Competing conservation goals, biodiversity or ecosystem services: element losses and species recruitment in a managed moorland-bracken model system.

摘要: Conservation management in Europe is often geared towards restoring semi-natural ecosystems, where the objective to reverse succession and re-establish early-successional communities, comply with national international conservation targets. At same time, it increasingly recognised that ecosystems provide services contribute other, possibly conflicting policy requirements. Few attempts have been made define these conflicts. Here, we assess some potential conflicts using a Calluna vulgaris-dominated moorland invaded by bracken (Pteridium aquilinum) as model system, current this process restore moorland. We examined impacts of control treatments on (stocks losses C mineral nutrients), litter turnover biodiversity within designed experiment over 7 years. Bracken was >2000 g m(-2) untreated plots, reduced quantity, its element content, varying degrees. Cutting twice per year most successful treatment reducing increasing turnover, both mass diversity non-bracken vegetation. Diversity greatest had reduced, but species composition also influenced light sheep grazing. There significant loss chemical elements from could not be accounted for other pools, hence potentially lost system. In absolute terms large amounts N were lost, when expressed percentage total amount Mg more important almost third surface soil-vegetation is, therefore, dilemma between controlling mid-successional invasive objectives, especially has evolved sequester nutrients, negative effect environmental costs carbon accounting required, input nutrients aquatic systems, long-term nutrient loss. need balance goals against damage biogeochemical structure function.