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Imprint
Segetalflora in Europe under climate change - experimental modeling of species diversity
Project
Project code: JKI-SF-08-1195
Contract period: 01.01.2012
- 31.05.2016
Purpose of research: Applied research
The weeds (segetalflora) in European cereal growing regions is due to the agricultural and cultural history and due to the size of the cultivated area an important component of biodiversity. Model calculations were preformed to investigate the influence of climatie conditons in conjunction with different of agricultural uses on the biodiversity of the segetalflora. As input data the model uses datasets on European climate and from field studies. These are based on several years of field studies on the biodiversity of segetalflora in grain producing regions within a mean annual air temperature range from 3.5 °C to 16.4 °C. The calculated spatial distribution of biodiversity in Europe shows great variation. The highest number of species, considered as hot-spots of segetalflora are located in the Mediterranean grain-growing regions with over 410 species for each calculated grid (25*25km). In intensively used grain-growing regions with herbicide applications the floristic diversity is reduced by a factor of 3 in the Mediterranean and by 1.5 to 2 in temperate to cool climates. From floristic point of view large extensively used fields without herbicide applications and self greened 1- 2 year old fallow fields are necessary/suitable to protect the biodiversity in agricultural areas. The implementation of such structures could counteract impoverishment and uniformity of biodiversity in intensively used agricultural areas in Europe.
Section overview
Subjects
- Crop Production
- Climate Change
