Foraging ecology and reproductive biology of the Stonechat Saxicola torquata: comparison between a revitalized, intensively cultivated and a historical, traditionally cultivated agro-ecosystem

Revaz, Emmanuel; Schaub, Michael; Arlettaz, Raphaël

doi:10.1007/s10336-007-0269-3

Cited by 15 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 40 publications

(39 reference statements)

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“…These ECAs have been shown to enhance ''beneficial'' organisms (e.g. Revaz et al 2008) and also the abundance of agricultural pests such as voles (Microtus spp. ;Tattersall et al 1997Tattersall et al , 2000Briner et al 2005;Aschwanden et al 2007).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Wildflower areas within revitalized agricultural matrices boost small mammal populations but not breeding Barn Owls

et al. 2010

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Agro-ecosystems have recently experienced dramatic losses of biodiversity due to more intensive production methods. In order to increase species diversity, agri-environment schemes provide subsidies to farmers who devote a fraction of their land to ecological compensation areas (ECAs). Several studies have shown that invertebrate biodiversity is actually higher in ECAs than in nearby intensively cultivated farmland. It remains poorly understood, however, to what extent ECAs also favour vertebrates, such as small mammals and their predators, which would contribute to restoring functional food chains within revitalised agricultural matrices. We studied small mammal populations among eight habitat types-including wildflower areas, a specific ECA in Switzerland-and habitat selection (radiotracking) by the Barn Owl Tyto alba, one of their principal predators. Our prediction was that habitats with higher abundances of small mammals would be more visited by foraging Barn Owls during the period of chicks' provisioning. Small mammal abundance tended to be higher in wildflower areas than in any other habitat type. Barn Owls, however, preferred to forage in cereal fields and grassland. They avoided all types of crops other than cereals, as well as wildflower areas, which suggests that they do not select their hunting habitat primarily with respect to prey density. Instead of prey abundance, prey accessibility may play a more crucial role: wildflower areas have a dense vegetation cover, which may impede access to prey for foraging owls. The exploitation of wildflower areas by the owls might be enhanced by creating open foraging corridors within or around wildflower areas. Wildflower areas managed in that way might contribute to restore functional links in food webs within agro-ecosystems.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Wildflower areas within revitalized agricultural matrices boost small mammal populations but not breeding Barn Owls

et al. 2010

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“…), and body condition and the number of initiated broods (Revaz et al . ) were higher, and territories more stable (Studer ), in areas with field margins compared with intensive farmland. However, the positive effect of field margins is not consistent within Switzerland (Birrer et al .…”

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confidence: 96%

The optimal age of sown field margins for breeding farmland birds

Zollinger¹,

Birrer

Zbinden

et al. 2013

Ibis

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The Europe‐wide decline in the populations and diversity of farmland birds has not been stopped despite dedicated conservation efforts such as agri‐environment schemes (AES). The main reason for the lack of success of AES is considered to be their low ecological quality and insufficient area. Understanding the effects of different management strategies on the ecological quality of AES is therefore important. Here, we investigate the relationship between breeding bird density and species richness and the age of sown field margins, a widely used type of AES, in southwestern Switzerland. Territories of breeding birds were mapped on 67 field margins between 2004 and 2011. Territory densities (for eight species) and species richness were analysed in relation to age of the field margin. A general negative correlation between size of the field margin and territory density indicated that territory density was higher when the birds could forage in adjacent cultivated land. Territory densities and species richness increased up to an age of 4–6 years after sowing, depending on the species, and declined thereafter. The results suggest that the co‐occurrence of newly sown margins and margins over 3 years old will have a positive effect on breeding bird densities and species diversity.

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“…For these reasons birds are often chosen as indicators of habitat quality (e.g. Revaz et al 2008;Douglas et al 2009). But only recently, the response and redundancy of bird functional traits to environmental changes is receiving attention as a way to generalize patterns in biodiversity response across regions (e.g.…”

Section: Bird As Indicatorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Functional traits as indicators of biodiversity response to land use changes across ecosystems and organisms

Vandewalle

Bello

Berg³

et al. 2010

Biodivers Conserv

414

345

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Rigorous and widely applicable indicators of biodiversity are needed to monitor the responses of ecosystems to global change and design effective conservation schemes. Among the potential indicators of biodiversity, those based on the functional traits of species and communities are interesting because they can be generalized to similar habitats and can be assessed by relatively rapid field assessment across eco-regions. Functional traits, however, have as yet been rarely considered in current common monitoring schemes. Moreover, standardized procedures of trait measurement and analyses 123Biodivers Conserv (2010) 19:2921-2947 DOI 10.1007 have almost exclusively been developed for plants but different approaches have been used for different groups of organisms. Here we review approaches using functional traits as biodiversity indicators focussing not on plants as usual but particularly on animal groups that are commonly considered in different biodiversity monitoring schemes (benthic invertebrates, collembolans, above ground insects and birds). Further, we introduce a new framework based on functional traits indices and illustrate it using case studies where the traits of these organisms can help monitoring the response of biodiversity to different land use change drivers. We propose and test standard procedures to integrate different components of functional traits into biodiversity monitoring schemes across trophic levels and disciplines. We suggest that the development of indicators using functional traits could complement, rather than replace, the existent biodiversity monitoring. In this way, the comparison of the effect of land use changes on biodiversity is facilitated and is expected to positively influence conservation management practices.

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Foraging ecology and reproductive biology of the Stonechat Saxicola torquata: comparison between a revitalized, intensively cultivated and a historical, traditionally cultivated agro-ecosystem

Cited by 15 publications

References 40 publications

Wildflower areas within revitalized agricultural matrices boost small mammal populations but not breeding Barn Owls

Wildflower areas within revitalized agricultural matrices boost small mammal populations but not breeding Barn Owls

The optimal age of sown field margins for breeding farmland birds

Functional traits as indicators of biodiversity response to land use changes across ecosystems and organisms

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