Plant diversity is essential for us and our planet as it sustains the stability of our ecosystems, provides vital materials and food to us and supports many ecosystem services. However, plant... Show morePlant diversity is essential for us and our planet as it sustains the stability of our ecosystems, provides vital materials and food to us and supports many ecosystem services. However, plant diversity has shown a strong decline throughout human history, particularly in the past decades. Multiple factors have been and are threatening plant species persistence, particularly climate change and land use change that result from intensive human activities. However, it is well known that different species may respond differently to threats, with some species being vulnerable to environmental change while others are less likely to be threatened. To understand how anthropogenic pressures will affect plant communities and find proper plant conservation strategies, it is important to identify how species change over time and to what extent species differ in their response to environmental pressures. In this study, I identified the importance of natural land cover, habitat structure and pollination mode to different plant species and provided practical suggestions for the conservation of different species in the Netherlands. Show less
Biodiversity enables ecosystems to thrive through the synergy of functional differences among organisms. While human well-being strongly depends on biodiversity-driven ecosystem services, human... Show moreBiodiversity enables ecosystems to thrive through the synergy of functional differences among organisms. While human well-being strongly depends on biodiversity-driven ecosystem services, human actions are also at the root of current unprecedented biodiversity declines. Comprehensive methods to assess the dynamics and state of biodiversity are therefore increasingly urgent. This thesis studies the overlooked capabilities of current satellite observations to conduct large-scale monitoring of plant functional diversity, with a focus on the European Space Agency’s flagship Sentinel-2 satellite. Specifically, it addresses the use of spectral diversity metrics, radiative transfer model inversion, the need for adequate in-situ validation, and the role of spatial scale in our perception and estimation of satellite-derived plant functional diversity patterns. Show less
The research focused on two main objectives: (1) understanding the processes behind the spatial and temporal patterns of plant diversity on ditch banks; (2) identifying options for the conservation... Show moreThe research focused on two main objectives: (1) understanding the processes behind the spatial and temporal patterns of plant diversity on ditch banks; (2) identifying options for the conservation and restoration of plant species diversity on ditch banks. The spatial and temporal variation of plant diversity have been explained primarily on the basis of dispersal processes, which imply that conservation management should focus on facilitating dispersal between sites. Nature reserves can act as a source of seeds for the surrounding areas, the presence of nature reserves, therefore, should be given greater consideration in management policies. In view of the large areas of agricultural lands in the Netherlands, these areas can contribute considerably to the country’s overall plant diversity. Agri-environmental schemes (AES) should therefore consider large-scale contributions to diversity instead of focus entirely on the farm scales. We suggest that farmers implementing AES would be more successful if they selected ditch banks adjacent to those where a similar management regime is already in force. Show less
Ben En National Park is one of the 30 National Parks in Vietnam. In this study its botanical wealth has been comprehensively inventoried as well as the very important roles that plants play in the... Show moreBen En National Park is one of the 30 National Parks in Vietnam. In this study its botanical wealth has been comprehensively inventoried as well as the very important roles that plants play in the daily life and economy of the people inhabiting the Park. Floristic diversity - In our survey 1389 vascular plant species were recorded, belonging to 650 genera and 173 families. Useful plants - A total of 386 plant species are used by local people for a diversity of end-uses, including health care. No less than 56 species are commercialized and contribute 23% of the average income of individual households. Human impact - Human disturbance had a strong negative impact on forest structure, leading to lowered densities of trees and useful plants, even though species diversity was not greatly altered. Conclusion - Despite the fact that many forest areas in the Park have been and still are disturbed by local people, the plant diversity is very high and worth conserving. Recommendations are made for greater sustainability of local plant use and for restoration of heavily disturbed parts of the Park. Show less
