Regional biodiversity in an agricultural landscape: the contribution of seminatural habitat islands

Duelli, Peter; Obrist, Martin К.

doi:10.1078/1439-1791-00140

Cited by 326 publications

(230 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…This abolition is thus expected to reduce the surface of fallow land. Fallows as well as the field margins have demonstrated to be reservoirs of farmland biodiversity Marshall and Moonen 2002;Duelli and Obrist 2003). These semi-natural habitats also increase farmland heterogeneity, which has a key role in maintaining biodiversity in agricultural landscapes (Benton et al 2003).…”

Section: Communicated By W Lutzmentioning

confidence: 99%

The role of fallow in habitat use by the Lesser Kestrel during the post-fledging period: inferring potential conservation implications from the abolition of obligatory set-aside

et al. 2009

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International audienceThe maintenance of fallows has been shown to prevent the loss of farmland biodiversity caused by agricultural intensification. These are mainly introduced as part of both obligatory and voluntary set-aside schemes. However, the obligatory set-aside has recently been abolished by the Common Agricultural Policy Health Check. In this study, we examine the role of fallow in fine-grained habitat use by a threatened farmland bird (Lesser Kestrel) during summer in northwestern Spain. To analyze Lesser Kestrel occurrence, we used generalized linear models, a theoretic-information approach and a hierarchical partitioning analysis. The best AIC-based models explaining occurrence of Lesser Kestrels showed that fallow was the more important habitat type followed, to a lesser extent, by dry cereal stubble and field margin. In contrast, irrigated crops negatively influenced occurrence. Heterogeneity of crop mosaic was not important in explaining occurrence of Lesser Kestrel. Fallows, like dry cereal stubbles and field margins, seem to be suitable for foraging given the abundance of high food resources and their availability due to shorter vegetation cover. The abolition of the obligatory set-aside could reduce the total surface of fallow land (approximately 40.9%), likely affecting habitat use by Lesser Kestrel through an increase of other non-preferred crops (e.g., irrigated crops) or by decreasing food resources. Agri-environment schemes focusing on the maintenance of low-intensive farming systems with a mosaic of crops and semi-natural habitats interspersed should be promoted in premigratory areas to maintain Lesser Kestrel

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Section: Communicated By W Lutzmentioning

confidence: 99%

The role of fallow in habitat use by the Lesser Kestrel during the post-fledging period: inferring potential conservation implications from the abolition of obligatory set-aside

et al. 2009

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“…Furthermore, spider diversity correlates with total arthropod diversity over a wide range of cultivated habitats in Central Europe (Duelli and Obrist 2003). Thus, their ecological requirements and relationship with other taxa make them a useful group for studying differences in diversity among contrasting habitat types.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Habitat associations of epigeal spiders in upland calcareous grassland landscapes: the importance for conservation

et al. 2017

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Upland calcareous grassland landscapes are typically comprised of a matrix of calcareous grassland, acid grassland and limestone heath plant communities. This matrix of habitats is produced by a combination of underlying geology, climate and management. These landscapes are typically managed through grazing, with management targeted to maintain particular plant communities in the calcareous grassland habitat, whilst patches of acid grassland and limestone heath are not targeted by conservation management. The biodiversity value of acid grassland and limestone heath patches within the calcareous grassland matrix are unknown. This study provides the first assessment of their biodiversity value by examining aspects of epigeal spider diversity supported by these non-target habitat patches in comparison to calcareous grassland. Spiders were sampled in each habitat from April to August 2014 using pitfall traps across three upland regions in Great Britain. Spider species assemblages were distinct between limestone heath and both grassland types. Distinction in species assemblages are likely due to differences in vegetation structure and microclimate, e.g., humidity, degree of shade. Each habitat type supported several rare species (e.g., Jacksonella falconeri, Agyneta subtilis) revealing the contribution Communicated by David Hawksworth. Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (https://doi.org/10.1007/ s10531-017-1488-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users. to spider fauna. The distinct spider species assemblage and presence of rare species in limestone heath patches demonstrate their importance in the upland calcareous grassland matrix. This study highlights the value of monitoring biodiversity in non-target habitats within a habitat matrix alongside those that are actively targeted by management.

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“…Previous research shows not only local factors influence local diversity and abundance, but landscape factors can also have a large impact on organisms (Kareiva and Wennergren 1995, Duelli and Obrist 2003, Clough et al 2005. Interactions between local and landscape conservation strategies are important but can affect different taxonomic groups in different ways, implying that other mechanisms such as dispersal ability, range size, or response to disturbance are also important , Batáry et al 2012, Gonthier et al 2014.…”

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confidence: 99%

Local and Landscape Correlates of Spider Activity Density and Species Richness in Urban Gardens

2015

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Regional biodiversity in an agricultural landscape: the contribution of seminatural habitat islands

Cited by 326 publications

References 19 publications

The role of fallow in habitat use by the Lesser Kestrel during the post-fledging period: inferring potential conservation implications from the abolition of obligatory set-aside

The role of fallow in habitat use by the Lesser Kestrel during the post-fledging period: inferring potential conservation implications from the abolition of obligatory set-aside

Habitat associations of epigeal spiders in upland calcareous grassland landscapes: the importance for conservation

Local and Landscape Correlates of Spider Activity Density and Species Richness in Urban Gardens

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