Do field margin characteristics influence songbird nest‐site selection in adjacent hedgerows?

Holt, Chas A.; Atkinson, Philip W.; Vickery, Juliet A.; Fuller, Robert

doi:10.1080/00063651003674938

Cited by 4 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…The optimal age and size of the field margin are reported to affect the richness and breeding densities of bird species where species richness and territory density increased up to the age of 4–6 years of the field margin, thereafter it started to decline (Zollinger et al, 2013). The type of field margin vegetation and their characteristics is another potential factor that may influence bird species (Holt et al, 2010; Lemmers, Davidson & Butler, 2014; Zuria & Gates, 2013). Comparison of three types of field margin vegetation classified according to the volume of tall vegetation showed that a tree lined margin supported the highest abundance and diversity of bird species, followed by shrubs and lastly by open (herbaceous margin) habitats (Wuczyński et al, 2011).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multiple ecosystem services from field margin vegetation for ecological sustainability in agriculture: scientific evidence and knowledge gaps

Mkenda

Ndakidemi

Mbega

et al. 2019

PeerJ

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BackgroundField margin and non-crop vegetation in agricultural systems are potential ecosystem services providers because they offer semi-natural habitats for both below and above ground animal groups such as soil organisms, small mammals, birds and arthropods that are service supplying units. They are considered as a target area for enhancing farm biodiversity.MethodologyTo explore the multiple potential benefits of these semi-natural habitats and to identify research trends and knowledge gaps globally, a review was carried out following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. A total of 235 publications from the year 2000 to 2016 in the Scopus and Web of Science databases were reviewed.ResultsThe literature showed an increasing trend in the number of published articles over time with European studies leading in the proportion of studies conducted, followed by North America, Asia, South America, Africa and Australia. Several functional groups of organisms were studied from field margin and non-crop vegetation around agricultural lands including natural enemies (37%), insect pests (22%), birds (17%), pollinators (16%), soil macro fauna (4%) and small mammals (4%). Ecosystem services derived from the field margin included natural pest regulation, pollination, nutrient cycling and reduced offsite erosion. Some field margin plants were reported to host detrimental crop pests, a major ecosystem dis-service, potentially leading to increased pest infestation in the field.ConclusionThe majority of studies revealed the importance of field margin and non-crop vegetation around arable fields in enhancing ecosystem biodiversity. Promotion of field margin plants that selectively enhance the population of beneficial organisms would support sustainable food security rather than simply boosting plant diversity. Our analyses also highlight that agro-ecological studies remain largely overlooked in some regions.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multiple ecosystem services from field margin vegetation for ecological sustainability in agriculture: scientific evidence and knowledge gaps

Mkenda

Ndakidemi

Mbega

et al. 2019

PeerJ

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“…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%

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

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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.

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“…The optimal age and size of the field margin are reported to affect the richness and breeding densities of bird species where species richness and territory density increased up to the age of 4 to 6 years of the field margin, thereafter it started to decline (Zollinger et al, 2013). The type of field margin vegetation and their characteristics is another potential factor that may influence bird species (Holt et al, 2010;Lemmers, Davidson & Butler, 2014;Zuria & Gates, 2013). Comparison of three types of field margin vegetation classified according to the volume of tall vegetation showed that a tree lined margin supported the highest abundance and diversity of bird species, followed by shrubs and lastly by open (herbaceous margin) habitats (Wuczyński et al, 2011).…”

Section: Increased Survival Of Bird Speciesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Peer Review #2 of "Multiple ecosystem services from field margin vegetation for ecological sustainability in agriculture: scientific evidence and knowledge gaps (v0.1)"

2019

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Background. Field margin and non-crop vegetation in agricultural systems are potential ecosystem services providers because they offer semi-natural habitats for both below and above ground animal groups such as soil organisms, small mammals, birds and arthropods that are service supplying units. They are considered as a target area for enhancing farm biodiversity. Methodology. To explore the multiple potential benefits of these semi-natural habitats and to identify research trends and knowledge gaps in the world, a review was carried out following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. A total of 235 publications from the year 2000 to 2016 in the Scopus and Web of Science databases were reviewed. Results. The literature showed an increasing trend in the number of published articles over time with European studies leading in the proportion of studies conducted, followed by North America, Asia, South America, Africa and Australia. Several functional groups of organisms were studied from field margin and non-crop vegetation around agricultural lands including natural enemies (37%), insect pests (22%), birds (17%), pollinators (16%), soil macro fauna (4%) and small mammals (4%). Ecosystem services derived from the field margin included natural pest regulation, pollination, nutrient cycling and reduced offsite erosion. Some field margin plants were reported to host detrimental crop pests, a major ecosystem disservice, potentially leading to increased pest infestation in the field. Conclusion. The majority of studies revealed the importance of field margin and non-crop vegetation around arable fields in enhancing ecosystem biodiversity. Promotion of field margin plants that selectively enhance the population of beneficial organisms would support sustainable food security rather than simply boosting plant diversity. Our analyses also highlight that agro-ecological studies remain largely overlooked in some regions.

show abstract

Do field margin characteristics influence songbird nest‐site selection in adjacent hedgerows?

Cited by 4 publications

References 18 publications

Multiple ecosystem services from field margin vegetation for ecological sustainability in agriculture: scientific evidence and knowledge gaps

Multiple ecosystem services from field margin vegetation for ecological sustainability in agriculture: scientific evidence and knowledge gaps

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

Peer Review #2 of "Multiple ecosystem services from field margin vegetation for ecological sustainability in agriculture: scientific evidence and knowledge gaps (v0.1)"

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