Abstract
In 2013 we surveyed 116 plots under electricity pylons and 116 reference plots. The
basal areas of pylons were 6 m2, 21 m2 or 32 m2. Plots under pylons had higher total
numbers of species than reference plots, with grassland plots as an exception. Herbaceous
species occurring exclusively within pylon plots were more numerous than
those exclusively in reference plots (with the exception of grassland). Pylon plots also
had a higher Shannon’s diversity index (H´) of herbaceous plant species, again with
the exception of grassland plots. Species number and H´ increased with increasing
plot area under pylons among cereal and maize fields. A different trend was recorded
in grassland; with increasing plot size the differences in species richness and diversity
between pylon and reference plots became less distinct. Regardless of plot area, the Jaccard
index was usually low and did not exceed a value of 0.20. It may be concluded that
electricity pylons act as refuges for many plant species, which makes them biodiversity
hotspots in farmland. Species richness and diversity under pylons differs markedly from
those of nearby farmland. Such vegetation patches under electricity pylons form a substantial
network of floristically diverse refuges within an unfavourable matrix
basal areas of pylons were 6 m2, 21 m2 or 32 m2. Plots under pylons had higher total
numbers of species than reference plots, with grassland plots as an exception. Herbaceous
species occurring exclusively within pylon plots were more numerous than
those exclusively in reference plots (with the exception of grassland). Pylon plots also
had a higher Shannon’s diversity index (H´) of herbaceous plant species, again with
the exception of grassland plots. Species number and H´ increased with increasing
plot area under pylons among cereal and maize fields. A different trend was recorded
in grassland; with increasing plot size the differences in species richness and diversity
between pylon and reference plots became less distinct. Regardless of plot area, the Jaccard
index was usually low and did not exceed a value of 0.20. It may be concluded that
electricity pylons act as refuges for many plant species, which makes them biodiversity
hotspots in farmland. Species richness and diversity under pylons differs markedly from
those of nearby farmland. Such vegetation patches under electricity pylons form a substantial
network of floristically diverse refuges within an unfavourable matrix
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 415-425 |
| Number of pages | 11 |
| Journal | Annales Botanici Fennici |
| Volume | 53 |
| Issue number | 5-6 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 3 Nov 2016 |