A regional-scale study of associations between farmland birds and linear woody networks of hedgerows and trees

Broughton, Richard K.; Chetcuti, Jordan; Burgess, Malcolm D.; Pywell, R. F.

doi:10.1016/j.agee.2021.107300

Cited by 13 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 65 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

Section: Whi Ch Veg E Tati On S Truc Ture Variab Le S S Hould B E Pro...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Therefore, the proposed ranges may not be the best in certain situations, and the use of more detailed stratification of vegetation architecture may be helpful. For example, this could be the case when characterizing the structure of linear woody features such as hedgerows (Broughton et al, 2021), or vegetation density in urban parks (Choi et al, 2021). We therefore recommend that users are also provided with height percentiles and density proportions, which describe vertical vegetation structure in more detail (Table 2).…”

Section: Which Vegetation Structure Variables Should Be Provided As S...mentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Vegetation structure derived from airborne laser scanning to assess species distribution and habitat suitability: The way forward

Moudrý

Cord

Gábor

et al. 2022

Diversity and Distributions

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Ecosystem structure, especially vertical vegetation structure, is one of the six essential biodiversity variable classes and is an important aspect of habitat heterogeneity, affecting species distributions and diversity by providing shelter, foraging, and nesting sites. Point clouds from airborne laser scanning (ALS) can be used to derive such detailed information on vegetation structure. However, public agencies usually only provide digital elevation models, which do not provide information on vertical vegetation structure.Calculating vertical structure variables from ALS point clouds requires extensive data processing and remote sensing skills that most ecologists do not have. However, such information on vegetation structure is extremely valuable for many analyses of habitat use and species distribution. We here propose 10 variables that should be easily accessible to researchers and stakeholders through national data portals. In addition, we argue for a consistent selection of variables and their systematic testing, which would allow for continuous improvement of such a list to keep it up-to-date with the latest evidence. This initiative is particularly needed not only to advance ecological and biodiversity research by providing valuable open datasets but also to guide potential users in the face of increasing availability of global vegetation structure products.

show abstract

Section: Whi Ch Veg E Tati On S Truc Ture Variab Le S S Hould B E Pro...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Which Vegetation Structure Variables Should Be Provided As S...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Vegetation structure derived from airborne laser scanning to assess species distribution and habitat suitability: The way forward

Moudrý

Cord

Gábor

et al. 2022

Diversity and Distributions

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Several studies found not only intrinsic factors of the hedges to be important for presence and abundance of breeding birds, but also spatial factors, such as presence in the vicinity of different crops, herb rich field margins, other hedges and wooded area (Green et al 1994, Parish et al 1994, MacDonald & Johnson 1995, Hinsley & Bellamy 2000, Stoate & Boatman 2002, Nemethova & Tirinda 2005, Vickery et al 2009, Whittingham et al 2009, Batary et al 2010, Holt et al 2010, Kujawa et al 2019, Broughton et al 2021. In our study four of the five key factors (shrub cover, cover of brambles and nettles, crown width and hedge width at the base) appeared to be intrinsic and one factor spatial (number of corners within 150-m radius).…”

Section: Relative Importance Of Intrinsic and Spatial Factorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…An explanation of the absence of the effect of hedge density in the vicinity of the transects may be that the landscape in both regions is quite homogenous, so hedge density does not differentiate between transects. Absence of effects of adjacent land use and herb rich field margins are surprising because these effects are often found (review in Hinsley & Bellamy 2000) or sometimes even dominant, for example effects of land cover in Southwest England (Broughton et al 2021)…”

Section: Relative Importance Of Intrinsic and Spatial Factorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Key Habitat Factors of Breeding Birds in Agricultural Hedgerow Landscapes in East-Fryslân, the Netherlands, in European Perspective – Ecological Evaluation and Relation to Agri-Environmental Schemes

Oosterveld¹,

Klop²,

Zee³

2022

Ardea

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Modern agricultural landscapes suffer heavily from biodiversity loss. To counter this loss, it is important to understand the key factors that affect biodiversity in these landscapes. We studied the relationships between breeding birds and the habitat characteristics of the small-scale hedgerow landscapes of East-Fryslân, The Netherlands, a typical agricultural landscape that is under pressure from upscaling and habitat degradation. We questioned whether our findings collaborate the results of hedgerow studies from other countries. We also analysed whether agri-environmental schemes were effective for breeding birds. In this study, breeding birds and fifteen habitat factors were surveyed along 170 transects in two different regions in East-Fryslân in 2018. 37 bird species were identified, of which 19 were woodland species, 18 shrub species and 7 hedgerow specialists. We found five habitat characteristics to be key factors for breeding bird numbers. Four of these factors were intrinsic factors of the hedges (i.e. shrub cover, cover of brambles and nettles, crown width, hedge width at the base) and one spatial factor (i.e. number of hedge corners within a 150-m radius, corresponding to hedge intersections). Four key factors were the same for the two regions, but effect sizes differed between factors and species groups. As proxies for habitat volume (amount of habitat), the intrinsic key factors for hedgerow breeding birds in East-Fryslân correspond to those found in Britain and Eastern Europe, despite considerable differences in botanical composition, structure and management of the hedges. In contrast to studies on British hedges, we found mainly quantitative key factors and only one qualitative factor (cover of brambles and nettles). We found one spatial key factor (hedge intersections) and no correlation of bird numbers with density of hedges in the vicinity. We discuss the ecology of the key factors with respect to food provisioning and breeding. We also conclude that agri-environmental schemes favour key habitat factors and through this shrub birds. Implications of our findings are that traditional management favours breeding birds, but also that management should partly be extensified.

show abstract

“…Cereal seeds would rather show a higher potential to positively impact rural bird diversity in the studied landscape, while the structural characteristics in clover habitats might also favor birds' presence, but these are objectives of future study in a more systems' thinking approach, beyond single-farm scales [21]. [66] underlined the importance of features like hedgerows in diversifying habitats associated with many farmland bird benefits. [67] proposed that the best option for birds in winter are the seed-rich habitats while in the summer structurally and floristically rich habitats.…”

Section: Agricultural Habitats With a Topsoil Seed Bank Serving As Food Source To Farmland Birdsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Topsoil Seed Bank as Feeding Ground for Farmland Birds: A Comparative Assessment in Agricultural Habitats

Voudouri

Chaideftou

Sfougaris

2021

Land

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The topsoil seed bank was studied in four types of agricultural bird habitats: fields with cereals, maize, clover and tilled fields of a Mediterranean plain to determine the potentially richest habitat based on food supply for the wintering farmland birds. The diversity and abundance of topsoil seeds differed between seasons but did not differ significantly between habitats. The cereal habitat was the richest in food supply for the overwintering of farmland birds. The topsoil seed bank was dominated by Chenopodium album, Polygonum aviculare and Amaranthus retroflexus. The findings of this study provide insight for low-intensity management of higher-elevation mount agricultural areas of southern Mediterranean by preserving seed-rich habitats for farmland avifauna.

show abstract

A regional-scale study of associations between farmland birds and linear woody networks of hedgerows and trees

Cited by 13 publications

References 65 publications

Vegetation structure derived from airborne laser scanning to assess species distribution and habitat suitability: The way forward

Vegetation structure derived from airborne laser scanning to assess species distribution and habitat suitability: The way forward

Key Habitat Factors of Breeding Birds in Agricultural Hedgerow Landscapes in East-Fryslân, the Netherlands, in European Perspective – Ecological Evaluation and Relation to Agri-Environmental Schemes

Topsoil Seed Bank as Feeding Ground for Farmland Birds: A Comparative Assessment in Agricultural Habitats

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About