GRASSLAND

Our experimental grassland plot, located in the Metropolitan Park of Marisma de los Toruños and Pinar de la Algaida, is a unique example of floodable grassland in the Bay of Cádiz and is therefore of great interest for biodiversity conservation. This plot is also part of a global experimental network (DRAGNet), coordinated by the University of Minnesota, which aims to assess plant community assembly dynamics and recovery capacity in response to two global change drivers: soil disturbance and eutrophication. Physical disturbances are among the most widespread human impacts on Earth. For example, habitat loss through land conversion for agriculture is a major cause of extinction, and biodiversity in grassland systems is particularly affected by land-use change. Although disturbances are an important driver of community dynamics and assembly, they now occur simultaneously with other human impacts, including climate change and nutrient deposition. For more information about DRAGNet and the experimental protocol, its website can be consulted.