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Plant diversity in a water-meadow landscape: the role of irrigation ditches

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Abstract

Species-rich, extensively managed grasslands are among the most threatened ecosystems in Europe. The traditional technique of meadow irrigation, formerly practised in large parts of Europe, may be a viable management option that meets both ecological and economical objectives. While studies on plant diversity of the meadow matrix exist, the role of other landscape components for biodiversity conservation is unknown. We quantify the role of irrigation and drainage ditches compared with field paths, and analysed the local and landscape plant species composition and diversity in a water-meadow landscape. The meadows are located in the river Queich catchment (Upper Rhine valley, Germany). We recorded plant species cover on 18 meadows, adjacent ditches and field paths and analysed alpha, beta and gamma diversity within and among these landscape components. Irrigation and drainage ditches were more species rich than meadows and more heterogeneous in their species composition compared with meadows and paths. Ditches contributed one-third of the landscape’s plant species numbers, habitat for wetland species and refuges for high nature value grassland species. Fertilization of the adjacent meadow had no negative impact on the ditch diversity, while well-maintained ditches were more plant species rich than ditches filled with sediments. Traditional flood meadow irrigation should be taken into account when sustainable grassland management techniques are discussed that meet economical and ecological needs. A major contribution to landscape richness arises from the ditch structures as crucial part of the traditional irrigation technique.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the German Federal Environmental Foundation under Grant Number AZ 31109. Melanie Meier was supported by a scholarship within the research focus AufLand as part of the research initiative Rhineland-Palatinate financed by the Ministry for Education, Science, Further Education and Culture (MBWWK).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Geoecology/Physical Geography, Institute of Environmental Sciences, University of Koblenz-Landau, Fortstr. 7, 76829, Landau, Germany

    Melanie Meier, Rebekka Gerlach & Constanze Buhk

  2. Environmental Economics, Institute of Environmental Sciences, University of Koblenz-Landau, Fortstr. 7, 76829, Landau, Germany

    Rebekka Gerlach

  3. Ecosystem Analyses, Institute of Environmental Sciences, University of Koblenz-Landau, Fortstr. 7, 76829, Landau, Germany

    Jens Schirmel

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  1. Melanie Meier
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  2. Rebekka Gerlach
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  4. Constanze Buhk
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Correspondence to Constanze Buhk.

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Communicated by Dr. Anne Bonis.

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Meier, M., Gerlach, R., Schirmel, J. et al. Plant diversity in a water-meadow landscape: the role of irrigation ditches. Plant Ecol 218, 971–981 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11258-017-0744-8

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