A Balance Between Productivity and Biodiversity Conservation in Montane and Subalpine Semi-Natural Grasslands
A balance between productivity and biodiversity conservation in montane and subalpine semi-natural grasslands Inauguraldissertation der Philosophisch-naturwissenschaftlichen Fakultät der Universität Bern vorgelegt von Malie Lessard-Therrien von Duhamel-Ouest (QC, Canada) Leiter der Arbeit Prof. Dr. Raphaël Arlettaz Conservation Biology, Institut für Ökologie und Evolution, Universität Bern Dr. Jean-Yves Humbert Conservation Biology, Institut für Ökologie und Evolution, Universität Bern Von der Philosophisch-naturwissenschaftlichen Fakultät angenommen. Bern, 25. April 2017 Der Dekan Prof. Dr. Gilberto Colangelo Figures & layout: Malie Lessard-Therrien Photo credits: Thesis beginning: Bärbel Koch Table of content: Nora Rieder Chapter 1: Malie Lessard-Therrien Chapter 2: Malie Lessard-Therrien Chapter 3: Malie Lessard-Therrien Erklärung: Eddy Mottaz Department of Conservation Biology Institute of Ecology and Evolution A balance between productivity and biodiversity conservation in montane and subalpine semi- natural grasslands A thesis presented by Malie Lessard-Therrien Academic dissertation for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Bern University to be publicly defended on Tuesday April 25, 2017 at 10.00 in room D110, Baltzerstrasse 6, 3012 Bern, Switzerland. Thesis supervisors: External examiners: Raphäel Arlettaz Regina Lindborg Jean-Yves Humbert Pascal Vittoz Chair: Catherine Peichel “Biodiversity is not a threat to agriculture; it is the key to its sustainability.” – Perrings et al. 2006 Conserv. Biol., 20(2): 263-264 Contents Abstract 8 General introduction 10 Chapter 1 Experiment-based recommendations for biodiversity-friendly management of mountain hay meadows 23 Chapter 2 Moderate irrigation and fertilisation of mountain hay meadows promotes redatory ground-dwelling arthropod communities 53 Chapter 3 Sustainable biodiversity-productivity management trade-offs in semi-natural mountain grasslands 91 General discussion 124 Acknowledgements 142 Erklärung 146 145 CV Abstract Humans are exploiting a large part of the planet to fulfill their needs.
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