Assessing the effect of agricultural land abandonment on bird communities in southern-eastern Europe

Zakkak, Sylvia; Radović, Andreja; Nikolov, Stoyan C.; Shumka, Spase; Kakalis, Lefteris; Kati, Vassiliki

doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2015.09.005

Cited by 48 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 52 publications

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“…Our study does not add support for such “rewilding” strategies, since forest encroachment did not seem to favour either enhanced species richness or vertical heterogeneity in woody plant communities in the Balkans. Although a more prolonged time scale since abandonment would be needed to reach safer conclusions, we showed a pattern of increased woody species richness in the intermediate forest encroachment levels, in line with that of the passerine bird community for the sites studied (Zakkak et al., ). We argue, therefore, that conservation management in former cultivated lands should aim at the preservation of semi‐open mosaic habitats at the intermediate forest encroachment stages.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 81%

“…Farina, 1997;Jaggi & Baur, 1999;Martin & Lopez, 2002;Moreira & Russo, 2007;Newton, 1979;Regos et al, 2016;Sirami et al, 2008). This negative impact has been also documented specifically for the Balkan area for several invertebrate and vertebrate species of open and ecotone habitats (Kati et al 2007;Zografou et al, 2009;Plexida, Sfougaris & Papadopoulos, 2012;Zakkak, Chatzaki et al, 2014;Zakkak et al, 2015). In this aspect, livestock grazing of moderate intensity has been suggested as an intermediate disturbance factor that can slow forest encroachment and maintain habitat heterogeneity (Casasus et al, 2007;Lempesi et al, 2017).…”

Section: Implications For Biodiversity Conservationmentioning

confidence: 89%

“…This process is known to favour both generalist and forest specialist plant and animal species (e.g. Otto, Krusi, Burga, & Fernandez-Palacios, 2006;Regos et al, 2016;Zakkak et al, 2015). This rewilding process could be, therefore, a nature conservation strategy in former cultivated land (Corlett, 2016).…”

Section: Implications For Biodiversity Conservationmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Vegetation patterns along agricultural land abandonment in the Balkans

Zakkak

Radović

Panitsa

et al. 2018

J Vegetation Science

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Question What are the woody vegetation encroachment patterns after agricultural land abandonment? Focusing on two parameters, woody plant species richness and vertical vegetation heterogeneity (number of different vegetation strata and their relative cover) we investigated: (a) the effect of forest encroachment following land abandonment; (b) the comparative importance of forest encroachment vis‐a‐vis topographic and climatic parameters, and finally; (c) the ecological importance of eight land‐cover types encountered in abandoned agricultural landscapes. Location The Balkan Peninsula (Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece). Methods We set up a standard methodology for 1 × 1 km site selection (70 sites) and data collection within 497 plots, along a well‐defined forest encroachment gradient that reflects land abandonment in terms of woody vegetation cover. Results The pattern that emerged was neither clear nor common for the Balkan region, regarding the effect of forest encroachment on the woody plant species richness in young forests, formed from 20 to 50 years after land abandonment. However, at national level, species diversity was significantly affected by elevation (Bulgaria and Croatia) and temperature (Croatia), with lower and cooler areas being richer. Elevation was of great importance in determining vertical vegetation heterogeneity. Woodlots, broad‐leaved forests, hedges and shrublands held the highest woody species richness in comparison to the more open land‐cover types, and vertical vegetation heterogeneity was higher in open forests and woodlots. Conclusions We expect the expansion of broad‐leaved forests following land abandonment to enhance woody species richness. However, other land‐cover types that were found to be important for woody plants should be maintained. As woody plants play a key role in supporting overall biodiversity, by providing suitable habitat for many species, we consider the preservation of a mosaic of patches of different land‐cover types essential for the conservation of both plant and animal species diversity. Young forests should be preserved at intermediate stages of succession, through intermediate disturbance activities, including medium intensity grazing and the enhancement of wild ungulates.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 81%

Section: Implications For Biodiversity Conservationmentioning

confidence: 89%

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Vegetation patterns along agricultural land abandonment in the Balkans

Zakkak

Radović

Panitsa

et al. 2018

J Vegetation Science

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“…In most landscapes, the impacts of rewilding on biodiversity will be mixed, with both winners and losers. In regions, such as the humid tropics, where most native species are unable to use anthropogenic habitats, the winners are expected to predominate, but in Europe, where many species are adapted to open or semi-open habitats, losers often outnumber winners, at least locally [38,39]. The recolonization or reintroduction of large herbivores may help to maintain some open habitats and prescribed burning may be useful in some landscapes [40].…”

Section: Benefits Of Rewildingmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Role of Rewilding in Landscape Design for Conservation

Corlett

2016

Curr Landscape Ecol Rep

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Rewilding means returning a non-wild area back to the wild. It implies a reduction or cessation of human control in favour of allowing nature to take care of itself. The concept originated in North America, where it was initially focused on reconnecting existing wilderness areas and re-establishing populations of large carnivores and other large vertebrates. The modern literature is dominated by European studies, however, in which rewilding is seen as a management option for the increasing areas of abandoned agricultural land. Although modern rewilding looks forward to a future wildness that is not necessarily the same as the past, evidence from past ecosystems gives inspiration and support for a hands-off approach. Late Pleistocene ecosystems provide a major challenge since they show the irreplaceable roles of the now largely extinct megafauna. Large-scale rewilding will benefit some charismatic large vertebrates, but probably at the expense of many disturbance-dependent species, with the overall impact likely to differ in different regions. Other potential problems include the loss of valued biocultural landscapes and an increase in human-wildlife conflicts. Benefits may include increased recreational opportunities, enhanced ecosystem services, and greater resilience, as well as less quantifiable social benefits and spiritual values. Rewilding science needs to catch up with rewilding practice, and there is an urgent need for replicated, large-scale, long-term experiments.

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“…Hitherto, all dietary studies of nestling Whinchats were restricted to different grassland types (reviews in Bastian and Bastian 1996;Suter 1988;Britschgi et al 2006), with hardly any detailed dietary data for Whinchats (and other bird species) breeding in abandoned farmland. Importantly, however, owing to the progressive increase in the acreage of abandoned farmland in some temperate areas of the northern hemisphere (Kamp et al 2015), such knowledge is essential in order to diagnose the biodiversity and viability of bird populations in this habitat (Kamp et al 2015;Tryjanowski et al 2009;Sanderson et al 2013;Plieninger et al 2014;Zakkak et al 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%