A functional classification of herbaceous hedgerow vegetation for setting restoration objectives

Critchley, C.N.R.; Wilson, L.A.; Mole, A.C.; Norton, L.R. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1622-0281; Smart, S.M. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2750-7832. 2013 A functional classification of herbaceous hedgerow vegetation for setting restoration objectives. Biodiversity and Conservation, 22 (3). 701-717. 10.1007/s10531-013-0440-5

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Official URL: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10531-01...

Abstract/Summary

Hedgerows are valuable habitats for biodiversity in farmed landscapes. The herbaceous vegetation at the hedge base is an important component of this habitat but its condition in Britain has deteriorated due to a combination of nutrient and pesticide contamination, and inappropriate management or neglect. The condition of herbaceous hedgerow vegetation is included in policy targets for biodiversity conservation, so a strategy is required for its restoration. This vegetation can be highly variable, so a classification of the main types is required to set realistic objectives. Vegetation classifications based on species’ functional characteristics can have more general application that those based on species identity. Using existing datasets from a countrywide survey, a functional classification of herbaceous vegetation from hedgerows in Britain was developed. Cluster analysis of vegetation plots, based on attributes of the species present, produced thirteen vegetation types in six broad groups. These were differentiated by the association of the component species with woodland, grassland or arable habitats and by gradients of soil nutrient status and pH, light availability, disturbance and grazing tolerance. By using species’ ecological characteristics as a basis for the classification, the condition of vegetation can be established and the prevailing environment predicted. From this information, a realistic strategy for restoration can then be determined.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1007/s10531-013-0440-5
Programmes:	CEH Topics & Objectives 2009 - 2012 > Biodiversity
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Parr
ISSN:	0960-3115
Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:	This document is the author’s final manuscript version of the journal article, incorporating any revisions agreed during the peer review process. Some differences between this and the publisher’s version remain. You are advised to consult the publisher’s version if you wish to cite from this article. The final publication is available at link.springer.com
Additional Keywords:	arable, cluster analysis, Countryside Survey, CS1978, CS1984, CS1990, CS1998,CS2007, grassland, plant traits, woodland
NORA Subject Terms:	Ecology and Environment
Date made live:	14 Feb 2013 12:02 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/21243

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

10.1007/s10531-013-0440-5

Programmes:

CEH Topics & Objectives 2009 - 2012 > Biodiversity

UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:

Parr

ISSN:

0960-3115

Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:

This document is the author’s final manuscript version of the journal article, incorporating any revisions agreed during the peer review process. Some differences between this and the publisher’s version remain. You are advised to consult the publisher’s version if you wish to cite from this article. The final publication is available at link.springer.com

Additional Keywords:

arable, cluster analysis, Countryside Survey, CS1978, CS1984, CS1990, CS1998,CS2007, grassland, plant traits, woodland

NORA Subject Terms:

Ecology and Environment

Date made live:

14 Feb 2013 12:02 +0 (UTC)

URI:

https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/21243