Coarse and fine scale habitat associations of breeding Skylarks<i>Alauda arvensis</i>in the UK

Chamberlain, D.; Gregory, Richard D.

doi:10.1080/00063659909461113

Cited by 51 publications

(55 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…Certain habitats can be singled out as especially significant at a national scale. The uplands hold > 30% of the British breeding population of Skylarks (Chamberlain & Gregory 1999, Browne et al . 2000) with the highest densities on semi‐natural grass (Brown & Stillman 1993, Chamberlain & Gregory 1999).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The relevance of non‐farmland habitats, uncropped areas and habitat diversity to the conservation of farmland birds

Fuller

Hinsley

Swetnam

2004

Ibis

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Use of non-farmland habitats by species generally perceived as 'farmland birds' is common, yet these habitats are not always considered in conservation strategies aimed at population recovery. At the national scale, many farmland species occur in landscapes not dominated by farmland. An analysis of distribution atlas data coupled with remotely sensed habitat data showed that for 16 out of 28 farmland species, less than half of the breeding range was associated with high cover of lowland farmland. However, with a few exceptions, populations breeding in non-farmland habitats are likely to depend on farmland at some time in the year. Within farmland landscapes, uncropped areas and patches of non-farmland habitat can provide nesting, foraging or roosting resources. Habitats that are scarce on farmland and that provide potential supplementary or complementary resources to those available within the productive areas of farmland include ruderal vegetation, rough grassland and scrub. Enhancing habitat diversity through provision of modest quantities of these habitats will benefit farmland birds. Complete knowledge of year-round habitat requirements and patterns of resource use at all scales is needed if robust national conservation plans are to be developed for farmland species. Similarly, interactions between the farmland and non-farmland sections of populations need to be determined.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The relevance of non‐farmland habitats, uncropped areas and habitat diversity to the conservation of farmland birds

Fuller

Hinsley

Swetnam

2004

Ibis

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“…Habitat associations of skylarks have previously been described at national (Chamberlain & Gregory 1999) and local (Schläpfer 1988; Jenny 1990; Wilson et al . 1997; Poulsen, Sotherton & Aebischer 1998; Wakeham‐Dawson et al .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 95%

“…1997). Seasonal changes in the height of crops appear to cause shifts in nesting habitat during the course of the breeding season (Schläpfer 1988), and consequently skylarks seem to benefit from a mosaic of different crop types (Jenny 1990; Chamberlain & Gregory 1999). Skylarks will avoid areas with a high density of hedgerows and trees (Wilson et al .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of habitat type and management on the abundance of skylarks in the breeding season

Chamberlain

Wilson

Browne³

et al. 1999

Journal of Applied Ecology

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143

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Summary1. There is increasing evidence to link major declines in skylark populations in Britain to agricultural intensi®cation. However, whether causal mechanisms identi®ed through localized studies can be generalized to the national scale remains unknown. The abundance of breeding skylarks was determined by surveying singing males in over 600 randomly selected 1-km squares throughout Britain, in which skylarks recorded were assigned to homogeneous habitat patches. A more intensive survey of skylarks was carried out on lowland farmland sites in England. Singing males were assigned to speci®c crop types, and data on crop height and ®eld boundary features were recorded. 2. Skylark occupancy (presence/absence) and density where birds were present (i.e. omitting zero counts) were analysed in relation to habitat type, habitat diversity and time of year, using generalized linear modelling. 3. Set-aside, moorland and winter cereals had high rates of skylark occupancy at the national scale. Set-aside had consistently high rates of occupancy and high densities across the breeding season at dierent spatial scales. Apart from set-aside, there was little dierence in density between habitats in the early half (March to mid-May) of the breeding season. In the later half of the breeding season (midMay to July), density declined signi®cantly on winter cereals, which showed signi®-cantly lower density than a number of habitats at this time, including spring cereals, legumes and moorland. 4. Within lowland farmland, there were signi®cant eects of crop height on skylark occupancy, with crops of greater than 30 cm in height being occupied at relatively low rates. Winter cereals reached this height signi®cantly earlier in the breeding season than a number of other crops, including spring cereals and legumes. 5. Skylark density increased with increasing habitat diversity across the whole sample of 1-km squares and in lowland 1-km squares in England. However, within the lowland farmland plots in England, skylark density showed a signi®cant decrease with increasing habitat diversity. These con¯icting results suggest that crop type rather than habitat diversity per se is important. 6. The eects of vegetation height on skylark abundance support the hypothesis that increases in winter cereal, and simultaneous loss of spring cereal, have had an adverse eect on skylark populations by reducing the number of breeding attempts made per year. These results support ®ndings from smaller scale studies showing the generality of these habitat eects at dierent spatial scales. The extent of the British skylark population associated with agricultural land suggests that sympathetic changes in farming practice are likely to provide the best mechanism for improving the status of this species. The inclusion of options, such as spring cereal or fallow land (an equivalent to set-aside), in agri-environment schemes is likely to bene®t skylarks breeding on farmland by providing suitable nesting habitat throughout the breeding season. In addition, reductions in...

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“…Skylark Alauda arvensis -Adverse habitat changes include loss of rough grassland, switch from springsown to autumn-sown cereals (which grow too tall for nesting in spring), and conversion of mixed farms to cereal or intensive grass monocultures (Chamberlain & Gregory 1999); food shortages involve summer insects and winter seeds (Jenny 1990, Odderskaer et al 1997. Breeding densities tend to be higher in permanent grass and set-aside than in autumn-sown or spring-sown cereals (Poulsen et al 1998;WakehamDawson et al 1998, Chamberlain et al 1999a, Eraud & Boutin 2002; crops that do not favour breeding Skylarks, such as autumn-sown cereals and rape, have become increasingly prevalent in recent decades.…”

Section: Greenmentioning

confidence: 99%

The recent declines of farmland bird populations in Britain: an appraisal of causal factors and conservation actions

Newton

2004

Ibis

623

501

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In this paper, the main aspects of agricultural intensification that have led to population declines in farmland birds over the past 50 years are reviewed, together with the current state of knowledge, and the effects of recent conservation actions. For each of 30 declining species, attention is focused on: (1) the external causes of population declines, (2) the demographic mechanisms and (3) experimental tests of proposed external causal factors, together with the outcome of (4) specific conservation measures and (5) agri-environment schemes. Although each species has responded individually to particular aspects of agricultural change, certain groups of species share common causal factors. For example, declines in the population levels of seed-eating birds have been driven primarily by herbicide use and the switch from spring-sown to autumn-sown cereals, both of which have massively reduced the food supplies of these birds. Their population declines have been associated with reduced survival rates and, in some species, also with reduced reproductive rates. In waders of damp grassland, population declines have been driven mainly by land drainage and the associated intensification of grassland management. This has led to reduced reproductive success, as a result of lowered food availability, together with increased disturbance and trampling by farm stock, and in some localities increased nest predation. The external causal factors of population decline are known (with varying degrees of certainty) for all 30 species considered, and the demographic causal factors are known (again with varying degrees of certainty) for 24 such species. In at least 19 species, proposed causal factors have been tested and confirmed by experiment or by local conservation action, and 12 species have been shown to benefit (in terms of locally increased breeding density) from options available in one or more agri-environment schemes. Four aspects of agricultural change have been the main drivers of bird population declines, each affecting a wide range of species, namely: (1) weed-control, mainly through herbicide use; (2) the change from spring-sown to autumn-sown cereal varieties, and the associated earlier ploughing of stubbles and earlier crop growth; (3) land drainage and associated intensification of grassland management; and (4) increased stocking densities, mainly of cattle in the lowlands and sheep in the uplands. These changes have reduced the amounts of habitat and /or food available to many species. Other changes, such as the removal of hedgerows and 'rough patches', have affected smaller numbers of species, as have changes in the timings of cultivations and harvests. Although at least eight species have shown recent increases in their national population levels, many others seem set to continue declining, or to remain at a much reduced level, unless some relevant aspect of agricultural practice is changed.Widespread population declines of farmland birds are of major conservation concern in Britain and other parts of Europe. S...

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Coarse and fine scale habitat associations of breeding SkylarksAlauda arvensisin the UK

Cited by 51 publications

References 19 publications

The relevance of non‐farmland habitats, uncropped areas and habitat diversity to the conservation of farmland birds

The relevance of non‐farmland habitats, uncropped areas and habitat diversity to the conservation of farmland birds

Effects of habitat type and management on the abundance of skylarks in the breeding season

The recent declines of farmland bird populations in Britain: an appraisal of causal factors and conservation actions

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