Effects of management on invertebrates and birds in extensively used grassland of Poland

Hoste-Danyłow, Alexia; Romanowski, Jerzy; Żmihorski, Michał

doi:10.1016/j.agee.2010.07.009

Cited by 48 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…However, the variation in vegetation heights and litter abundance was particularly high in the semi-natural pasture of Ypäjä. The selective pattern of grazing by horses is known to lead to a mosaic structure of pastures due to close grazing on most suitable sites and concomitant avoidance of some other areas by horses creates heterogeneous vegetation [26], which is likely to contribute to high diversity of other taxa, such as invertebrates and birds [78,81]. However, the patterns will only persist if no additional management to prevent structural and compositional diversification is carried out.…”

Section: Impacts On Vegetation Diversity and Composition And Pasturementioning

confidence: 99%

Horse Welfare and Natural Values on Semi-Natural and Extensive Pastures in Finland: Synergies and Trade-Offs

Saastamoinen

Herzon

Särkijärvi

et al. 2017

Land

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Abstract:In several regions in Europe, the horse is becoming a common grazer on semi-natural and cultivated grasslands, though the pasturing benefits for animals and biodiversity alike are not universally appreciated. The composition of ground vegetation on pastures determines the value of both the forage for grazing animals as well as the biodiversity values for species associated with the pastoral ecosystems. We studied three pastures, each representing one of the management types in southern Finland (latitudes 60-61): semi-natural, permanent and cultivated grassland. All have been grazed exclusively by horses for several decades. We aimed to evaluate feeding values and horses' welfare, on the one hand, and impacts of horses on biodiversity in boreal conditions, on the other. Though there were differences among the pastures, the nutritional value of the vegetation in all three pastures met the energy and protein needs of most horse categories through the whole grazing season. Some mineral concentrations were low compared to the requirements, and supplementation of Cu, Zn and Na is needed to balance the mineral intake. Only minor injuries or health problems were observed. All metrics of biological values, as well as number of species eaten by horses, were particularly high in a semi-natural pasture compared to other pasture types. The highest ratio of species cover preferred by horses to the total cover was found in the permanent pasture, while at the regularly re-seeded pasture, there was a particularly high cover of species, indicating low biodiversity values on grassland. There was, therefore, a trade-off between the quantity of forage and biological values in pastures, but not in quality. The results provide clear indication both for the suitability of the studied pasture types to horses and for grazing of horses for biodiversity management. In each pasture type, specific management is needed to simultaneously achieve objectives of adequate pasturing and biodiversity. The short duration (only one grazing season) must be considered when applying the results.

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Section: Impacts On Vegetation Diversity and Composition And Pasturementioning

confidence: 99%

Horse Welfare and Natural Values on Semi-Natural and Extensive Pastures in Finland: Synergies and Trade-Offs

Saastamoinen

Herzon

Särkijärvi

et al. 2017

Land

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“…A high intensity of farming resulted in a strong decrease of the European biodiversity during the last decades (Hoste-Danylow et al 2010). To stop such a trend, the European Community recently implemented agro-environmental programmes.…”

Section: Bioindicators and Nature Conservationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We found a significant decrease in the abundance (-43%) and the species number (-21%) after mowing the grass in July and August. To eliminate this negative influence, mowing the grass in patchy mosaic or at the end of the summer season is suggested (Wettstein & Schmid 1999;Gavlas 2003;Hoste-Danylow et al 2010). While lacking any kind of management, some mowing in a longer period of time (3-5 years) is essential to prevent gradual woody encroachment (Marini et al 2009).…”

Section: Bioindicators and Nature Conservationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Response of Orthoptera assemblages to management of montane grasslands in the Western Carpathians

2011

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Montane grassy habitats in the Western Carpathians are relatively well preserved, maintain high species richness and are often important in accordance to the nature conservation policy in Europe. However, knowledge about the impact of farming on the habitat quality there is rather poor. The influence of various management types (permanent sheep pen, irregular grazing, mowing) on Orthoptera diversity and species determining assemblages of these habitats were analysed on 72 plots in Poľana Mts Biosphere Reserve. Altogether, 36 Orthoptera species (15 Ensifera, 21 Caelifera) were found, whereas the highest number of species was found on plots with irregular grazing (28 species), followed by plots with mown grass (17) and permanent sheep pens (14). All four measures of the assemblages' diversity confirmed significant differences. Using Discriminant Function Analysis, correct classification rate of Orthoptera assemblages was unambiguous according to the type of management. Each form of the management harboured several characteristic species. Thus implications regarding the biodiversity conservation and grassland management were given.

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“…It was shown that the availability of prey for many diurnal and nocturnal birds of prey is high in meadows and pastures relative to fields and fallows (e.g., Aschwanden et al 2005;Mirski 2009). This results from mowing and grazing, i.e., activities reducing the height of vegetation, affecting the foraging of birds on epigeic prey (such as invertebrates and rodents; Sheffield et al 2001;Hoste-Dany low et al 2010). Reduced vegetation cover enables them to achieve high hunting success, leading to the documented preference of many raptors for grassland habitats (Butet & Leroux 2001;Tome & Valkama 2001;Poulin et al 2005;Mirski 2009;Zub et al 2010; this study) despite that absolute abundances of prey may decrease as a result of grazing and mowing (HosteDany low et al 2010;Fabriciusova et al 2011).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These factors may lead to a decline in the abundance of invertebrates and availability of seeds, important diet components of many farmland bird species (Wilson et al 1999;Atkinson et al 2005;Fuller et al 2005). The abandonment of agriculture indirectly leads to the considerable transformation of vegetation cover as a consequence of secondary succession (Baur et al 2006), resulting in a decreased availability of invertebrate prey to avifauna (Hoste-Dany low et al 2010). Moreover, in many European countries, some parts of open habitats, especially less productive ones, have been afforested within the framework of programs to increase forest cover.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental factors affecting the densities of owls in Polish farmland during 1980–2005

2012

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During the last decades, farmland habitats in central European countries have changed significantly, seriously affecting populations of many farmland bird species. We compiled available published data on densities of three owl species, Athene noctua, Asio otus and Strix aluco collected in the Polish farmland. All results of censuses based on the playback method conducted between 1980-2005 were included in the analysis. The proportions of grassland, fields, built-up land and forest at each studied plot were estimated and used as predictors in additive models. Proportions of main land use types, extracted with the principal component analysis, explained much of the variation found in owl densities, although some of the relationships were nonlinear. In general, owl densities were found to be affected positively by a high percentage of grasslands and built-up land, and negatively by the amount of fields and forests. Little owl densities showed a significant negative trend over the study period. It seems that high prey availability is an important factor accounting for the positive relationship between grassland proportion and owl density. The significant decrease in grassland areas and increase in forest coverage that were recently recorded in Poland may thus negatively affect populations of the three owl species studied here.

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Effects of management on invertebrates and birds in extensively used grassland of Poland

Cited by 48 publications

References 21 publications

Horse Welfare and Natural Values on Semi-Natural and Extensive Pastures in Finland: Synergies and Trade-Offs

Horse Welfare and Natural Values on Semi-Natural and Extensive Pastures in Finland: Synergies and Trade-Offs

Response of Orthoptera assemblages to management of montane grasslands in the Western Carpathians

Environmental factors affecting the densities of owls in Polish farmland during 1980–2005

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