Inner borders – field boundaries around habitat islands on arable fields in comparison to outer field borders

Abstract: We investigated plants at field boundaries around kettle holes, a characteristic habitat island in NE Germany. The survey considered vegetation on the arable field and outside in the permanent vegetation. Plant species composition and diversity of inner boundaries were compared to outer boundaries of arable fields. Field boundaries around kettle holes differed significantly from outer field borders. This was the case for diversity and composition, on field and also in the permanent vegetation.