Abstract
Semi-natural grasslands (SNG) are valuable for their high biodiversity, cultural and landscape values. Quantitative information about medicinal plants (MP) in SNG facilitates the evaluation of ecosystem services of these habitats. Different literature sources were used to assess the ratio and frequency of MP species in several Estonian SNG and to evaluate the impact of management on these values. Lists of MP species according to different MP definition scenarios are available. The ratio of MP species in the local plant species list was the largest in alvars, followed by floodplain and wooded meadows. The average number of MP species in wooded meadows and alvars was about twice of that found in naturally growing broadleaved forest (according to the most detailed MP species list, 7.2, 7.8 and 4.3 plot−1, respectively). Fertilization of wooded meadows had no significant impact on MP species ratio, but decreased the percentage of MP biomass. Coastal meadows had few MP species and the impact of management quality depended on adopted MP scenarios. Comparison of Ellenberg indicator values revealed that MP species were more drought-tolerant, with higher commonness and more anthropophyte than the rest of studied grassland species.
Highlights
Semi-natural grasslands (SNG) are valuable for their high biodiversity, cultural and landscape values
Different authors point out the wide range of goods and services provided by grasslands, but beside plant species diversity in general, all of these assume that SNG are valuable refuges for pollinators [2], sources of medicinal plants [3,6]
Compiling different floristic lists of Estonian habitat types resulted in 538 plant species and a 10,814-record database that was used for further analyses
Summary
Semi-natural grasslands (SNG) are valuable for their high biodiversity, cultural and landscape values. Different literature sources were used to assess the ratio and frequency of MP species in several Estonian SNG and to evaluate the impact of management on these values. Semi-natural grasslands (SNG) as valuable ecosystems have been in focus for several decades due to their high biodiversity, cultural importance and landscape values. Their restoration has been challenging, but this activity has led to improved knowledge about and opportunities for these unique ecosystems [1,2]. Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations
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