Indicators of biodiversity in an intensively cultivated and heavily human modified landscape

Chiatante, Gianpasquale; Pellitteri‐Rosa, Daniele; Torretta, Elisa; Marzano, F.; Meriggi, Alberto

doi:10.1016/j.ecolind.2021.108060

Cited by 15 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 192 publications

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“…In the first case, a similar pattern was found in New Zealand where alien forest bird species were associated more with 'exotic forest' (Barnagaud et al 2022). In the latter, this could be expected in more heterogeneous areas that contain residual semi-natural features (less disturbed areas in this study) such as shrublands (as discussed in Fahrig et al 2015, Chiatante et al 2021, enhancing native (Carpio et al 2017), but not alien, bird species (as in our study).…”

Section: Landscape Effects On Diversity Metricssupporting

confidence: 85%

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Testing the links between bird diversity, alien species and disturbance within a human‐modified landscape

Marcolin,

Segurado,

Chamberlain

et al. 2023

Ecography

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Introduced alien species are associated with lower taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic diversity of native communities and negative impacts on ecosystem functioning. This is particularly evident in habitats where human disturbance may favour alien species, posing an additional stressor on native communities. Following the community resistance hypothesis (higher diversity promotes higher resistance to invasion), we predicted: 1) higher taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic diversity (TD, FD and PD respectively) in non‐invaded bird communities (i.e. no alien bird species); and 2) higher diversity and resistance to invasion in less human‐disturbed areas. We surveyed bird communities in a modified Mediterranean landscape subject to varying levels of human disturbance. We tested whether TD, FD and PD were significantly different between non‐invaded and invaded bird communities, and assessed the effect of land classes (forest, agriculture, urban), landscape composition and heterogeneity on these metrics. We found that non‐invaded communities retained higher TD and FD, but not PD, than invaded communities. Alien birds occupied marginal niches in invaded communities, and did not fully compensate for the taxonomic and functional diversity loss caused by the absence of native species. These results were consistent across different land classes, suggesting weak environmental filtering of communities. Generally, less human‐modified and more heterogeneous areas supported higher TD regardless of the presence of alien species. FD and PD of invaded communities decreased with increases in human‐modified areas, whereas non‐invaded communities were not affected. Our results suggest that even within a human‐modified landscape, invaded community diversity is more affected by, and thus has a lower resilience to, disturbance. Restoring and protecting natural habitats within human‐modified landscapes is likely to increase the resilience of native species.

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Section: Landscape Effects On Diversity Metricssupporting

confidence: 85%

“…Alternatively, in landscapes dominated by agro-and urban ecosystems, higher levels of diversity could be expected in more heterogeneous areas that contain remnant (semi-) natural features (e.g. shrublands, native forest; Fahrig et al 2015, Chiatante et al 2021) that could favour native species.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Testing the links between bird diversity, alien species and disturbance within a human‐modified landscape

Marcolin,

Segurado,

Chamberlain

et al. 2023

Ecography

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“…Moreover, it is very likely that declining rural avian biodiversity due to decades of agroecosystem changes 28 , 29 has had an impact on interactions at the wild-domestic bird interface. Indeed, declining farmland specialist species may have left more space to thrive around poultry farms for the generalist commensal species that are better adapted to more homogenised agricultural landscapes 29 , 30 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quantification and characterisation of commensal wild birds and their interactions with domestic ducks on a free-range farm in southwest France

Gall-Ladevèze

Guinat

Fievet

et al. 2022

Sci Rep

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The role of commensal birds in the epidemiology of pathogens in poultry farms remains unclear. Our study aimed to identify potential key species for interactions with domestic ducks on one free-range duck farm in southwest France. Methods combined direct individual observations on duck outdoor foraging areas, network analysis, and general linear mixed models of abundances. Results showed a wide diversity of wild bird species visiting foraging areas, heavily dominated in frequency by White wagtails (Motacilla alba) and Sparrows (Passer domesticus and Passer montanus). These also were the only species seen entering duck premises or perching on drinkers in the presence of ducks. Moreover, White wagtails were the species most frequently observed on the ground and in close proximity to ducks. Network analysis suggested the role of White wagtails and Sparrows in linking ducks to other wild birds on the farm. The abundance of White wagtails was positively associated with open vegetation, with the presence of ducks and particularly in the afternoon, while the abundance of Sparrows was positively associated only with the fall-winter season. By precisely characterising interactions, the study was able to identify few wild bird species which should be prioritized in infectious investigations at the interface with poultry.

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“…Rice fields are also pivotal habitats for faunal conservation: indeed, rice lands often host high conservation interest areas, such as “Natura 2000” European Network sites [ 98 , 99 ]. However, for effective agrobiodiversity support, the influence of the upper scale landscape context should be primarily taken into account [ 100 , 101 , 102 ]. Indeed, landscape system ecological rehabilitation and diversification can directly and indirectly influence rice field and, more generally, crop field biodiversity and alien species invasion patterns [ 29 , 96 , 100 , 101 , 102 , 103 , 104 , 105 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Alien Plant Species Impact in Rice Crops in Northwestern Italy

Vagge

Chiaffarelli

2023

Plants

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Alien species represent one of the causes of biodiversity loss, both in natural and anthropic environments. This study contributes to the assessment of alien species impact on Western Po Plain rice field cultivations, referring to different agricultural management practices and ecological traits. Flora and vegetation were studied (the latter through the phytosociological method), and α-biodiversity was estimated through Shannon and Simpson Indices. Results highlighted a significant floristic contingent depletion and increase in therophyte and alien components, compared to pre-existing studies (1950s); higher α-biodiversity levels in organic farms, compared to conventional farms, but also a higher invasive alien species percentage. The high deterioration of the territorial–landscape context appears to play a major role in shaping these patterns. Some of these alien species are particularly aggressive (e.g., Murdannia keisak), as confirmed by two experimental rice field plots which were left unharvested, continuously flooded, making it possible to assess the competitiveness between weed species. The detected weed vegetation is attributed to the Oryzo sativae-Echinochloetum cruris-galli association, already described for Southern Europe, with two different ecological and floristic variants. Future studies, by including other sites and framing their territorial–landscape context, may further complement this overview on the alien species distribution and behavior in rice fields, hence facilitating their strategic management.

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Indicators of biodiversity in an intensively cultivated and heavily human modified landscape

Cited by 15 publications

References 192 publications

Testing the links between bird diversity, alien species and disturbance within a human‐modified landscape

Testing the links between bird diversity, alien species and disturbance within a human‐modified landscape

Quantification and characterisation of commensal wild birds and their interactions with domestic ducks on a free-range farm in southwest France

The Alien Plant Species Impact in Rice Crops in Northwestern Italy

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