Prediction of plant diversity response to land-use change on Scottish agricultural land

摘要

Surveys of 87 sites within nine locations on Scottish agricultural land, during 1995-1997, recorded 335 species of vascular plants and 95 bryophyte species, within 31 recognisable plant communities. Multivariate analysis placed the vegetation into five main vegetation types, with differing plant species richness (S: number of species per 100 m(2)). These were upland grassland (mean S = 37); mesotrophic semi-improved grassland (mean S = 25); mire/heath vegetation (mean S = 22); intensive grassland (mean S = 12); and arable land and weed communities, including set-aside (mean S = 9).