The bouquets of ecosystem services rendered by permanent hay meadows

Abstract

Permanent grasslands produce high-quality forage and host very diverse plant communities. They also play a key role in carbon storage. However, we still understand little about how pedoclimatic conditions and plant community management or functioning help generate ecosystem services. This study analysed 32 grasslands in Normandy, Lorraine, and Auvergne that offer different ecosystem services. Certain grasslands had high values for service indicators. However, no synergies among services were observed, which suggests that determinant factors were different. A functional traits approach showed that plant community functioning directly affected forage quality. Plant diversity was tied to agricultural management and is also likely related to grassland history and landscape structure. Carbon storage levels were related to the clay content of soils