Why non-native grasses pose a critical emerging threat to biodiversity conservation, habitat connectivity and agricultural production in multifunctional rural landscapes
| Autor: | Jacqui Stol, Jennifer Firn, Robert C. Godfree, Veronica A. J. Doerr, Nunzio Knerr, Stephanie Johnson |
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| Rok vydání: | 2023 |
| Předmět: |
0106 biological sciences
Ecology Land use business.industry Agroforestry Geography Planning and Development Biodiversity 04 agricultural and veterinary sciences 010603 evolutionary biology 01 natural sciences Geography Habitat Agriculture Agricultural land 040103 agronomy & agriculture 0401 agriculture forestry and fisheries Agricultural productivity Rangeland Landscape ecology business Nature and Landscape Conservation Uncategorized |
| DOI: | 10.26181/22655008 |
| Popis: | Context: Landscape-scale conservation planning is key to the protection of biodiversity globally. Central to this approach is the development of multifunctional rural landscapes (MRLs) that maintain the viability of natural ecosystems and promote animal and plant dispersal alongside agricultural land uses. Objectives: We investigate evidence that non-native grasses (NNGs) in rangelands and other low-intensity agricultural systems pose a critical threat to landscape conservation initiatives in MRLs both in Australia and globally. Methods: We first establish a simple socio-ecological model that classifies different rural landscape elements within typical MRLs based on their joint conservation and agro-economic value. We then quantify the impacts of eight Australian NNGs (Andropogon gayanus, Cenchrus ciliaris, Eragrostis curvula, Hyparrhenia hirta, Nassella neesiana, Nassella trichotoma, Phalaris aquatica and Urochloa mutica) on different landscape elements and then classify and describe the socio-ecological transformations that result at the MRL scale. Results: Our data indicate that two broad classes of NNGs exist. The first reduces both conservation and agro-economic value (‘co-degrading’ species) of invaded landscapes, while the second improves agro-economic value at the expense of conservation value (‘trade-off’ species). Crucially, however, both classes cause hardening of the landscape matrix, agricultural intensification, reduced habitat connectivity, and the loss of multi-value land use types that are vital for landscape conservation. Conclusions: NNGs drive socio-ecological transformations that pose a growing threat to landscape-scale connectivity and conservation initiatives in Australia and globally. There is an urgent need for further research into the impacts of NNGs on habitat connectivity and biodiversity within multifunctional landscapes, and the socio-ecological goals that can be achieved when landscape transformation and degradation by these species is unavoidable. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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