Segetal flora prodection
Title of the project
Segetal flora protection under different farming methods and under global environmental changes
Short description
Agricultural fields are ecosystems that are highly influenced by human activities and are important for biodiversity conservation. Over the last several decades, the population size and diversity of wild flora in fields has strongly decreased mainly due to land use change and global climate change. In order to examine anthropogenic effects, this project address the influences of different farming methods and global climate change impacts on the re-establishment success of endangered red-listed segetal flora species in the natural reserve Lüneburg Heath in northern Germany. The assisted migration approach is used for analysing the re-establishment success in former habitats of five red-listed species (Arnoseris minima, Hypochoeris glabra, Galeopsis segetum, Stachys arvensis, Lilium bulbiferum ssp. croceum) examined in five different organic and conventional farming methods. It is expected that different farming methods have a diverse influence on segetal flora species and their conservation potential. Heathland farming, wild fields and flowering strips on organic farming are considered to have greatest segetal flora conservation potential because of their low input practices. Regular organic agriculture by using mechanical weed control and organic fertlisers as well as flowering strips on conventional fields may have repressing effects for the re-establishment success. Complementary to the assisted migration approach the single effects as well as the interaction effects of drought stress and nitrigen depositions are analysed. It is anticipated that an increased nitrogen content together with drought stress negatively affect segetal flora establishment success.
Involved researchers at the institute
- Prof. Dr. Werner Härdtle
- M.Sc. Julia Bandel