Weak evidence of long-term extinction debt in Pannonian dry sand grasslands☆

摘要: Abstract Habitat loss is one of the major drivers reduction in biological diversity worldwide. European dry grasslands are particularly endangered. However, persistence populations can temporarily mitigate species – a process referred to as ‘extinction debt’. We test this hypothesis using historical and present day habitat maps current plant biodiversity data collected forest-steppe zone Europe. In 16 5 km × 5 km study sites, representing landscape heterogeneity Kiskunsag region (Hungary), 86 20 m × 20 m vegetation plots were surveyed open closed calcareous sand grasslands. Grassland was measured number specialist species, defined by statistical fidelity measures primary secondary grassland plots. Landscape context quantified areal extent semi-natural 300 m neighborhood plots, based on recent (1783, 1860, 1950s, 1987–1989 2005). The estimated with Poisson generalized linear models context, climatic conditions, proxy soil type covariates. To for effect legacies, Pearson residuals from tested significant relationships between contexts models. found that had no relationship richness fragments. we 19th century model. Even though natural 20th showed more drastic changes, 1950s exhibited residuals. This delay consistent extinction debt hypothesis.