DiGraSo

Grasslands are considered highly valuable habitats in Europe. But despite intense conservation attempts, species rich grassland areas are declining in Central Europe. Current management practices seem inappropiate to stop the negative consequences of humany and climate on biodiversity in grasslands. In addition, it is still not clear which factors cause the decline of biodiversity on grasslands areas, and which measurements are appropriate to counter it. The recommended practices to promote biodiversity on grasslands often only rely on assessing the vegetation, while little is known of the soil component of this biotop, especially its influence on the total biodiversity. Aside from nutrients the soil organisms (macro- and microorganisms) play a crucial role. Earthworms changestructure of the soil, and micro organisms and their consumers influence soil parameters like availability of nutrients. Still, soil organisms are often overlook from a conservation perspective in grasslands.

By incorporating assessments of vegetation with soil fauna, microorganisms and parameters in species rich and species poor habitats on grasslands, the project DiGraSo attempts to find drivers to the decline of biodiversity and formulate suggestions to improve managements of those sites.

DiGraSo is a Saxonian-Czech Interreg project.