Management intensity and temporary conversion to other land-use types affect plant diversity and species composition of subtropical grasslands in southern Brazil

摘要

QuestionsWe investigated the effects of grassland management intensity and temporary conversion to other land uses on abiotic and biotic properties of subtropical grasslands. We used species-rich permanent grasslands of medium management intensity (PG-M) as a reference, and asked the following questions: (1) do permanent grasslands with low and high management intensities (PG-L and PG-H, respectively) have different plant diversity and species composition than reference grasslands; and (2) do secondary grasslands recovering from conversion to arable fields (SG-A) or pine plantations (SG-P) differ from permanent grasslands in their plant species composition and abiotic conditions?