Central Germany Research Articles

Acoustic detection of Garden Dormice: a field mapping study in an urban habitat in Germany

Garden Dormouse populations have been decreasing in range and declining in number throughout Europe. For effective conservation strategies, it is important to know where and in which habitats the species still occurs. Effective monitoring methods are therefore urgently needed especially because Glirids are difficult to monitor due to their nocturnal activity and their relatively low population density. The city of Wiesbaden (central Germany close to the River Rhine) harbors a stable Garden Dormouse population. In summer 2019 a field mapping study was conducted in which the occurrence of this species was investigated. During the summertime detection of the animals, based on their characteristic vocalizations, was used for the first time to map the occurrence of the species. Within 20 nights we obtained 128 acoustic detections of Garden Dormice, involving at least 168 individuals, and resulting in records for 55 out of 61 km² grids investigated. In Wiesbaden, the species is widespread and could be easily detected by its calls. It was found over almost the whole area, mainly in semi-open areas like gardens and allotments, but also in highly built up and cultivated areas, right in the immediate vicinity of humans, and in some cases even inside buildings. Thus, the Garden Dormouse has successfully adjusted to a life in an urban environment. Using this simple, cheap, fast and non-invasive method can provide many data for biodiversity monitoring and should therefore be given more consideration in future surveys.

Fossil evidence of lichen grazing from Palaeogene amber

Lichens are important in many modern terrestrial ecosystems, but their fossil record has been very sparse. This has limited the chances for finding any evidence of their interactions with animals in past ecosystems. Recently, the fossil record of lichens has improved significantly with the discovery of numerous new inclusions from European Palaeogene ambers. Here, we report the first fossil evidence of animal–lichen interactions from one new fossil from Bitterfeld amber of central Germany. A foliose fossil lichen, possibly belonging to the Physciaceae, exhibits three feeding marks and co-preserved invertebrate faecal pellets. To gain insights into this Palaeogene lichen-invertebrate interaction, we compared the fossil grazing damage and faecal pellets to those obtained from several extant lichen feeders, including mites, collembolans, psocopterans, coleopteran larvae and gastropods. The results of the grazing experiments suggest that gastropods and mites most likely caused the feeding marks preserved in the fossil lichen.

Constraints in the restoration of mountain meadows invaded by the legume Lupinus polyphyllus

Semi‐natural grasslands invaded by the legume Lupinus polyphyllus need the introduction of target species in order to promote highly endangered native target plant communities. However, which techniques are best suited to achieve both invader control and the introduction of target species at the same time? Few studies have investigated restoration techniques that support native plant communities in mountain meadows and control the invader simultaneously. We employed the restoration techniques seed bank activation and green hay transfer in combination with manual removal of the invasive L. polyphyllus on three types of grassland (Nardus grassland, mesic and wet mountain hay meadows) in the low mountain ranges of the Rhön UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in central Germany. Vegetation reacted differently to specific measures depending on the type of grassland. L. polyphyllus cover could be effectively reduced by L. polyphyllus removal in Nardus grassland and mesic hay meadow sites, but not in wet meadows. In Nardus grassland, the cover of target species was lowered by the application of green hay. The target species cover of wet mountain hay meadows declined in response to seed bank activation. When restoring mountain meadows, restoration practitioners should thus first consider the specific vegetation types. As our study indicates that target mountain meadow species may react negatively to restoration measures in the short term, the long‐term effects of the application of green hay should be studied.

Effects of local climate and habitat heterogeneity on breeding-bird assemblages of semi-natural grasslands

The intensification of agricultural land-use, abandonment and afforestation have caused severe loss and degradation of nutrient-poor, semi-natural grasslands across Europe. Calcareous grasslands have an outstanding value for nature conservation due to their highly diverse flora and fauna, including birds. However, knowledge of environmental factors driving the composition of bird communities in calcareous grasslands is still scarce. The aim of our study was to compare the breeding-bird assemblages of calcareous grasslands and the second most common semi-natural grassland type in the study area (Diemel Valley, Central Germany), mesic grasslands, along an elevation (climate) gradient. For each grassland type, we randomly selected 27 square-shaped plots with a size of 5 ha each and a cover of the focal grassland type of at least 50% within the plot. Our study revealed that both the number and density of threatened species of breeding birds were higher in plots of calcareous grasslands than in those of mesic grasslands. Based on multivariable generalised linear mixed-effects models, the most important predictors of overall species richness and density of breeding birds in plots of calcareous grasslands were the area of juniper-rich calcareous grassland and Shannon habitat diversity. By contrast, the number and density of threatened species were in both grassland types mainly driven by breeding-season temperature. Heterogeneous, juniper-rich calcareous grasslands seem to be a key habitat for bird assemblages with high species richness and density. These grasslands usually consisted of small-scale habitat mosaics providing suitable nesting sites and foraging grounds in close proximity. By contrast, mesic grasslands had rather homogeneous swards and shrubs or trees were normally restricted to the edges of the grassland patches. Based on our study, increasing habitat heterogeneity at the landscape scale and within grasslands is the key to enhancing species richness and density of breeding birds.

Out of the East (or North or South): A Response to Philip Slavin

Abstract This article responds to Philip Slavin’s ‘Out of the West: Formation of a Permanent Plague Reservoir in South-Central Germany (1349–1356) and Its Implications’. Genetics has transformed the study of plague, one of the most lethal diseases in human history. But this technically demanding science raises questions of what constitutes valid evidence and supportable argument when examining historical phenomena at a microscopic level. Slavin argues that two new lineages of Yersinia pestis, the causative organism of plague, were seeded in central Germany following the Black Death; appearing sequentially, one lineage caused plague outbreaks in the 1350s and early 1360s, only to retreat and be replaced by a second lineage. Here, evidence is adduced to support the early central European proliferation of one lineage of Y. pestis, but also to suggest that the second lineage arose simultaneously in a different locale, outside Europe and within different epidemiological parameters. Because of the inherent rarity of biological evidence, the reconstruction of epidemiological phenomena will always require consilience with archaeological and documentary sources. Establishing ‘best practices’ of analysis and verification in this emerging multidisciplinary field has implications not only for Europe’s four hundred-year experience with plague, but for all fields of global health history.

Characterization of GMB-1, a novel metallo-β-lactamase (MBL) found in three different Enterobacterales species.

To identify novel carbapenem resistance mechanisms and their potential to spread among clinical isolates. Four clinical isolates of Citrobacter freundii, Serratia marcescens and Raoultella planticola (n = 2) from one hospital in Central Germany were sent to the German National Reference Centre for Multidrug-resistant Gram-negative Bacteria for carbapenemase detection. Phenotypic tests indicated the presence of a metallo-β-lactamase (MBL), but PCR for various MBL genes could not identify any. Using WGS data, a putative bla gene was identified. Its carbapenemase activity was verified by heterologous expression in an Escherichia coli cloning strain, with subsequent MIC determination by broth microdilution, as well as by in vitro hydrolysis assays using purified enzyme. WGS indicated the presence of a putative β-lactamase with 48% amino acid identity to the subclass B1 MBL SPM-1. MIC studies confirmed that the novel enzyme formed a functional MBL, which was therefore designated as GMB-1 (German MBL). In vitro hydrolysis assays showed a lack of activity not only against aztreonam but also against ertapenem. WGS revealed that in all three species the blaGMB-1 gene was located on the chromosome as part of a genetic island with multiple ISs. The finding of GMB-1 once again shows that novel carbapenemases continue to emerge and make their way into clinically relevant species. The occurrence of GMB-1 in three different species demonstrates the extraordinary mobility of such genetic islands and their potential to spread carbapenemase genes into diverse genetic environments.

Effective restoration measures in river‐floodplain ecosystems: Lessons learned from the ‘Wilde Mulde’ project

AbstractOver the last 40 years, a growing number of restoration projects have been implemented to improve the ecological conditions of highly degraded rivers and their floodplains. Despite considerable investment in these projects, information is still limited about the effectiveness and the success of such river restoration measures, mainly due to a lack of standardised and interdisciplinary assessment approaches. During the project ‘Wilde Mulde—Restoration of a dynamic riverine landscape in Central Germany’, we implemented hydromorphological restoration measures (installation of large wood, removal of rip‐rap, reconnection of a former river side‐arm) along a lowland river in Central Germany. We carried out intensive scientific monitoring of biodiversity, hydromorphology, ecosystem functions and services, as well as socio‐economic aspects. A Before/After‐Control/Impact (BACI) design was used to identify the spatial and temporal effects of the restoration measures and to distinguish them from changes caused by background variation. For this, we used a comprehensive set of indicators, including abiotic (flow velocity, diversity of riverbed topography, and flow resistance), biological (ecosystem respiration, macroinvertebrates, fish, carabids, vegetation, and birds) and socio‐economic (acceptance and public awareness) indicators as well as the ecosystem service indicator aesthetic quality of the landscape. To meet the inherent challenges of such a large‐scale field experiment, like unpredictable environmental conditions, we used an experimental approach that allowed us to demonstrate a measurable success of the implemented restoration measures. The majority of the abiotic and some of the biological and socio‐economic indicators at the restored sites approached values of a natural reference site while already deviating from values of a nonnatural reference site two years after restoration. In addition to the applied interdisciplinary approach, multiple scales of field investigations and data analyses are essential as key components for evaluating successful river and floodplain restoration projects.

Vegetation of natural and stabilized riverbanks and early effects of removal of bank fixation

AbstractThe majority of rivers in Europe has been dramatically altered in terms of their morphology and hydrology with severe consequences for the diversity and ecological functioning of the rivers and their floodplains. Consequently, an increasing number of river reaches has been restored over the past decades, often including the removal of bank fixation to reinitiate bank erosion and allowing for a rewidening of the rivers' cross‐section. However, monitoring in detail the effect of such a measure on riverine vegetation is scarce. Using a Before‐After‐Control‐Impact (BACI) design, we analysed the early changes of the vegetation 2 years after the removal of bank fixation at the Mulde River (central Germany). The results were compared with two types of control sites, representing a nonrestored as well as a natural riverbank that has never been fixed. We analysed differences in taxonomic and functional composition of the vegetation between bank types as well as community turnover after restoration. Two years after restoration, the vegetation differed clearly from the nonrestored sites. A substantial proportion of the community, especially the newly established species, became more similar to the natural bank community. Most importantly, spatiotemporal heterogeneity of the vegetation increased after removal of bank fixation, being an indicator for re‐established dynamic processes similar to the natural site. The presented data serve as a baseline for a long‐term monitoring and quantitative meta‐analysis of restoration effects.

Drought impacts in forest canopy and deciduous tree saplings in Central European forests

Forests worldwide are increasingly exposed to extreme weather events. Drought deteriorates the health, structure, and functioning of forests, which can lead to reduced diversity, decreased productivity, and increased tree mortality. Therefore, it is an urgent need to assess the impact of drought on tree species. Due to differences in tree physiology, saplings and mature trees are likely to respond specifically to drought conditions. In contrast to mature trees, little is known about the response of saplings to drought. Here, we combine in-situ field measurements for saplings of deciduous tree species with remote sensing for forest canopy to assess drought damage, recovery, and sapling mortality patterns during a centennial drought (2018, 2019) and beyond (2020). We measured 2051 saplings out of 214 plots in Central Germany. Forest canopy health was assessed using 10 × 10 m resolution satellite observations for the same locations. We (1) demonstrate that forest canopy exhibits long-lasting drought-induced effects, (2) show that saplings have a remarkable capacity to recover from drought and survive a subsequent drought, (3) demonstrate that reduced sapling recovery leads to their mortality, (4) reveal that drought damage on saplings increases from pioneer to non-pioneer species, and mortality is ranking from Sorbus aucuparia > Sambucus nigra > Fraxinus excelsior, Acer campestre, Frangula alnus > Ulmus glabra > Carpinus betulus > Betula pendula, Fagus sylvatica > Acer pseudoplatanus > Quercus petraea > Corylus avellana, Crataegus spp., >Prunus avium, Quercus robur; and (5) link drought response to site conditions, indicating that species diversity and winter precipitation as relevant indicators of tree health. If periods of drought become more frequent, as expected, this could negatively impact mid-term forest recovery, alter long-term tree species assemblages and reduce biodiversity and functional resilience of forest ecosystems. We suggest that models of forest response to drought should differentiate between the forest canopy and understory and also consider species-specific responses as we found a broad spectrum of responses within the same plant functional type of deciduous tree species in terms of drought damage and recovery.

Changes in carabid diversity indicate successful restoration of riparian habitats

AbstractNatural rivers offer riparian habitats to many highly specialised, rare, and endangered insect species and are extremely important for ecosystem services. In the past, these ecosystems have been heavily degraded by anthropogenic use and run the risk of losing their favourable ecological conditions. For this reason, restoration measures are urgently needed and strongly demanded politically as well as legally, for instance, through the European Union Water Framework Directive. This is also important because nowadays, we are confronted with increasing insect declines. Using a Before‐After‐Control‐Impact approach, we studied the effects of a riverbank restoration (complete removal of a large gravel embankment) on carabid assemblages of riparian habitats along the Mulde River in central Germany in 2017 and 2019. We collected 86 species in three site types (managed, natural, and restored) by pitfall trapping and found numerous species of conservation concern. Our analyses showed that the percentage of species of conservation concern was significantly higher after restoration in restored compared to managed sites. Furthermore, after restoration, the percentage of indicator species for natural sites increased significantly in restored sites while the abundance of indicator species characteristic for managed sites decreased in these sites. Species assemblage composition significantly changed in response to restoration approaching near‐natural conditions. The creation of habitat mosaics with open gravel and sand patches as well as the re‐establishment of river dynamics were likely the most significant drivers for restoration success. We were able to show how important the restoration of riparian habitats is to promote populations of endangered, rare, and specialised species. Our results highlight that positive effects of a river restoration measure can be observed after a relatively short time. Ground beetles can thus be viewed as early indicators for restoration success, but we see a need for long‐term monitoring to evaluate long‐term effects reliably.

Survey on shedding of selected pathogenic, zoonotic or antimicrobial resistant bacteria by South American camelids in Central Germany

Survey on shedding of selected pathogenic, zoonotic or antimicrobial resistant bacteria by South American camelids in Central Germany

Molecular Probing of DOM Indicates a Key Role of Spruce-Derived Lignin in the DOM and Metal Cycles of a Headwater Catchment: Can Spruce Forest Dieback Exacerbate Future Trends in the Browning of Central European Surface Waters?

Peatlands of the Northern Hemisphere and Central European coniferous forests experience significant environmental change. The resultant browning of surface waters, that is, elevated concentrations of dissolved organic matter (DOM) and metals, is of interest in the context of the global C cycle, peatland and forest management, and water treatment. In an attempt to identify the causes of this process in the Harz Mountains (Central Germany), we studied the spatiotemporal variations in DOM molecular composition (thermally assisted hydrolysis and methylation combined with GC-MS) and metal concentrations in headwater stream samples. We found strong relationships between DOM and metals and seasonal variations in the DOM quality and tentatively DOM-metal binding mode: during summer base flow, DOM and metal concentrations are low, and all elements other than the alkali and alkaline earth metals (Ca, Mg, Sr, K, and Na) are positively correlated to DOM, whereas during spring and autumn (high discharge), only metals with strong affinity for DOM (Fe, As, Cu, Cr, Pb, and Ti), but not weakly binding ones (Al, Cd, La, Mn, Ni, Zn, and Zr), are correlated to DOM, indicative of selectivity in DOM-metal interactions. The products of polyphenols are the key ingredients of the DOM-metal complexes. We argue the importance of spruce lignin-derived vanillic acid moieties, which are involved in weak (all seasons) and strong, multidentate and/or colloidal, binding (spring and autumn) of metals. Considering the ongoing spruce forest dieback and climate change acceleration, it is tempting to conclude that spruce necromass and forest soils may release vast amounts of lignin-derived DOM and associated metals to headwater streams. This would have significant implications for forest soil C stocks and the management of connected drinking water reservoirs.

Satellite data track spatial and temporal declines in European beech forest canopy characteristics associated with intense drought events in the Rhön Biosphere Reserve, central Germany.

The increasing intensity and frequency of droughts under climate change demands effective ways to monitor drought impacts. We sought to determine how different satellite remote sensing sources influence our ability to identify temporal and spatial impacts on European beech forest canopy health during intense drought events. Imagery from three satellite series (MODIS, Landsat and Sentinel-2) was used to observe changes in canopy health during the intense droughts of 2003 and 2018 in the Rhön Biosphere Reserve, central Germany. Monthly normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) anomalies were calculated for each satellite between 2000-2020 and compared against temperature, precipitation and the standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI). Severe canopy impacts in 2003 and 2018 were associated with low NDVI in August and September. At the stand-scale, Sentinel-2 data allowed a spatially detailed understanding of canopy-level impacts, while MODIS provided the clearest temporal progression of the drought's impacts on the forest canopy. Low NDVI values were not exclusively associated with extremes of either temperature and precipitation individually; however, low canopy NDVI in August was associated with SPEI values below -1.5. Although the intense drought of 2018, as defined by meteorological parameters, peaked in July, canopy NDVI did not decline until August, highlighting that our ability to detect canopy impact during drought events is sensitive to the timing of image acquisition. No single satellite sensor affords a full picture of the temporal or spatial progression of drought impacts. Consequently, using sensors in tandem provides the best possible representation of canopy health during intense drought events.

A First Assessment of Canopy Cover Loss in Germany’s Forests after the 2018–2020 Drought Years

Central Europe was hit by several unusually strong periods of drought and heat between 2018 and 2020. These droughts affected forest ecosystems. Cascading effects with bark beetle infestations in spruce stands were fatal to vast forest areas in Germany. We present the first assessment of canopy cover loss in Germany for the period of January 2018–April 2021. Our approach makes use of dense Sentinel-2 and Landsat-8 time-series data. We computed the disturbance index (DI) from the tasseled cap components brightness, greenness, and wetness. Using quantiles, we generated monthly DI composites and calculated anomalies in a reference period (2017). From the resulting map, we calculated the canopy cover loss statistics for administrative entities. Our results show a canopy cover loss of 501,000 ha for Germany, with large regional differences. The losses were largest in central Germany and reached up to two-thirds of coniferous forest loss in some districts. Our map has high spatial (10 m) and temporal (monthly) resolution and can be updated at any time.

The Occurrence of Lithic Raw Materials in the Western Part of Central Germany

Due to its geological and geomorphological features, Central Germany is extremely diverse in terms of the occurrence of lithic raw materials. Based on macroscopic criteria alone, it remains challenging to unambiguously distinguish different rock types that were used for the production of stone tools in prehistoric times. Yet, only a few studies have presented a systematic description of the materials in question, including petrographic analysis. The following article presents the results of a research project, aimed at investigating the abundance of lithic raw materials in the Federal State of Hesse and adjacent regions. In the framework of field surveys, several outcrops in the study area were sampled in order to create a reference collection. These materials were analyzed and described petrographically, using optical microscopy. In combination with GIS-analysis, the results offer a robust starting point for the study of prehistoric mobility patterns and give new insights into the genesis of the various raw materials in the study area.

The potential impact of an implementation of microalgae-based wastewater treatment on the energy balance of a municipal wastewater treatment plant in Central europe

Integration of a photobioreactor for WWT by microalgae is calculated as a future alternative for cost-efficient and environmentally-friendly nutrient removal for municipal WWTPs. High growth rates and higher biogas yields (compared to conventional sewage sludge) of algal biomass can significantly improve WWTP energy balances.This study focuses on temperate climate zones with changing seasons and discusses energy potential of microalgae-enhanced wastewater treatment for an existing WWTP (32,000 PE) in Central Germany. For WWTP-dimensioning and determination of energy-rich biomasses for anaerobic digestion and CHP, actual influent load data was used and calculation was carried out according to valid regulations. Algae growth figures are based on pilot-scale test series from Germany and correspond to the relevant climatic and local process conditions. Computed results show a shift in the energy balance from a current energy demand of 662,173kWh a-1 to an energy production of approx. 1,9MWhel. a-1 and 1 MWhth. a-1.

The fluvial architecture of buried floodplain sediments of the Weiße Elster River (Germany) revealed by a novel method combination of drill cores with two‐dimensional and spatially resolved geophysical measurements

AbstractThe complex and non‐linear fluvial river dynamics are characterized by repeated periods of fluvial erosion and re‐deposition in different parts of the floodplain. Understanding the fluvial architecture (i.e. the three‐dimensional arrangement and genetic interconnectedness of different sediment types) is therefore fundamental to obtain well‐based information about controlling factors. However, investigating the fluvial architecture in buried floodplain deposits without natural exposures is challenging. We studied the fluvial architecture of the middle Weiße Elster floodplain in Central Germany, an extraordinary long‐standing archive of Holocene flooding and landscape changes in sensitive loess‐covered Central European landscapes. We applied a novel systematic approach by coupling two‐dimensional transects of electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) measurements and closely spaced core drillings with spatially resolved measurements of electromagnetic induction (EMI) of larger floodplain areas at three study sites. This allowed for (i) time and cost‐efficient core drillings based on preceding ERT measurements and (ii) spatially scaling up the main elements of the fluvial architecture, such as the distribution of thick silt‐clay overbank deposits and paleochannel patterns from the floodplain transects to larger surrounding areas. We found that fine‐grained sand and silt‐clay overbank deposits overlying basal gravels were deposited during several periods of intensive flooding. Those were separated from each other by periods of reduced flooding, allowing soil formation. However, the overbank deposits were severely laterally eroded before and during each sedimentation period. This was probably linked with pronounced meandering or even braiding of the river. Our preliminary chronological classification suggests that first fine‐grained sedimentation must have occurred during the Early to Middle Holocene, and the last phase of lateral erosion and sedimentation during the Little Ice Age. Our study demonstrates the high archive potential of the buried fluvial sediments of the middle Weiße Elster floodplain and provides a promising time and cost‐effective approach for future studies of buried floodplain sediments.

Early Oligocene brachiopods from the rocky-shore deposits at Mammendorf, central Germany

Thirteen species, belonging to eleven genera, i.e., Discinisca Dall, Novocrania Lee and Brunton, Lacazella Munier-Chalmas, Pliothyrina van Roy, Terebratulina d’Orbigny, Megathiris d’Orbigny, Argyrotheca Dall, Bronnothyris Popiel-Barczyk and Smirnova, Joania Álvarez, Brunton and Long, Platidia Costa and Megerlia King, have been identified in the lower Oligocene rocky-shore deposits at Mammendorf, central Germany. The occurrence of the species Discinisca fallens (Wood), Argyrotheca bitnerae Dulai and Megerlia truncate (Linnaeus) extends their stratigraphic range back to the early Oligocene. The affinity to the early Oligocene brachiopod fauna of the Mainz Basin is noted.

Vegetation of temperate inland salt marshes on their north-western border (North German Plain)

Temperate inland salt marshes, formerly used as meadows or pastures, are priority habitats in Europe and are threatened by intensifying anthropogenic activites. They are particularly important because of their biogeographical location on the North German Plain, which is the westernmost hotspot of continental halophytic vegetation in Eurasia. In spite of their remarkably long history of floristic research, there are disproportionately few studies dealing with plant communities. They are traditionally included in the Puccinellion maritimae and Armerion maritimae alliances with a typical distribution along the North and Baltic Sea coasts. The similarity with other inland salt marshes has been overlooked. We surveyed natural and secondary sites with euhalophytic vegetation in central Germany (Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia) in 2018 and 2020 and analysed 105 phytosociological relevés. This resulted in the identification of three main groups (alliances) containing seven associations: annual hypersaline succulent communities of the alliance Therosalicornion (Salicornietum europaeae, Halimioni pedunculatae-Puccinellietum distantis, Suaedetum maritimae), wet saline meadows of the alliance Juncion gerardi (Triglochino maritimae-Glaucetum maritimae, Scorzonero parviflorae-Juncetum gerardi variant with Glaux maritima) and saline short-grass swards of the alliance Puccinellion limosae (Puccinellietum limosae, Atriplex prostrata community). For each association we defined the typical species composition and calculated Ellenberg indicator values depending on the ecological gradients of soil salinity, nutrients and moisture. To determine possible floristic similarities between the inland and coastal salt marshes, we compared our data with data from other areas of saline vegetation: the southern Baltic Sea coast, Kujawy (Poland), Pannonian Basin (Hungary) and Transylvanian Basin (Romania). We concluded that the salt marshes in inland Germany showed a stronger relation with salt marshes of the remote Pannonian and Transylvanian Basins, and they were well separated from the Baltic salt marshes. Thus, we suggest including inland salt marshes on the North German Plain into the syntaxonomical class of continental halophytic vegetation of Festuco-Puccinellietea.

Abiotic factors are more important than land management and biotic interactions in shaping vascular plant and soil fungal communities

Human-induced disturbances to ecosystems cause a direct loss of biodiversity, and also alter the inherent processes that shape ecosystems even after the main disturbance has ceased. Therefore, is it important to understand the ongoing consequences of past and present land use practices on both above- and belowground components of agroecosystems. Our study takes a detailed investigation of what shapes communities in semi-natural grasslands under long-term management as either pastures or meadows. We investigated the relative importance of land use (land management (LM) and land use intensity (LUI)) and abiotic conditions (soil, topographic, climatic) across five grassland sites in central Germany in explaining species occurrence patterns of vascular plants and soil fungi. Analyses included a hierarchical joint-species distribution modeling approach to uncover the role of possible drivers shaping the local communities. Our results show that abiotic factors are of particularly high importance compared to LM and LUI for both vascular plant and soil fungal communities. In general, the relative importance of explanatory variables was similar across both taxon groups, however, for plant communities, local climate conditions were more important, while for fungal communities the soil variables (e.g., soil acidity and fertility including soil carbon and potassium concentrations) played a more prominent role. Species-specific responses to the respective variables showed some similarity across the taxon groups, however less so than expected given the long legacy of past LM. Here we found that approximately 50% of the plant and fungi species had clear LM preferences and responses to LUI. More plant species were positively related to pasture than meadow management, while the opposite was found for fungal species. Our findings advance the understanding of how abiotic conditions and human land use impact local species communities in managed semi-natural grasslands, aiding further research and policy development for conserving multitrophic diversity within these biodiversity rich habitats. Our results highlight the importance of controlling for soil and climate in studying the impact of land use, and of considering the environmental context at both small and larger spatial grains when making land management and biodiversity conservation decisions. In so doing, the complexity of ecological processes within managed systems are accounted for and prioritized, promoting both conservation and ecological functioning of the agroecosystem. Plant data is archived on PANGAEA (Kautzner, Auge, Roscher, Baessler & Slabbert, 2020; https://doi.org10.1594/PANGA EA.919343) and the soil microbial data on the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) Sequence Read Archive (SRA) under the accession PRJNA563995 (Kautzner, Baessler, Auge, Roscher & Wubet, 2020)