Collapse of farmland bird populations in an Eastern European country following its EU accession

Reif, Jiří; Vermouzek, Zdeněk

doi:10.1111/conl.12585

Cited by 94 publications

(70 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…However, the absence of a strong spatial pattern might be linked to the changes in farmland management in Eastern Europe after many countries' accession of the EU Common Agricultural Policy in 2004 and 2007 resulting in agricultural intensification (Pe'er et al, ). Once abundant populations of open‐habitat species start to decline in Eastern Europe (Reif & Vermouzek, ), whereas the decline of Western European population can be already levelled out in the time period covered by the trend data used in our analysis (Inger et al, ). In turn, these processes can produce similarities in population trends of farmland bird species across Europe at the time scale we focused on.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial gradients in country‐level population trends of European birds

Hanzelka

Horká

Reif

2019

Diversity and Distributions

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Aim: Population trends reflect influence of environmental drivers acting upon species' population dynamics. As the strength of this influence may change predictably in space, we test multiple hypotheses about spatial gradients in the effects of environmental drivers on bird population trends across the continent. Location: Europe.Methods: We used country-level population trends for 249 bird species in 32European countries. For each species, we expressed values of 12 traits which mirror the influence of major environmental drivers: climate change, land-use change and change in environmental legislation. We related these traits to population trends using generalized additive mixed models and tested for the presence of spatial gradients by including the interaction of countries' geographic position with four of these traits for which we hypothesized spatial patterns in relationships to trends. Results: Species listed for the longest time under Annex I of the EU's Birds Directive had increasingly positive trends towards the north-west, but an indication of the opposite pattern was found for shorter-listed species. Cold-adapted species had increasingly negative trends towards the North and especially the north-west, whereas the trends of the warm-adapted species were generally positive and increased in northern direction. Spatial gradients in trends were weaker for the habitat niche position with forest species having positive trends in North-Eastern Europe and openhabitat species having negative trends in the Westernmost edge of the continent.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial gradients in country‐level population trends of European birds

Hanzelka

Horká

Reif

2019

Diversity and Distributions

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“…For example, mowing and grazing may be critical for maintaining open landscapes and preventing secondary succession in abandoned grasslands (Baldi, Batary, & Erdos, ). While our findings are therefore likely to be most relevant in the largely intensive agricultural landscapes of Western Europe, our assessment of the effectiveness of policy and management measures can also likely be extrapolated to areas of Central and Eastern Europe experiencing farmland bird declines as a consequence of agricultural intensification (e.g., Reif & Vermouzek, ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluating the effectiveness of conservation measures for European grassland‐breeding waders

Franks

Roodbergen

Teunissen

et al. 2018

Ecology and Evolution

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Farmland birds are among the most threatened bird species in Europe, largely as a result of agricultural intensification which has driven widespread biodiversity losses. Breeding waders associated with grassland and arable habitats are particularly vulnerable and a frequent focus of agri‐environment schemes (AES) designed to halt and reverse population declines. We review existing literature, providing a quantitative assessment of the effectiveness of policy and management interventions used throughout Europe to improve population and demographic metrics of grassland‐breeding waders. Targeted AES and site protection measures were more likely to be effective than less targeted AES and were ten times more likely to be effective than would be expected by chance, particularly for population trend and productivity metrics. Positive effects of AES and site protection did not appear synergistic. Management interventions which had the greatest chance of increasing population growth or productivity included modification of mowing regimes, increasing wet conditions, and the use of nest protection. Success rates varied according to the species and metric being evaluated. None of the policy or management interventions we evaluated were associated with a significant risk of negative impacts on breeding waders. Our findings support the use of agri‐environment schemes, site protection, and management measures for grassland‐breeding wader conservation in Europe. Due to publication bias, our findings are most applicable to intensively managed agricultural landscapes. More studies are needed to identify measures that increase chick survival. Despite broadly effective conservation measures already in use, grassland‐breeding waders in Europe continue to decline. More research is needed to improve the likelihood and magnitude of positive outcomes, coupled with wider implementation of effective measures to substantially increase favorable land management for these species.

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“…Indeed, the pattern of urbanisation is currently changing in Dorset and elsewhere in England as house building is expanding into more rural areas (Campaign to Protect Rural England 2018). Agriculture could continue its gradual expansion under policies aimed at increasing food production (Reif and Vermouzek 2019) or under new post-Brexit agricultural policies. Conversely policies for a more sustainable future might facilitate expansion and restoration of seminatural habitats, as promised under the UK Government's 25 Year Environment Plan (Isaac et al 2018) and more widely for the UN's Sustainable Development Goals.…”

Section: Timing Of Habitat Conversionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ongoing, but slowing, habitat loss in a rural landscape over 85 years

et al. 2019

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Context Studies evaluating biodiversity loss and altered ecosystem services have tended to examine changes over the last few decades, despite the fact that land use change and its negative impacts have been occurring over a much longer period. Examining past land use change, particularly over the long-term and multiple time periods, is essential for understanding how rates and drivers of change have varied historically. Objectives To quantify and assess patterns of change in semi-natural habitats across a rural landscape at five time points between 1930 and 2015. Methods We determined the habitat cover at over 3700 sites across the county of Dorset, southern England in 1930, 1950, 1980, 1990 and 2015, using historical vegetation surveys, re-surveys, historical maps and other contemporary spatial data. Results Considerable declines in semi-natural habitats occurred across the Dorset landscape between 1930 and 2015. This trend was non-linear for the majority of semi-natural habitats, with the greatest losses occurring between 1950 and 1980. This period coincides with the largest gains to arable and improved grassland, reflecting agricultural expansion after the Second World War. Although the loss of semi-natural habitats declined after this period, largely because there were very few sites left to convert, there were still a number of habitats lost within the last 25 years. Conclusions The findings illustrate a long history of habitat loss in the UK, and are important for planning landscape management and ameliorative actions, such as restoration. Our analysis also highlights the role of statutory protection in retaining semi-natural habitats, suggesting the need for continued protection of important habitats.

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Collapse of farmland bird populations in an Eastern European country following its EU accession

Cited by 94 publications

References 31 publications

Spatial gradients in country‐level population trends of European birds

Spatial gradients in country‐level population trends of European birds

Evaluating the effectiveness of conservation measures for European grassland‐breeding waders

Ongoing, but slowing, habitat loss in a rural landscape over 85 years

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