2026/04/01 by Jutta Kapfer, Christian Pedersen, Diress Tsegaye +1 · 1 voice
Agricultural and Biological Sciences · Environmental Science · #Plant and animal studies #Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies #Species Distribution and Climate Change
paper · doi:10.1111/avsc.70072
openalex publication_date 2026/04/01 · openalex created_date 2026/04/26 · openalex updated_date 2026/05/21
ABSTRACT Aim Four different grassland types of varying land‐use intensity and history were investigated for changes in plant species composition and richness over a 7‐ to 10‐year period. Shifts in species occurrence frequencies and species‐specific indicator values for nectar production were analyzed to assess how vegetation changes may influence the availability of floral rewards. Location Norwegian mainland. Methods We utilized survey (2004–2008) and resurvey (2011–2018) data from the Norwegian Monitoring Program for Agricultural Landscapes, examining vegetation in managed and unmanaged grasslands from 538 permanent vegetation plots within 97 monitoring squares across Norway. Using species‐specific indicator values for nectar production, we tested how compositional changes in vascular plant communities are reflected in the occurrence frequency and cover of pollen‐ and nectar‐providing plants. Results Grassland species composition has slightly shifted toward communities more dominated by later successional species, particularly those associated with shadier and wetter conditions. Major changes in the occurrence frequencies of individual species suggest a decline in pollen and nectar production. Specifically, 29 of 40 species (72.5%) that showed significant decreases in frequency were flowering plants important for pollinators. Across all grassland types, the average cover of pollen‐ and nectar‐producing plants has declined over time, indicating a reduction in floral resources available to pollinating insects. Conclusions Our findings indicate a gradual transition in grassland habitats toward conditions that may be less favorable to pollinators, as reflected by changes in species occurrence frequencies and plant cover. Additionally, plant species associated with moist environments are likely to increase in abundance under continued climate change. This study highlights the value of systematic grassland monitoring within agricultural landscapes as an effective tool for detecting vegetation changes, even over short time spans. Such monitoring supports timely decision‐making and the implementation of targeted management strategies to preserve ecologically and economically important habitat types.