Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40960007›Full record

ArticleGlobal change biology2025

Grassland Restoration Drives Strong Multitrophic Biodiversity Recovery, but Climate Extremes Jeopardize Drought-Sensitive Species.

Elisabeth Prangel, Triin Reitalu, Liis Kasari-Toussaint, Riho Marja, Inga Jüriado, Tiiu Kupper, Nele Ingerpuu, Ede Oja, Anu Tiitsaar, Reet Karise and 5 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Global change biology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

15 authors.

Elisabeth PrangelInstitute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia.ORCID 0000-0003-0776-5017
Triin ReitaluInstitute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia.
Liis Kasari-ToussaintInstitute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia.
Riho Marja"Lendület" Landscape and Conservation Ecology, Institute of Ecology and Botany, MTA-HUN-REN Centre for Ecological Research, Vácrátót, Hungary.
Inga JüriadoInstitute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia.
Tiiu KupperInstitute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia.
Nele IngerpuuInstitute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia.
Ede OjaNatural History Museum and Botanical Garden, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia.
Anu TiitsaarInstitute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia.
Reet KariseInstitute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Tartu, Estonia.
Villu SoonNatural History Museum and Botanical Garden, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia.
Krista TakkisInstitute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia.
Liis KeerbergEstonian Fund for Nature (ELF), Tartu, Estonia.
Mart MeristeNordic Botanical Ltd, Soitsjärve village, Tartumaa, Estonia.
Aveliina HelmInstitute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia.

Funding

Estonian Ministry of Education and Research, Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Land Use TK232Estonian Research Council PRG874European Commission LIFE+ Nature program LIFE13NAT/EE/000082Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions individual fellowship grant "Happybee" 101027920
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Semi-natural grasslands, Europe's most biodiverse ecosystems, are rapidly declining due to agricultural intensification, abandonment, and afforestation, leading to biodiversity loss and reduced ecosystem function. Despite their ecological value, grasslands are often overlooked, while afforestation, for instance, is prioritized for climate mitigation. This study assessed the effects of grassland abandonment, afforestation, and ecological restoration on multitrophic species richness and soil conditions. We used Estonian semi-natural calcareous grasslands (alvars) as a model system. Results showed that historically overgrown and afforested grasslands recover fast and rapidly become species-rich after woody plant removal and low-intensity grazing reinstatement. These grasslands also serve as stable carbon sinks, storing soil carbon at levels comparable to afforested grassland areas, with restoration having no negative impact on carbon storage. Multitrophic species richness responded to restoration in three main ways: fast responders (plants, pollinators, birds) recovered relatively quickly, slow responders (lichens, bryophytes, soil fungi) showed little to no short-term change, and drought-sensitive species (ground-dwelling arthropods) declined due to prolonged drought, which also potentially overshadowed the impact of restoration. Grassland restoration is vital for biodiversity, the sustainable supply of ecosystem services, and climate resilience, with long-term monitoring needed to track recovery.

Indexed as

BiodiversityClimate ChangeConservation of Natural ResourcesDroughtsGrasslandAnimalsEstoniaSoilSoilcarbon storagedrought impactgrassland abandonmentgrassland afforestationgrassland restorationmultitrophic species richnesssoil condition

Identifiers

PMID40960007
PMCPMC12441997

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.