title: Present forest biodiversity patterns in france related to former Roman agriculture.
abstract: Combined archaeological and ecological investigations in a large ancient oak forest in Central France have revealed a dense network of ancient human settlements dating from the Roman period. We demonstrate a strong correlation between present-day forest plant diversity patterns and the location of Roman farm buildings. Plant species richness strongly increases toward the center of the settlements, and the frequency of neutrophilous and nitrogen-demanding species is higher. This pattern is paralleled by an increase in soil pH, available P, and delta(15)N, indicating the long-term impact of former agricultural practices on forest biogeochemical cycles. These extensive observations in a forested region on acid soils complement and confirm previous results from a single Roman settlement on limestone. Ancient Roman agricultural systems are increasingly being identified in contemporary French forests; the broad extent and long-lasting effects of previous cultivation shown in this study require that land-use history be considered as a primary control over biodiversity variations in many forest landscapes, even after millennia of abandonment.
authors.affiliation: INRA, 54280 Champenoux, France. dambrine@nancy.inra.fr
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dambrine
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Dupouey
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Laüt
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Humbert
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thinon
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Beaufils
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Richard
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture; D001106:Archaeology / Q000379:methods*; D044822:Biodiversity; D017753:Ecosystem; D005602:France; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000032:analysis; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000032:analysis; D012987:Soil / Q000032:analysis*; D013045:Species Specificity; D013997:Time Factors; D014197:Trees
chemical_list: D012987:Soil; D010758:Phosphorus; D009584:Nitrogen