A survey of habitats on agricultural land in Estonia II. Detailed interpretation of the habitats’ landscape ecology and how this relates to alien plant species

• Published in: Global ecology and conservation 2021-06, Vol.27, p.e01568, Article e01568
• Main Authors: Pungar, D., Bunce, R.G.H., Raet, J., Kaart, T., Sepp, K.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bare ground; Competitors; Ellenberg values; Litter cover, Alien plant species; Moss cover; Ruderals; Seed dispersal; Stress-tolerators
• ISSN: 2351-9894; 2351-9894
• DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2021.e01568

•Grassland management is essential for sustaining biodiversity, as land abandonment causes decline in species richness.•Linear features have a key role in species dispersal as opposed to being sources of alien species.•453 vascular plant species were recorded, covering 27% of the Estonian flora.•19 species of aliens were recorded in 141 of the 250 sample plots and the cover of these was over 25% in 38 plots.•Environmental policy should be concerned with the control of alien species and appropriate land management of habitats. The main objectives of the paper are to provide a description of the ecological character of Estonian agricultural landscapes and also their contribution to biodiversity resources. Agricultural landscapes are vulnerable to alterations in environmental factors and management that lead to changes in the balance of plant species and, therefore, to modifications in the structure and character of vegetation. The results show that the distribution and expansion of alien plant species contributes significantly to changes in the composition native plant species in Estonia. Such species are spreading rapidly in Estonia and elsewhere in Europe, leading to major changes in local vegetation and damage worth billions of Euros to the European economy every year (European Commission, 2020). Field visits to representative sites were made to record vegetation data from agricultural landscapes from 2015 to 2017. 35 dispersed random 1-km squares were selected according to the extent of the eight classes of the Environmental Classification of Estonia. 250 sample plots were thus recorded from the 1-km squares, using predetermined rules for their location. 453 vascular plant species (27% of all Estonian species) were recorded in 11 habitats (neglected patches, abandoned patches, clear cuts, forests, tall herbs, patches of alien plant species, mixed grasslands, water margins, lines of scrub/trees, field edges, roadsides). These results indicate the efficiency of small stratified samples and are relevant at a broader scale in Europe for monitoring and surveillance of habitats. Mixed grasslands were later excluded from the analyses as there were insufficient samples. 19 alien plant species were recorded in 141 plots, whereas the cover of alien species was over 25% of the plot in 38 plots. Mature forests had the fewest aliens and roadsides the most, emphasizing the importance of dispersal by vehicles. The most common high cover species were Bunias orientalis,