Palaeoecology and Gis Modeling Reveal Historic Grasslands as “Hotspots” of Biodiversity and Plant Genetic Resources

摘要: Traditionally managed meadows and pastures are increasingly abandoned or replaced with intensively cultivated arable fields in the UK Europe. These habitats important reservoirs of plants valued for their medicinal properties, cultural significance, genetic diversity. Whether grassland biodiversity will persist without human management is currently unknown. Here, I combine palaeoecological data modern vegetation surveys to determine origin species-rich Oxfordshire, England long-term temporal spatial changes over time. also examine whether forage crop wild relatives, a group plant resources, dependent upon pastoral activities. In situ ex conservation relatives because they provide breeders novel sources diversity adapt crops changing climate conditions. demonstrate that grasslands only developed around 2000 years ago due anthropogenic intervention would revert oscillating between open woodland management. Temporally spatially, high levels associated creation grasslands. areas still hotspots today grasses legumes closely linked these areas. argue activities should focus attention on located biodiversity, allowing other sites revert, future research could monitoring, characterizing, collecting resources from sites.