Change of Species and Habitat Diversity in the Pannonian Region of Eastern Lower Austria over 170 Years: Using Herbarium Records as a Witness

• DOI: 10.4236/nr.2014.511051
• Publication Date: 2014-08-19T09:34:02Z
• Authors: Alexandra Grass; Karin Tremetsberger; Reinhard Hössinger; Karl-Georg Bernhardt
• Keywords: Herbarium; Ruderal species

By dint of historical herbarium specimens, we show how changes in species and habitat diversity can be reviewed correlated with events. Our work is based on a digital database specimens the BOKU (WHB), which assigned to Pannonian region eastern Lower Austria. The complete dataset (n = 6655 specimens) was analyzed aid statistical methods allowing computational elimination collectors' effects (i.e. unbalanced collecting interests collectors over time; multiple regression analysis, general linear model), from first (dating back 1830) present. As result, significant decrease proportion some habitats (above all water bodies closely associated habitats, humid wet meadows, fens fen nutrient poor grassland) detected. For water-influenced this correlates time Danube regulation. Moreover, an increase ruderal sites asserted during observation period. analysis procedure developed used for evaluation major digitized herbaria order trace diversity.