Ancient mounds are modern refuges of rare weeds

Rare weeds are disturbance-tolerant plants that enhance agrobiodiversity and related ecosystem services without adversely affecting agricultural production. Researchers from the HUN-REN Centre for Ecological Research, the Eötvös Loránd University, the University of Szeged and the Hortobágy National Park Directorate explored the potential of out-of-production sites for maintaining populations of rare weeds characteristic of arable lands, old-fields, and grasslands. Their scientific article, published in the D1-ranked journal "Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment", summarized the results from their intensive filed survey of 200+ ancient mounds (kurgans) in Hungary. They recorded 38 rare weed species, including 15 red-listed and two protected ones. Led by Balázs Deák and co-authored by Ákos Bede-Fazekas, assistant professor of our department, they identified site- and landscape-specific factors influencing the occurrence and richness of rare weed species. The researchers concluded that out-of-production sites can provide refuge for rare weeds. Land sparing through the maintenance of out-of-production sites can contribute to the conservation of rare weeds in agricultural landscapes.