title: Drivers of temporal changes in temperate forest plant diversity vary across spatial scales.
abstract: Global biodiversity is affected by numerous environmental drivers. Yet, the extent to which global environmental changes contribute to changes in local diversity is poorly understood. We investigated biodiversity changes in a meta-analysis of 39 resurvey studies in European temperate forests (3988 vegetation records in total, 17-75 years between the two surveys) by assessing the importance of (i) coarse-resolution (i.e., among sites) vs. fine-resolution (i.e., within sites) environmental differences and (ii) changing environmental conditions between surveys. Our results clarify the mechanisms underlying the direction and magnitude of local-scale biodiversity changes. While not detecting any net local diversity loss, we observed considerable among-site variation, partly explained by temporal changes in light availability (a local driver) and density of large herbivores (a regional driver). Furthermore, strong evidence was found that presurvey levels of nitrogen deposition determined subsequent diversity changes. We conclude that models forecasting future biodiversity changes should consider coarse-resolution environmental changes, account for differences in baseline environmental conditions and for local changes in fine-resolution environmental conditions.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Ecology, Friedrich-Schiller University Jena, Dornburger Str. 159, D-07743, Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bernhardt-Römermann
authors.affiliation: Forest & Nature Lab, Ghent University, Geraardsbergsesteenweg 267, B-9090, Gontrode-Melle, Belgium.|Department of Biology, Terrestrial Ecology Unit, Ghent University, K.L. Ledeganckstraat 35, B-9000, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Lander
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Baeten
authors.affiliation: German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv), Synthesis Centre for Biodiversity Sciences (sDiv), Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Deutscher Platz 5e, D-04103, Leipzig, Germany.|Institute for Biology, University of Leipzig, Johannisallee 21, D-04103, Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Dylan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Craven
authors.affiliation: Forest & Nature Lab, Ghent University, Geraardsbergsesteenweg 267, B-9090, Gontrode-Melle, Belgium.
authors.forename: Pieter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: De Frenne
authors.affiliation: Department of Vegetation Ecology, Institute of Botany, Czech Academy of Sciences, Lidická 25/27, CZ-602 00, Brno, Czech Republic.|Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Palacký University, Šlechtitelů 11, CZ-783 71, Olomouc, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Radim
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hédl
authors.affiliation: Ecologie et Dynamique des Systèmes Anthropisés (EDYSAN, FRE 3498 CNRS - UPJV), Jules Verne University of Picardie, 1 rue des Louvels, F-80037, Amiens Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lenoir
authors.affiliation: INRA, UMR 1202 BIOGECO, F-33610, Cestas, France.|BIOGECO, UMR1202, Université de Bordeaux, F-33615, Pessac, France.
authors.forename: Didier
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bert
authors.affiliation: Southern Swedish Forest Research Centre, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 49, S-23053, Alnarp, Sweden.
authors.forename: Jörg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brunet
authors.affiliation: Department of Vegetation Ecology, Institute of Botany, Czech Academy of Sciences, Lidická 25/27, CZ-602 00, Brno, Czech Republic.|Department of Botany and Zoology, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 2, CZ-611 37, Brno, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Markéta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chudomelová
authors.affiliation: Ecologie et Dynamique des Systèmes Anthropisés (EDYSAN, FRE 3498 CNRS - UPJV), Jules Verne University of Picardie, 1 rue des Louvels, F-80037, Amiens Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Guillaume
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Decocq
authors.affiliation: Department of Vegetation and Phytodiversity Analysis, Albrecht-von-Haller-Institute for Plant Sciences, Georg-August University Göttingen, Untere Karspüle 2, D-37073, Göttingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Hartmut
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dierschke
authors.affiliation: Ecosystem Research & Environmental Information Management, Environment Agency Austria, Spittelauer Lände 5, A-1090, Wien, Austria.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dirnböck
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecology and Ecosystem management, TU München, Hans-Carl-von-Carlowitz-Platz 2, D-85350, Freising, Germany.
authors.forename: Inken
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Dörfler
authors.affiliation: Biodiversity Research/Systematic Botany, Institute of Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, Maulbeerallee 1, D-14471, Potsdam, Germany.
authors.forename: Thilo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Heinken
authors.affiliation: Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences, Division of Forest, Nature and Landscape, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200E, B-3001, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hermy
authors.affiliation: Alterra Research Institute, Wageningen UR, P.O. Box 47, NL-6700 AA, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hommel
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Biology, Białowieża Geobotanical Station, University of Warsaw, ul. Sportowa 19, PL-17-230, Białowieża, Poland.
authors.forename: Bogdan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jaroszewicz
authors.affiliation: Białowieża National Park, Park Pałacowy 11, PL-17-230, Białowieża, Poland.
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Keczyński
authors.affiliation: Botany Department and Trinity Centre for Biodiversity Research, School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College, the University of Dublin, College Green, Dublin 2, Ireland.
authors.forename: Daniel L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Sciences, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3RB, UK.
authors.forename: Keith J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Kirby
authors.affiliation: Department of Vegetation Ecology, Institute of Botany, Czech Academy of Sciences, Lidická 25/27, CZ-602 00, Brno, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kopecký
authors.affiliation: Department of GIS and Remote Sensing, Institute of Botany, Czech Academy of Sciences, Zámek 1, CZ-252 43, Průhonice, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Macek
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Forestry, Technical University in Zvolen, T.G. Masaryka 24, SK-960 53 Zvolen, Slovak Republic.|Forest Research Institute Zvolen, National Forest Centre, T.G. Masaryka 22, SK-960 52, Zvolen, Slovak Republic.
authors.forename: František
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Máliš
authors.affiliation: Ecosystem Research & Environmental Information Management, Environment Agency Austria, Spittelauer Lände 5, A-1090, Wien, Austria.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mirtl
authors.affiliation: Botany Department and Trinity Centre for Biodiversity Research, School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College, the University of Dublin, College Green, Dublin 2, Ireland.
authors.forename: Fraser J G
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.affiliation: Institute of Land Use Systems, Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Eberswalder Straße 84, D-15374, Müncheberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Naaf
authors.affiliation: Botany Department and Trinity Centre for Biodiversity Research, School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College, the University of Dublin, College Green, Dublin 2, Ireland.
authors.forename: Miles
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Newman
authors.affiliation: Beechwood House, St. Briavels Common, Lydney, Gloucestershire, GL15 6SL, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Peterken
authors.affiliation: Department of GIS and Remote Sensing, Institute of Botany, Czech Academy of Sciences, Zámek 1, CZ-252 43, Průhonice, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Petr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Petřík
authors.affiliation: Department Silviculture and Forest Ecology of the Temperate Zones, Burckhardt-Institute, Georg-August University Göttingen, Büsgenweg 1, D-37077, Göttingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Systematics, Ecology and Theoretical Biology, Institute of Biology, L. Eötvös University, Pázmány sétány 1/c, H-1117, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Tibor
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Standovár
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Systematics, Ecology and Theoretical Biology, Institute of Biology, L. Eötvös University, Pázmány sétány 1/c, H-1117, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Zoltán
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Tóth
authors.affiliation: Research Institute for Nature and Forest, Kliniekstraat 25, B-1070, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Hans Van
authors.initials: HV
authors.lastname: Calster
authors.affiliation: Forest & Nature Lab, Ghent University, Geraardsbergsesteenweg 267, B-9090, Gontrode-Melle, Belgium.
authors.forename: Gorik
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Verstraeten
authors.affiliation: Forest Research Institute Zvolen, National Forest Centre, T.G. Masaryka 22, SK-960 52, Zvolen, Slovak Republic.
authors.forename: Jozef
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vladovič
authors.affiliation: Department of Vegetation Ecology, Institute of Botany, Czech Academy of Sciences, Lidická 25/27, CZ-602 00, Brno, Czech Republic.|Department of Botany and Zoology, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 2, CZ-611 37, Brno, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Ondřej
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Vild
authors.affiliation: Institute of Land Use Systems, Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Eberswalder Straße 84, D-15374, Müncheberg, Germany.|Institute of Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, Maulbeerallee 2, D-14469, Potsdam, Germany.
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wulf
authors.affiliation: Forest & Nature Lab, Ghent University, Geraardsbergsesteenweg 267, B-9090, Gontrode-Melle, Belgium.
authors.forename: Kris
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Verheyen
mesh_terms: D000397:Air Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects*; D044822:Biodiversity; D002980:Climate; D005060:Europe; D016468:Forestry; D065928:Forests; D060434:Herbivory; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: Shannon diversity; atmospheric nitrogen deposition; evenness; forest management; forestREplot; game browsing; spatiotemporal resurvey data; species richness