High trees increase sunflower seed predation by birds in an agricultural landscape of Israel

Schäckermann, Jessica; Weiss, Noam; Wehrden, Henrik von; Klein, Alexandra‐Maria

doi:10.3389/fevo.2014.00035

Cited by 15 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 47 publications

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“…We did not find a significant influence of natural habitat on granivorous bird abundance but a negative influence of semi‐natural habitat. Semi‐natural habitats in our study region often include high, non‐native trees, which might promote bird of prey abundance as these birds are using high landscape structures for resting and perching (Schäckermann et al ., ). Their presence might have an impact on granivorous bird abundance and foraging behaviour.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…Insect pests, for example, are well known to influence crop production negatively (Eilers & Klein, ; Cini et al ., ; El‐Wakeil & Volkmar, ). Less is known about the dis‐services provided by vertebrates; granivorous birds were found to have severe negative influences on crop production by destroying large amounts of crop seeds in sunflower fields (Schäckermann et al ., ), and birds and rodents are the main almond consumers in orchards in Israel (Schäckermann et al ., ). Vertebrate crop pests may decrease productivity and in the worst case can result in complete crop loss (Zhang et al ., ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Agro‐ecosystem services and dis‐services in almond orchards are differentially influenced by the surrounding landscape

Schäckermann

Pufal

Mandelik

et al. 2015

Ecological Entomology

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Abstract. 1. The simultaneous influence of specific habitats on agro-ecosystem services, dis-services, and their interactions are largely unknown. Natural and semi-natural habitats surrounding cropland may support ecosystem services and dis-services and their net balance is important to guide decision-making in agriculture.2. It was tested how natural and semi-natural habitats surrounding almond orchards in Israel influence: pest control services by parasitoids, pest predation dis-services by the Almond wasp, and seed predation dis-services by granivorous birds. The latter could provide sanitation services when consuming almonds infested by Almond wasps after harvest.3. Seventeen almond orchards were surveyed, surrounded by varying percentages of natural and semi-natural habitats. We harvested almonds to identify Almond wasp infestation and parasitoid abundance, monitored bird-feeding marks, and observed birds.4. Almond wasp predation was positively influenced by semi-natural habitat and highest at orchard edges. Parasitoid abundance was not influenced by natural or semi-natural habitats. Granivorous bird abundance was negatively influenced by semi-natural habitats but did not influence bird seed predation of harvestable or overwintered almonds.5. Natural habitats did not influence the studied ecosystem services or dis-services in almond orchards in Israel. Therefore, protecting natural habitats for conservation is not necessarily disadvantageous for farmers. Semi-natural habitats increased insect pests, but no direct link to services or dis-services by birds was observed. Therefore, a more holistic approach by accounting for several services and dis-services and their connection to different habitat types to manage agriculture more sustainably is advocated.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Agro‐ecosystem services and dis‐services in almond orchards are differentially influenced by the surrounding landscape

Schäckermann

Pufal

Mandelik

et al. 2015

Ecological Entomology

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“…Seeds removed by predators can be distinguished from non‐developed seeds because only seeds removed after full development leave ‘pockets’ (palea adhered to the anthodium), while these ‘pockets’ are missing when unfertilized florets do not develop seeds (Schäckermann et al . ). Seed predation per flower head was estimated by calculating the proportion of the missing seeds (excluding non‐developed and fallen seeds) out of the total number of seeds.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…Seeds can be missing through (i) seed predation by birds, (ii) touching of neighbouring flower heads (the only observed way of mechanical removal) with seeds falling to the ground and (iii) no seed development. Seeds removed by predators can be distinguished from non-developed seeds because only seeds removed after full development leave 'pockets' (palea adhered to the anthodium), while these 'pockets' are missing when unfertilized florets do not develop seeds (Sch€ ackermann et al 2014). Seed predation per flower head was estimated by calculating the proportion of the missing seeds (excluding non-developed and fallen seeds) out of the total number of seeds.…”

Section: E S T I M a T I N G S E E D P R E D A T I O Nmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Natural habitat does not mediate vertebrate seed predation as an ecosystem dis‐service to agriculture

Schäckermann

Mandelik

Weiss³

et al. 2015

Journal of Applied Ecology

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Summary1. Spillover of beneficial organisms from natural habitats to croplands can improve agro-ecosystem services, but wildlife can also negatively influence agricultural production. When managing agricultural landscapes to conserve biodiversity, we need to understand whether the availability of natural habitats increases ecosystem dis-services such as vertebrate seed predation to avoid risking higher costs than benefits. 2. We studied whether vertebrates and their impact in crop seed predation are related to the percentage of natural (chaparral) and semi-natural habitat (planted forest with native and exotic trees) in an agricultural landscape of Israel. We selected 20 almond and 20 sunflower study sites within a landscape with varying percentages of natural (0-61%) and semi-natural (0-70%) habitats within a 1000 m radius of their surroundings. We observed birds, trapped rodents (in almond), counted seeds and noted feeding marks to obtain seed predation rates, at each site. Within the almond crops, we physically excluded birds, rodents and both to determine their relative and combined influence on seed predation. 3. Neither vertebrate abundance nor species richness was influenced by the percentage of natural habitat. However, bird species richness increased with increasing percentage of semi-natural habitat. 4. Seed predation across both crops was not influenced by natural or semi-natural habitat but increased significantly with increasing abundance and species richness of birds. This was also reflected by the exclusions of birds, vertebrates and both to the almond crop, leading to lowest seed predation when both groups were excluded. 5. Synthesis and applications. Natural or semi-natural habitat did not influence the agro-ecosystem dis-service of seed predation by birds and rodents. Policymakers should consider promoting agri-environment schemes that include the conservation of natural habitats and the management of semi-natural habitats adjacent to cropland to enhance agro-ecosystem services meditated by beneficial organisms such as natural pest enemies and pollinators without fearing increased vertebrate seed predation. In order to provide more detailed management recommendations tackling the reduction of vertebrate dis-services, their feeding behaviour, metabolic needs, behaviour patterns and local abundances should be taken into account.

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Bird eggs or wheat: Assessing the impact of an overabundant crow species in a landscape mosaic in the Negev desert of Israel

Salomon

Kozhoridze

Shochat

et al. 2022

Journal for Nature Conservation

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High trees increase sunflower seed predation by birds in an agricultural landscape of Israel

Cited by 15 publications

References 47 publications

Agro‐ecosystem services and dis‐services in almond orchards are differentially influenced by the surrounding landscape

Agro‐ecosystem services and dis‐services in almond orchards are differentially influenced by the surrounding landscape

Natural habitat does not mediate vertebrate seed predation as an ecosystem dis‐service to agriculture

Bird eggs or wheat: Assessing the impact of an overabundant crow species in a landscape mosaic in the Negev desert of Israel

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