Habitat fragmentation reduces grassland connectivity for both short-distance and long-distance wind-dispersed forbs

摘要: 1 Although habitat loss and fragmentation are assumed to threaten the regional survival of plant species, their effects on species dynamics via seed dispersal colonization have rarely been quantified. 2 We assessed impact connectivity, hence survival, wind-dispersed nutrient-poor semi-natural grasslands. did this using a new approach relate quantified capacity. 3 during 20th century moist, grasslands in study areas Netherlands, as well current distribution. After testing how distribution matches distributions two grassland forbs (Cirsium dissectum, representative with long-distance wind dispersal, Succisa pratensis, short-distance dispersal), we combined data simulated kernels order quantify connectivity. 4 Habitat has dramatically reduced both area (by 99.8%) connectivity The remaining practically isolated for seeds dispersed by wind, even high ability (for which, interestingly, decreased most). Linear landscape elements hardly contribute dispersal. Regional studied become completely dependent few large populations nature reserves. Other decreasing number size low 5 drastically changed indicating that it is utmost importance preserve reserves probability or restored sites very low, unless adjacent occupied artificially assisted.