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Second generation energy crops and farmland birds - Central and East European perspective

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Kaczmarek J. M., Tryjanowski P.

Journal of Plant Protection Research

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2016

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tom 56

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nr 3

The development of cellulosic bioethanol and other second-generation (2G) biofuels has gone through various phases during the last few years. The prospect of technological breakthroughs stimulates extensive research on turning cellulose into bioethanol or biodiesel. Agricultural or forestry residues and some plants, referred to as ‘lignocellulosic energy crops’ or ‘second generation (2G) energy crops’ can provide feedstock for new types of biofuels. The impact of lignocellulosic energy crops on farmland birds has been relatively well studied. This is surprising since the technology of converting these crops into fuel has so recently been developed. However, we believe that some questions regarding potential bird use of 2G energy crops have still not been answered. In Europe, most research has been carried out in agricultural areas of Western Europe. However, Central & Eastern Europe host the highest densities of farmland birds and, in general, the highest biodiversity. There is huge potential for 2G energy cropping due to large areas of mainly marginal land. We have outlined possible discrepancies between the results obtained from W. Europe and potential relationships between birds and 2G energy crops in Central Europe.

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Population decline of the Little Owl [Athene noctua Scop.] in the Chech Republic

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Salek M., Schropfer L.

Polish Journal of Ecology

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2008

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tom 56

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nr 3

527-534

A change of land use is often cited as a causal factor in the decline of many species of farmland birds. Populations of the Little Owl (Athene noctua Scop., 1769) have notably decreased throughout Europe in the last 60 years, including the Czech Republic. The aims of this study were to estimate the recent population trend of the Little Owl and to analyze the importance of altitude and grassland habitat within Little Owl territories. The population trend of the Little Owl in the Czech Republic has still decreasing tendency. The population density dropped from 0.33 breeding pairs (bps) 10 km⁻² to 0.12 bps 10 km⁻² in the first (1993–1995) and second (1998–1999) monitoring program, respectively. The decline is apparent also from results from last Little Owl monitoring program which were carried out in 2005–2006 on 35 study plots (4607 km²). The average population density was estimated at 0.1 bps 10 km⁻². A distinct feature of these recent populations is that they occur in the places with relatively high local density (core areas) in comparison to the surroundings, which are unoccupied. At present, the Little Owl rarely breeds in natural tree cavities, but rather the majority of nesting sites are situated in human artifacts, especially within agricultural objects. Areas in which the Little Owl occurs have a significantly larger proportion of grasslands and are situated at lower altitudes. We suggest that the changes in agricultural landscape associated with disappearance of traditional farming management of grassland habitats, forceful pasturage and regular mowing were the main factors in this long-term population decline. The recent decrease of Little Owls could be also the consequence of the existence of small isolated populations in which mortality is not balanced by immigration from surrounding areas.

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Habitat preferences and spatial overlap between three species of bunting (Emberiza hortulana, Emberiza cirlus, Militaria calandra) in farmlands of Central Italy

84%

Morelli F., Pruscini F., Santolini R.

Polish Journal of Ecology

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2014

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tom 62

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nr 2

Buntings species are mainly associated to agricultural landscapes and constitute a high conservation concern because farmlands are ecosystems subject to rapid changes and may cause the loss of animal species in just a few years.We studied the occurrence of Ortolan Bunting, Cirl Bunting and Corn Bunting (Emberiza hortulana, Emberiza cirlus, Miliaria calandra) on farmlands of Central Italy, considering the land-use composition, crop typologies and several structural parameters of environment occupied by these species, as presence of power lines, road type and Shannon biodiversity index of landscape. Furthermore the geographical overlap among the three bunting species was studied, in order to find witch species show an habitat overlap.The study was carried out in central-eastern Italy, between the end of April and mid-July 2010, through 159 sampled sites, uniformly distributed on in the study area.Cirl Bunting is the most widespread species of Bunting in the farmlands that were studied. Ortolan Bunting and Corn Bunting are the two species with greater spatial habitat overlap, even though land-use composition in their territories was different. However, Ortolan Bunting can be found at a lower altitude range than Corn Bunting (less 550 m a.s.l.) and it is associated to territories with minor landscape heterogeneity. Preferences by crop types seem to be a possible cause of the spatial habitat overlap between Ortolan and Corn Bunting (both species had selected sugar beet, and coriander, avoiding mainly vegetables, vineyards and orchards). On the other hand, Cirl Bunting was less related to crop types.

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Relationships between birds and habitats in Latvian farmland

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Aunins A., Petersen B. S., Priednieks J., Prins E.

Acta Ornithologica

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2001

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tom 36

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nr 1

This point-count based study (1995-99) provides information on the avifauna of different farmland habitats in Latvia. Ordinations identify the main gradients within the species composition pattern: from arable land to natural habitats and from woodland across open, dry areas to wet meadowlands with rivers and ponds. Regression models describing the relationship between species richness and habitat show that the best positive predictors of species richness are woodland, scrub, natural meadows, unfarmed patches such as piles of stones or brushwood, and ponds. Regression models of the habitat affinities of the 30 most frequently recorded bird species are used to describe the present-day situation and to predict the effects of possible changes in Latvian farmland. The current high bird diversity is largely upheld by a non-intensive agriculture and large set-aside areas. Both further abandonment and development towards western standards of agricultural production may have adverse effects on populations of several species of conservation concern. Environmental considerations should therefore become an integral part of the development of Latvian agriculture.

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Agri-environment scheme habitat preferences of Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella on English farmland

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McHugh N. M., Goodwin C. E. D., Hughes S., Leather S. R., Holland J. M.

Acta Ornithologica

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2016

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tom 51

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nr 2

Agri-Environment Schemes (AES) have been implemented across Europe in an attempt to address biodiversity losses associated with agricultural intensification. For many declining farmland bird species, the reduced availability and suitability of nesting and foraging habitats are thought to play a major role in population declines and some AES have hoped to counteract this by encouraging the provision of such habitats. This study aimed to determine the relative importance of AES on the territory selection of a widespread but declining farmland bird, the Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella. Yellowhammers were more likely to locate territories in areas containing 'enhanced margins'; i.e. where field margin habitats were sown with wild flowers and/or agricultural legumes. An average of 0.033 ± 0.008 ha of this 'enhanced margin' habitat was present within 100 m of Yellowhammer territories compared to 0.020 ± 0.008 ha within 100 m of random points. This preference may reflect the higher invertebrate chick food abundance associated with this habitat as they contained, on average 46.3% and 36.8% more invertebrate food items than cereal and floral crops respectively. Alternatively, given that chick food abundance was similar between grass and enhanced field margins, this observed preference may be the result of a more open sward structure which increases prey accessibility and improves predator avoidance. Yellowhammers selected territories containing early succession hedgerows, as these constitute the most suitable nesting sites, and preferred territories containing a suitable songpost. Our results suggest that management strategies aiming to conserve breeding Yellowhammers should focus on increasing the coverage of invertebrate rich AES habitats such as floristically-enhanced margins and pollen and nectar plots, and ensure that they are located within typical foraging ranges of cut hedges with elevated songposts.

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Factors affecting occurrence of Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio) and Lesser Grey Shrike (Lanius minor) in low-intensify agriculture areas from Estern Europe

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Ajder V., Baltag S.

Polish Journal of Ecology

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2017

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tom 65

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nr 2

Shrikes represent an important group of farmland bird species which inhabit open habitats where they prey on invertebrates and small vertebrates. Like the other farmland birds, shrikes are in the decline across their breeding range. During the 2014 breeding season, we conducted point observations in 470 locations in the Republic of Moldova, recording all the shrike individuals that were seen during 5 minutes. The highest density has been recorded for the red-backed shrike Lanius collurio, (0.489–0.652 breeding pairs ha-1) while for lesser grey shrike Lanius minor the density is ten times lower (0.042–0.076 breeding pairs ha-1). These two shrike species select pasture areas for breeding and avoid artificial surfaces, forests and wetlands. Regarding the geomorphological variables, red-backed shrikes and lesser grey shrikes prefer areas of a low, flat ground and aspects with low exposure to the sun radiation. According to the General Linear Model analyses, the red-backed shrike distribution is significantly influenced by percentage of arable land and orchards, while for lesser grey shrike we did not find any significant influence of environmental variables studied.

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Changes in breeding populations of six farmland bird species in Western Poland between 1987 and 2007

59%

Krajewska A., Mizera T.

Polish Journal of Ecology

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2010

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tom 58

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nr 3

The breeding populations of the Skylark Alauda arvensis, Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella, Corn Bunting Miliaria calandra, Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava, Whinchat Saxicola rubetra, and Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio were censused by the mapping method on 315 ha of intensive farmland in W Poland. Results obtained in 2006 and 2007 were compared with previously published data from 1987 to 1997. Changes in habitat structure, mainly the decline of margin habitats, and the intensification of agricultural production, which both occurred between the two study periods, affected breeding bird populations; M. flava showed drastic long-term decreasing trends, and M. calandra increased significantly in number. The other four species showed year-to-year variation rather than directional trends. Numbers of A. arvensis declined from 1987 to the late 1990s and subsequently increased. Generally, population trends of the studied species were similar to those in other long-term study plots in Poland but differed from trends in Western Europe.

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Importance of young shelterbelts for breeding avifauna in agricultural landscape [Turew area, West Poland]

51%

Kujawa K.

Polish Journal of Ecology

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2004

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tom 52

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nr 4

Protection of high biodiversity in an intensively farmed areas is strongly related to managing the diverse structure of a landscape, for example by planting shelterbelts. The study was aimed at recognition of avifauna dynamics in young (with the age of 1–4 years at the beginning of the study) shelterbelts (N=9) and at estimation of their importance for farmland birds. Bird density was estimated by mapping method in successive years 1996–2001 and the data were combined and analysed in respect to age of shelterbelts. Eighteen breeding species were found (5–8 pairs km⁻¹), among them most abundant were Corn Bunting (Miliaria calandra) (with dominance of 33%), Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla flava) (19%) and Whitethroat (Sylvia communis) (12%). No trend in the changes of species richness and total density was recorded. The density of species preferring building nests and/or feeding in herb layer (like Yellow Wagtail, Skylark Alauda arvensis and Whinchat Saxicola rubetra) decreased during study period while the density of species associated to higher layers of vegetation like Yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella), Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio) increased. According to earlier study, bird species richness and abundance in studied young shelterbelts were lower than in several dozens years old ones. However, in relation to species colonization both classes of shelterbelts (species building their nests on the ground or in low shrubs), young shelterbelts were as important as old ones.

Ograniczanie wyników

Second generation energy crops and farmland birds - Central and East European perspective

Population decline of the Little Owl [Athene noctua Scop.] in the Chech Republic

Habitat preferences and spatial overlap between three species of bunting (Emberiza hortulana, Emberiza cirlus, Militaria calandra) in farmlands of Central Italy

Relationships between birds and habitats in Latvian farmland

Agri-environment scheme habitat preferences of Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella on English farmland

Factors affecting occurrence of Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio) and Lesser Grey Shrike (Lanius minor) in low-intensify agriculture areas from Estern Europe

Changes in breeding populations of six farmland bird species in Western Poland between 1987 and 2007

Importance of young shelterbelts for breeding avifauna in agricultural landscape [Turew area, West Poland]