vol. 5. Real Jardín Botánico, CSIC, Madrid

  • Castroviejo S, Luceño M, Galán A, Jiménez Mejías P, Cabezas F, Medina L (eds) (2008) Flora Iberica. Plantas vasculares de la Península Ibérica e Islas Baleares, vol 18. Real Jardín Botánico, CSIC, Madrid

  • Catorc A, Gatti R (2010) Floristic composition and spatial distribution assessment of montane mesophilous grasslands in the central Apennines, Italy: a multi-scale and diachronic approach. Plant Biosystems 144:793–804

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chapin FS III, Zavaleta ES, Eviner VT, Naylor RL, Vitousek PM, Reynolds HL, Hooper DU, Lavorel S, Sala OE, Hobbie SE, Mack MC, Díaz S (2000) Consequences of changing biodiversity. Nature 405:234–242

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chytrý M, Otýpková Z (2003) Plot sizes used for phytosociological sampling of European vegetation. J Veg Sci 14:563–570

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chytrý M, Tichý L, Holt J, Botta-Dukát Z (2002) Determination of diagnostic species with statistical fidelity measures. J Veg Sci 13:79–90

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clarke B, Gorley R (2007) PRIMER6. Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Plymouth

    Google Scholar 

  • Collins SL, Knapp AK, Briggs JM, Blair JM, Steinauer EM (1998) Modulation of diversity by grazing and mowing in native tallgrass prairie. Science 280:745–747

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Connell JH (1978) Diversity in tropical rain forests and coral reefs. Science 199:1302–1310

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Costa JC, Neto C, Aguiar C, Capelo J, Espírito-Santo MD, Honrado J, Pinto-Gomes C, Monteiro-Henriques T, Sequeira M, Lousã M (2012) Plants communities of vascular plants of Portugal (Continental, Azores and Madeira). Glob Geobot 2:1–180

    Google Scholar 

  • Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (The ‘Habitats Directive’). Official Journal of the European Union L206, 22 July 1992

  • Dengler J, Löbel S, Dolnik C (2009) Species constancy depends on plot size—a problem for vegetation classification and how it can be solved. J Veg Sci 20:754–766

  • Devesa JA, Gonzalo R, Herrero A (eds) (2007) Flora Iberica. Plantas vasculares de la Península Ibérica e Islas Baleares, vol 15. Real Jardín Botánico, CSIC, Madrid

  • Díaz Lifante Z, Benito V (1996) Revision del genero Asphodelus L. (Asphodelaceae) en el Mediterraneo Occidental. Boissiera 52:7–186

    Google Scholar 

  • Dutoit T, Forey E, Römermann C, Buisson E, Fadda S, Saatkamp A, Gaignard P, Trivelly E (2005) Remanence des utilisations anciennes et gestion coonservatoire des pelouses calcicoles en France. Biotechnol Agron Soc Environ 9(2):125–132

    Google Scholar 

  • Eriksson O, Cousins SOA, Bruun HH (2002) Land-use history and fragmentation of traditionally managed grasslands in Scandinavia. J Veg Sci 13:743–748

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Franco JA (1971) Nova Flora de Portugal (Continente e Açores), vol 1. Edição do autor, Lisboa

    Google Scholar 

  • Franco JA (1984) Nova Flora de Portugal (Continente e Açores), vol 1. Sociedade Astória, Lda

    Google Scholar 

  • Franco JA, Rocha Afonso ML (1994) Nova Flora de Portugal (Continente e Açores), vol. 3(1). Escolar Editora, Lisboa

  • Franco JA, Rocha Afonso ML (1998) Nova Flora de Portugal (Continente e Açores), vol 3(2). Escolar Editora, Lisboa

  • Géhu JM, Rivas-Martínez S (1981) Notions fondamentales de Phytosociologie in Syntaxonomie. J. Cramer, Vaduz

    Google Scholar 

  • Grime JP, Brown VK, Thompson K, Masters GJ, Hillier SH, Clarke IP, Askew AP, Corker D, Kielty JP (2000) The response of two contrasting limestone grasslands to simulated climate change. Science 289(5480):762–765

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gustavsson E, Lennartsson T, Emanuelsson M (2007) Land use more than 200 years ago explains current grassland plant diversity in a Swedish agricultural landscape. Biol Conserv 138(1–2):47–59

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hector A, Schmid B, Beierkuhnlein C, Caldeira MC, Diemer M, Dimitrakopoulos PG, Finn J, Freitas H, Giller PS, Good J, Harris R, Högberg P, Huss-Danell K, Joshi J, Jumpponen A, Körner C, Leadley PW, Loreau M, Minns A, Mulder CPH, O’Donovan G, Otway SJ, Pereira JS, Prinz A, Read DJ, Scherer-Lorenzen M, Schulze E-D, Siamantziouras A-SD, Spehn EM, Terry AC, Troumbis AY, Woodward FI, Yachi S, Lawton JH (1999) Plant diversity and productivity experiments in European grasslands. Science 286:1123–1127

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Heikkinen RK, Birks HJB (1996) Spatial and environmental components of variation in the distribution patterns of subarctic plant species at Kevo, N. Finland—a case study at the meso-scale level. Ecography 19:341–351

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Heikkinen R, Luoto M, Virkkala R, Rainio K (2004) Effects of habitat cover, landscape structure and spatial variables on the abundance of birds in an agricultural-forest mosaic. J Appl Ecol 41:824–835

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hobbs RJ, Huenneke LF (1992) Disturbance, diversity, and invasion: implications for conservation. Conserv Biol 6:324–337

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huston MA, Aarssen LW, Austin MP, Cade BS, Fridley JD, Garnier E, Grime JP, Hodgson J, Lauenroth WK, Thompson K, Vandermeer JH, Wardle DA (2000) No consistent effect of plant diversity on productivity. Science 289:1255a

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • ICNF (2006) Plano Sectorial da Rede Natura 2000. Caracterização de valores naturais. http://portal.icnb.pt/NR/rdonlyres/BCECDC1D-6108-4EF8-838D-09C64DA89DFB/0/6220.pdf. Accessed September 2012

  • Jacquemyn H, Brys R, Hermy M (2003) Short-time effects of different management regimes on the response of calcareous grassland vegetation to increased nitrogen. Biol Conserv 111:137–147

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jongman R, Ter Braak C, Van Tongeren O (eds) (1995) Data analysis in community and Landscape Ecology. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Klimek S, Kemmermann AR, Hofmann M (2007) Plant species richness and composition in managed grasslands: the relative importance of field management and environmental factors. Biol Conserv 134(4):559–570

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lepš J, Šmilauer P (2003) Multivariate analysis of ecological data using CANOCO. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Levine JM, Hille Ris Lambers J (2009) The importance of niches for the maintenance of species diversity. Nature 461:254–257

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Maurer K, Weyand A, Fischer M, Stöcklin J (2006) Old cultural traditions, in addition to land-use and topography, are shaping plant diversity of grasslands in the Alps. Biol Conserv 130:438–446

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McArdle BH, Anderson MJ (2001) Fitting multivariate models to community data: a comment on distance-based redundancy analysis. Ecology 82:290–297

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McDonald JH (2009) Handbook of biological statistics, 2nd ed. Sparky House Publishing, Baltimore. http://udel.edu/~mcdonald/stattransform.html. Accessed Nov 2011

  • McNaughton SJ (1984) Grazing lawns: animals in herds, plant form, and coevolution. Am Nat 124:863–886

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Monteiro-Henriques T (2012) Mapas bioclimáticos de Portugal continental. http://home.isa.utl.pt/~tmh/aboutme/Informacao_geografica.html. Accessed Nov 2012

  • Morales R, Quintanar A, Cabezas F, Pujadas AJ, Cirujano S (eds) (2010) Flora Iberica. Plantas vasculares de la Península Ibérica e Islas Baleares, vol 12. Real Jardín Botánico, CSIC, Madrid

  • Mueller-Dombois D, Ellenberg H (1974) Aims and methods of vegetation ecology. Wiley, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Muñoz Garmendia F., Navarro C (eds) (1998) Flora Iberica. Plantas vasculares de la Península Ibérica e Islas Baleares, vol 6. Real Jardín Botánico, CSIC, Madrid

  • Nieto Feliner G, Jury SL, Herrero A (eds) (2003) Flora Iberica. Plantas vasculares de la Península Ibérica e Islas Baleares, vol 10. Real Jardín Botánico, CSIC, Madrid

  • Økland RH (1999) On the variation explained by the ordination and constrained ordination axes. J Veg Sci 10:131–136

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Olff H, Ritchie ME (1998) Effects of herbivores on grassland plant diversity. Trends Ecol Evol 13:261–265

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Oliveira SN (2005) Revisão do género Arrhenatherum P. Beauv. (Poaceae, Aveneae). PhD Thesis, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa

  • Osborne JW (2010) Improving your data transformations: applying the Box–Cox transformation. Pract Assess Res Eval 12:1–9

    Google Scholar 

  • Otýpková Z, Chytrý M (2006) Effects of plot size on the ordination of vegetation samples. Appl Veg Sci 17(4):465–472

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Paiva J, Sales F, Hedge IC, Aedo C, Aldasoro JJ, Castroviejo S, Herrero A, Velayos M, editors (2001) Flora Iberica. Plantas vasculares de la Península Ibérica e Islas Baleares. Vol. 14. Real Jardín Botánico, CSIC, Madrid

  • Peco B, de Pablos I, Traba J, Levassor C (2005) The effect of grazing abandonment on species composition and functional traits: the case of dehesa grasslands. Basic Appl Ecol 6(2):175–183

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pizarro J (1995) Contribucion al estudio taxonómico de Ranunculus L. subgen. Batrachium (DC) A. Gray (Ranunculaceae). Lazaroa 15:21–113

    Google Scholar 

  • Podani J (2006) Braun-Blanquet’s legacy and data analysis in vegetation science. J Veg Sci 17:113–117

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pykälä J (2000) Mitigating human effects on European biodiversity through traditional animal husbandry. Conserv Biol 14(3):705–712

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pykälä J (2003) Effects of restoration with cattle grazing on plant species composition and richness of seminatural grasslands. Biodivers Conserv 12:2211–2226

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rivas-Martínez S (2007) Mapa de series, geoseries y geopermaseries de vegetación de España [Memoria del mapa de vegetatión potencial de España]. Itinera Geobotanica 17:1–435

    Google Scholar 

  • Rivas-Martínez S, Díaz TE, Fernández-González F, Izco J, Loidi J, Lousã M, Penas A (2002a) Vascular plant communities of Spain and Portugal. Addenda to the syntaxonomical checklist of 2001. Itinera Geobotanica 15(1):5–432

    Google Scholar 

  • Rivas-Martínez S, Díaz TE, Fernández-González F, Izco J, Loidi J, Lousã M, Penas A (2002b) Vascular plant communities of Spain and Portugal. Addenda to the syntaxonomical checklist of 2001. Itinera Geobotanica 15(2):433–922

    Google Scholar 

  • Rivas-Martínez S, Penas A, Díaz TE, Fernández F (eds) (2011) Mapas de series, geoseries y geopermaseries de vegetación de España (Memoria del mapa de vegetación potencial de España). Parte II. Itinera Geobotanica 18(1,2):5–800

  • Römermann C, Dutoit T, Poschold P, Buisson E (2005) Influence of former cultivation on the unique Mediterranean steppe of France and consequences for conservation management. Biol Conserv 121:21–33

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rudmann-Maurer K, Weyand A, Fisher M, Stöcklin J (2008) The role of landuse and natural determinants for grassland vegetation composition in the Swiss Alps. Basic Appl Ecol 9(5):494–503

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • San Miguel A (2008) Management of Natura 2000 habitats. *Pseudo-steppe with grasses and annuals (Thero-Brachypodietea) 6220. Tech. Report. European Commission. http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/natura2000/management/habitats/pdf/6220Pseudo_steppe.pdf. Accessed Jan 2011

  • Sánchez Rodríguez ME, Amor A, Ladero M (2006) Estudio fitosociológico y bromatológico de los pastizales con interés ganadero en la província de Salamanca. Stud Bot 25:9–61

    Google Scholar 

  • Scholz H (1975) Grassland evolution in Europe. Taxon 24(1):81–90

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sebastiá MT (2004) Role of topography and soils in grassland structuring at the landscape and community scales. Basic Appl Ecol 5:331–346

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sokal RR, Rohlf FJ (1995) Biometry: the principles and practice of statistics in biological research, 3rd edn. W. H. Freeman and Co., New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Talavera S, Aedo C, Castroviejo S, Romero Zarco C, Sáez L, Salgueiro FJ, Velayos M (eds) (1999) Flora Iberica. Plantas vasculares de la Península Ibérica e Islas Baleares, vol 7(1). Real Jardín Botánico, CSIC, Madrid

  • Talavera S, Aedo C, Castroviejo S, Herrero A, Romero Zarco C, Salgueiro FJ. Velayos M (eds) (2000) Flora Iberica. Plantas vasculares de la Península Ibérica e Islas Baleares, vol 7(2). Real Jardín Botánico, CSIC, Madrid

  • Talavera S, Gallego MJ, Romero Zarco C, Herrero A (eds) (2010) Flora Iberica. Plantas vasculares de la Península Ibérica e Islas Baleares, vol 17. Real Jardín Botánico, CSIC, Madrid

  • Talavera S, Andrés C, Arista M, Fernández Piedra MP, Gallego MJ, Ortiz PL, Romero Zarco C, Salgueiro FJ, Silvestre S, Quintanar A (eds) (2012) Flora Iberica. Plantas vasculares de la Península Ibérica e Islas Baleares, vol 11. Real Jardín Botánico, CSIC, Madrid

  • ter Braak CJF, Smilauer P (2002) CANOCO reference manual and user’s guide to Canoco for Windows: Software for Canonical Community Ordination (version 4.5). Microcomputer Power, Ithaca

  • Tichý L (2002) JUICE, software for vegetation classification. J Veg Sci 13:451–453

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tichý L, Chytrý M (2006) Statistical determination of diagnostic species for site groups of unequal size. J Veg Sci 17:809–818

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tilman D (1987) Secondary succession and pattern of plant dominance along experimental nitrogen gradients. Ecol Monogr 57:189–214

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tilman D, Downing JA (1994) Biodiversity and stability in grasslands. Nature 367:363–365

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vázquez FM, Barkworth ME (2004) Resurrection and emendation of Macrochloa (Gramineae: Stipeae). Bot J Linn Soc 144:483–495

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • White R, Murray S, Rohweder M (2000) Pilot analysis of global ecosystems: grassland ecosystems. World Resources Institute, Washington

    Google Scholar 

  • Wrage N, Strodthoff J, Cuchillo HM, Isselstein J, Kayser M (2011) Phytodiversity of temperate permanent grasslands: ecosystem services for agriculture and livestock management for diversity conservation. Biodivers Conserv 20:3317–3339

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank Rui Ribeiro and Carla Figueiredo for their collaboration in the fieldwork, Tiago Monteiro-Henriques for his contribution on bioclimatic indices, Pedro Segurado and Vitor Carvalho for their help in Permanova tests. Catarina Gavinhos, Carla Cruz and anonymous revisors for their important comments. Dave Tucker for proofreading the English version. This study was supported by the Foundation for Science and Technology through the PhD project SFRH/BD/29515/2006.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Centro de Botânica Aplicada à Agricultura, Universidade de Lisboa, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017, Lisbon, Portugal

    Silvia Ribeiro & M. Dalila Espírito-Santo

  2. Instituto de Ciências Agrárias e Ambientais Mediterrânicas, Universidade de Évora, Évora, Portugal

    João Paulo Fernandes

  3. Urb. Qta da Granja, Lt.12, 1° A, 6000-123, Castelo Branco, Portugal

    Silvia Ribeiro

Authors
  1. Silvia Ribeiro
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. João Paulo Fernandes
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. M. Dalila Espírito-Santo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Silvia Ribeiro.

Additional information

Communicated by Jörg Brunet.

Nomenclature: Botanical nomenclature follows Aedo and Herrero (2005), Benedí et al. (2009), Castroviejo et al. (1986, 1993a, b, 1997a, b, 2008), Devesa et al. (2007), Franco (1984), Franco and Rocha Afonso (1994, 1998), Morales et al. (2010), Muñoz Garmendia and Navarro (1998), Nieto Feliner et al. (2003), Paiva et al. (2001), Talavera et al. (1999, 2000, 2010, 2012) and also Díaz Lifante and Benito (1996) for Asphodelus, Franco (1971) for Tuberaria, Geraniaceae and Linaceae, Oliveira (2005) for Arrhenatherum, Pizarro (1995) for Ranunculus and Vázquez and Barkworth (2004) for Celtica. The bioclimatological, biogeographical and syntaxonomical typology was checked according to Rivas-Martínez et al. (2002a, b, 2011) and Rivas-Martínez (2007) and Costa et al. (2012).

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary material 1 (DOC 276 kb)

Supplementary material 2 (DOC 48 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Ribeiro, S., Fernandes, J.P. & Espírito-Santo, M.D. Diversity and floristic patterns of mediterranean grasslands: the relative influence of environmental and land management factors. Biodivers Conserv 23, 2903–2921 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-014-0754-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-014-0754-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation