Biodiversity - Habitat management

Title

Agriculture—a key element for conservation in the developing world

Reference

Conservation Letters
DOI: 10.1111/j.1755-263X.2011.00208.x

Author(s)

Hugh L. Wright, Iain R. Lake, Paul M. Dolman

Study type

Peer Review Journal   

Abstract

Conserving biodiversity through supporting or mimicking traditional management of anthropogenic habitats is a paradigm in the developed world, particularly Europe. It is rarely applied in developing countries where forest biota are more common foci. We quantified the numbers of globally threatened bird species using anthropogenic habitats and examined scientific literature to identify those that are dependent on low-impact agriculture in the developing world. Such dependency is distinct from species using farmland to supplement or move between their remnant natural habitats. We show that low-impact agriculture is important to a number of threatened open-habitat species in a variety of farming systems. However, these systems are expected to undergo widespread transformation due to economic change. Conservation must identify valuable farmed landscapes and seek new mechanisms to maintain or mimic important land-management techniques in developing countries. A suite of policy instruments should be considered to provide incentives or development benefits that encourage farmers to manage landscapes for wildlife. The land sparing approach to balancing biodiversity conservation and agricultural production will be detrimental to those open-habitat bird species dependent on agriculture; a mix of agricultural land-use types may offer the best compromise.

Policy theme(s)

Agriculture >> Agricultural management >> Agri-environment schemes
Biodiversity >> Habitats >> Habitat management
Sustainable development and policy assessment >> Sustainable economic development >> Sustainable development in developing countries

Keywords

High nature value farming; land sparing; low-impact agriculture; rural livelihoods;
seminatural habitat; traditional land management; wildlife-friendly farming

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Shortlisted for Science for Environment Policy News Alert

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http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1755-263X.2011.00208.x/abstract
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hugh.wright@uea.ac.uk

Title

Local habitat and landscape affect Ixodes ricinus tick abundances in forests on poor, sandy soils

Reference

Forest Ecology and Management
Volume 265, 1 February 2012, Pages 30–36

Author(s)

Study type

Peer Review Journal    

Abstract

A large fraction of the forests in northern Belgium consists of homogeneous pine stands on nutrient-poor and acid sandy soils. However, in common with many other parts of Europe, the current forest management aims at increasing the share of deciduous and mixed forests. This might create favourable habitats for the tick Ixodes ricinus, which is Europe's main vector of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, the causative agent of Lyme borreliosis in humans. Considering the threat to human health, it is important to know which factors regulate tick abundance. The influence of local habitat and landscape variables on the abundance of I. ricinus ticks were studied by collecting questing larvae, nymphs, and adults at 176 locations in forests in the Campine region (northern Belgium). Both I. ricinus ticks and B. burgdorferi spirochetes occurred throughout the study area, which means that the entire region represents an area of risk for contracting Lyme borreliosis. At the forest stand level, the main tree species and the shrub cover significantly affected the abundance of all life stages of I. ricinus. The abundance was higher in oak stands compared to pine stands, and increased with increasing shrub cover. Additionally, at the landscape level, a positive effect was found for forest edge length but not for forest cover. These patterns may be explained by the habitat preferences of the tick's main hosts. Our results indicate that forest conversion might indeed create suitable habitats for ticks, which highlights the need for intensive information campaigns and effective tick control measures.

Policy theme(s)

Biodiversity >> Habitats >> Habitat management
Environment and health >> Biodiversity and human health
Forests >> Forest protection >> Forest biodiversity

Keywords

Ixodes ricinus; Borrelia; Habitat; Landscape; Deer

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Selected for Science for Environment Policy News Alert

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http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378112711006499
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Wesley.Tack@UGent.be

Title

Continent-wide risk assessment for the establishment of nonindigenous species in Antarctica

Reference

PNAS doi: 10.1073/pnas.1119787109

Author(s)

Steven L. Chowna, Ad H. L. Huiskes, Niek J. M. Gremmen,
Jennifer E. Lee, Aleks Teraudsa, , Kim Crosbie, Yves Frenot Kevin A. Hughes Satoshi Imura, Kate Kiefer, Marc Lebouvier, Ben Raymond, Megumu Tsujimotoi, Chris Ware, Bart Van de Vijver, and Dana Michelle Bergstrom

Study type

Peer Review Journal    

Abstract

Invasive alien species are among the primary causes of biodiversity change globally, with the risks thereof broadly understood for most regions of the world. They are similarly thought to be among the most significant conservation threats to Antarctica, especially as climate change proceeds in the region. However, no comprehensive, continent-wide evaluation of the risks to Antarctica posed by such species has been undertaken. Here we do so by sampling, identifying, and mapping the vascular plant propagules carried by all categories of visitors to Antarctica during the International Polar Year's first season (2007–2008) and assessing propagule establishment likelihood based on their identity and origins and on spatial variation in Antarctica's climate. For an evaluation of the situation in 2100, we use modeled climates based on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's Special Report on Emissions Scenarios Scenario A1B [Nakićenović N, Swart R, eds (2000) Special Report on Emissions Scenarios: A Special Report of Working Group III of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK)]. Visitors carrying seeds average 9.5 seeds per person, although as vectors, scientists carry greater propagule loads than tourists. Annual tourist numbers (∼33,054) are higher than those of scientists (∼7,085), thus tempering these differences in propagule load. Alien species establishment is currently most likely for the Western Antarctic Peninsula. Recent founder populations of several alien species in this area corroborate these findings. With climate change, risks will grow in the Antarctic Peninsula, Ross Sea, and East Antarctic coastal regions. Our evidence-based assessment demonstrates which parts of Antarctica are at growing risk from alien species that may become invasive and provides the means to mitigate this threat now and into the future as the continent's climate changes.

Policy theme(s)

Biodiversity >> Habitats >> Habitat management

Keywords

biological invasions; biosecurity; mitigation; propagule pressure; unintentional introductions

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Selected for Science for Environment Policy News Alert

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http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2012/02/27/1119787109.abstract
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slchown@sun.ac.za

Title

The Robustness and Restoration of a Network of Ecological Networks

Reference

Science  Vol. 335 no. 6071 pp. 973-977

Author(s)

Michael J. O. Pocock, Darren M. Evans, Jane Memmott

Study type

Peer Review Journal    

Abstract

Understanding species' interactions and the robustness of interaction networks to species loss is essential to understand the effects of species' declines and extinctions. In most studies, different types of networks (such as food webs, parasitoid webs, seed dispersal networks, and pollination networks) have been studied separately. We sampled such multiple networks simultaneously in an agroecosystem. We show that the networks varied in their robustness; networks including pollinators appeared to be particularly fragile. We show that, overall, networks did not strongly covary in their robustness, which suggests that ecological restoration (for example, through agri-environment schemes) benefitting one functional group will not inevitably benefit others. Some individual plant species were disproportionately well linked to many other species. This type of information can be used in restoration management, because it identifies the plant taxa that can potentially lead to disproportionate gains in biodiversity.

Policy theme(s)

Biodiversity >> Habitats >> Green Infrastructure
Biodiversity >> Habitats >> Habitat management

Keywords

Entry Source:

Shortlisted for Science for Environment Policy News Alert

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http://www.sciencemag.org/content/335/6071/973.abstract
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michael.pocock@ceh.ac.uk

Title

A method for linking results from an evaluation of land use scenarios from the viewpoint of flood prevention and nature conservation

Reference

Landscape and Urban Planning
Volume 103, Issue 2, 30 November 2011, Pages 118-128

Author(s)

Elke Richert, Sylvi Bianchin, Hermann Heilmeier, Mariusz Merta, Christina Seidler

Study type

Peer Review Journal   

Abstract

Flood prevention and nature conservation are often considered not to be compatible. This publication presents a method by which different land use scenarios can be developed and interdisciplinarily evaluated from both the flood prevention and nature conservation perspective. The method was designed and tested using a small subcatchment area in the Eastern Erzgebirge (Saxony, Germany) as an example. Based on guidelines four scenarios were developed. Main measures are transformation of arable fields into extensively used grasslands, afforestation and ecological transformation of forests. The ecological assessment was based on an analysis of biotope types and closely linked to an evaluation of landscape structure. To asses the hydrological situation and to identify risk areas in the catchment, the expert system WBS-FLAB was used. The assessment procedures were designed to enable a comparison of various scenarios with each other. Finally the evaluation results of both assessment procedures were related to each other. A comparison with the actual situation shows that all four developed land use scenarios can improve the situation from both the perspective of flood prevention as well as of nature conservation. In practice, the presented method can be a valuable interdisciplinary decision support for decision-makers and landscape planners.

Policy theme(s)

Biodiversity >> Habitats >> Habitat management
Land use >> Planning
Natural hazards >> Flooding
Water >> Flooding

Keywords

Hydrological modelling; Expert system; Runoff generation; Conservation assessment; Landscape metrics; Conservation guidelines

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Shortlisted for Science for Environment Policy News Alert

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http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0169204611002325
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elke.richert@ioez.tu-freiberg.de

Title

Gardens benefit bees and enhance pollination in intensively managed farmland

Reference

Biological Conservation
Volume 144, Issue 11, November 2011, Pages 2602-2606

Author(s)

Ulrika Samnegård, Anna S. Persson, Henrik G. Smith

Study type

Peer Review Journal

Abstract

The recent loss of pollinating insects and out-crossing plants in agricultural landscapes has raised concern for the maintenance of ecosystem services. Wild bees have been shown to benefit from garden habitats in urban and suburban areas. We investigated the effects of distance from garden habitats on wild bees and seed set of a native out-crossing plant Campanula persicifolia, in intensively managed agricultural landscapes in Southern Sweden. Bee abundance and species richness, as well as plant seed set, were higher closer to gardens (<15 m) than further away (>140 m). This highlights private gardens as a landscape wide resource for pollinators but also the lack of sufficient pollination of wild plants in contemporary agricultural landscapes.

Policy theme(s)

Biodiversity >> Habitats >> Habitat management
Biodiversity >> Habitats >> Urban biodiversity

Keywords

Apoidea; Bombus; Campanula; Pollinator; Seed set; Agriculture; Landscape

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Selected for Science for Environment Policy News Alert

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http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006320711002618

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ulrika.samnegard@botan.su.se

Title

Reference

Environmental Modeling and Assessment

Author(s)

Eva Ivits, Graeme Buchanan, Linda Olsvig-Whittaker and Michael Cherlet
Environmental Modeling and Assessment

Study type

Peer Review Journal

Abstract

Birds are important components of biodiversity conservation since they are capable of indicating changes in the general status of wildlife and of the countryside. The Pan-European Common Bird Monitoring Scheme (PECBM) has been launched by the BirdLife Partnership in Europe, where the European Bird Census Council has been collecting data from 20 independent breeding bird survey programs across Europe over the last 25 years. These data show dramatic declines in European farmland birds. We suggest that seasonal characteristics of vegetation cover derived from high temporal resolution remote sensing images could facilitate the monitoring the suitability of farmland bird habitats, and that these indicators may be a better choice for monitoring than climate data. We used redundancy analysis to link the PECBM data of the estimated number of farmland birds in Europe to a set of phenological and climatic indicators and to the biogeographic regions of Europe. Variance partitioning was used to account for the variation explained by the phenological and climate variables and by the area of the environmental strata individually, to define the pure effect of the variables, and to extract the total explained variance. The analysis revealed high statistical significance (p < 0.001) of the correlations between species and environment. Phenological indices explained 38% of the variance in community composition of the 23 farmland bird species, whereas climate explained 30% of the variance. After partitioning the other variables as covariables, the pure effect of phenology, climate, and environmental strata were 16%, 8%, and 16%, respectively. Based on the probability results, we suggest that phenological indicators derived from remote sensing may supply better indicators for continental scale biodiversity studies than climate only. In addition, these indicators are cost and time effective, are on continuous scale, and are readily repeatable on a large spatial coverage while supplying standardized results.

Policy theme(s)

Agriculture >> Agricultural management >> Agri-environment schemes
Biodiversity >> Habitats >> Habitat management

Keywords

Phenology; Climate; Remote sensing; Farmland birds; Redundancy analysis

Entry Source:

Shortlisted for Science for Environment Policy News Alert

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N/A

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http://www.springerlink.com/content/j51331r3024l8h6p/
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eva.ivits-wasser@jrc.ec.europa.eu

Title

Effect of habitat area and isolation on plant trait distribution in European forests and grasslands

Reference

Ecography
DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0587.2011.07286.x
EU funded

Author(s)

Regina Lindborg, Aveliina Helm, Riccardo Bommarco, Risto K. Heikkinen, Ingolf Kühn, Juha Pykälä, Meelis Pärtel

Study type

Peer Review Journal

Abstract

A number of studies show contrasting results in how plant species with specific life-history strategies respond to fragmentation, but a general analysis on whether traits affect plant species occurrences in relation to habitat area and isolation has not been performed. We used published data from forests and grasslands in north-central Europe to analyse if there are general patterns of sensitivity to isolation and dependency of area for species using three traits: life-span, clonality, and seed weight. We show that a larger share of all forest species was affected by habitat isolation and area as compared to grassland species. Persistence-related traits, life-span and clonality, were associated to habitat area and the dispersal and recruitment related trait, seed weight, to isolation in both forest and grassland patches. Occurrence of clonal plant species decreased with habitat area, opposite to non-clonal plant species, and long-lived plant species decreased with grassland area. The directions of these responses partly challenge some earlier views, suggesting that further decrease in habitat area will lead to a change in plant species community composition, towards relatively fewer clonal and long-lived plants with large seeds in small forest patches and fewer clonal plants with small seeds in small grassland patches. It is likely that this altered community has been reached in many fragmented European landscapes consisting of small and isolated natural and semi-natural patches, where many non-clonal and short-lived species have already disappeared. Our study based on a large-scale dataset reveals general and useful insights concerning area and isolation effects on plant species composition that can improve the outcome of conservation and restoration efforts of plant communities in rural landscapes.

Policy theme(s)

Biodiversity >> Habitats >> Habitat management
Forests >> Forest protection >> Forest biodiversity

Keywords

Entry Source:

Selected for Science for Environment Policy News Alert

Referred to in EC doc:

N/A

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http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1600-0587.2011.07286.x/abstract
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Regina.lindborg@natgeo.su.se

Title

Seeded ryegrass swards allow granivorous birds to winter in agriculturally improved grassland landscapes

Reference

Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment
Volume 142, Issues 3-4, August 2011, Pages 256-265

Author(s)

D.L. Buckingham, S. Bentley, S. Dodd and W.J. Peach

Study type

Peer Review Journal

Abstract

We experimentally managed silage fields to provide abundant seed as a conservation measure for wintering birds. Buntings Emberiza strongly selected seeded ryegrass plots, where they fed predominantly on ryegrass Lolium seed and maintained body weights similar to those on high-quality arable wintering habitats. Bunting usage of seeded plots was positively related to Lolium seedhead density, peaking at October seedhead densities above 400 seedheads m^-2. Perennial ryegrass Lolium perenne swards could only provide one early silage crop (cut by mid-late May) if sufficient seed was to be produced, while Italian ryegrass Lolium multiflorum was able to provide two silage cuts and a large seed crop. Mats of lodged seedheads ensured the continuity of seed provision, resulting in high bird usage during late winter, when most seed has been depleted from existing wild bird seed measures. The estimated cost of the measure was comparable to small-plot measures in current English agri-environment schemes. A rotational seeded ryegrass measure should constitute an effective, affordable and widely applicable conservation measure for seed-eating farmland birds in grassland-dominated farmland across NW Europe.

Policy theme(s)

Agriculture >> Agricultural management >> Agri-environment schemes
Biodiversity >> Habitats >> Habitat management

Keywords

Farmland birds; Granivorous birds; Winter seed food; Agri-environment measures; Grassland management

Entry Source:

Selected for Science for Environment Policy News Alert

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N/A

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http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167880911001721
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david.buckingham@rspb.org.uk

Title

Agricultural intensification and biodiversity partitioning in European landscapes comparing plants, carabids, and birds

Reference

Ecological Applications 21:1772-1781

Author(s)

Andreas Flohre, Christina Fischer, Tsipe Aavik, Jan Bengtsson, Frank Berendse, Riccardo Bommarco, Piotr Ceryngier, Lars W. Clement, Christopher Dennis, Sönke Eggers, Mark Emmerson, Flavia Geiger, Irene Guerrero, Violetta Hawro, Pablo Inchausti, Jaan Liira, Manuel B. Morales, Juan J. Oñate, Tomas Pärt, Wolfgang W. Weisser, Camilla Winqvist, Carsten Thies, and Teja Tscharntke

Study type

Peer Review Journal

Abstract

Effects of agricultural intensification (AI) on biodiversity are often assessed on the plot scale, although processes determining diversity also operate on larger spatial scales. Here, we analyzed the diversity of vascular plants, carabid beetles, and birds in agricultural landscapes in cereal crop fields at the field (n = 1350), farm (n = 270), and European-region (n = 9) scale. We partitioned diversity into its additive components α, β, and ϒ, and assessed the relative contribution of β diversity to total species richness at each spatial scale. AI was determined using pesticide and fertilizer inputs, as well as tillage operations and categorized into low, medium, and high levels. As AI was not significantly related to landscape complexity, we could disentangle potential AI effects on local vs. landscape community homogenization. AI negatively affected the species richness of plants and birds, but not carabid beetles, at all spatial scales. Hence, local AI was closely correlated to β diversity on larger scales up to the farm and region level, and thereby was an indicator of farm- and region-wide biodiversity losses. At the scale of farms (12.83-20.52%) and regions (68.34-80.18%), β diversity accounted for the major part of the total species richness for all three taxa, indicating great dissimilarity in environmental conditions on larger spatial scales. For plants, relative importance of α diversity decreased with AI, while relative importance of β diversity on the farm scale increased with AI for carabids and birds. Hence, and in contrast to our expectations, AI does not necessarily homogenize local communities, presumably due to the heterogeneity of farming practices. In conclusion, a more detailed understanding of AI effects on diversity patterns of various taxa and at multiple spatial scales would contribute to more efficient agri-environmental schemes in agroecosystems.

Policy theme(s)

Agriculture >> Agricultural management >> Agri-environment schemes
Biodiversity >> Habitats >> Habitat management

Keywords

agricultural intensification, alpha diversity, beta diversity, biodiversity patterns, cereal crop fields, community homogenization, landscape ecology, Western Europe

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Selected for Science for Environment Policy News Alert

Referred to in EC doc:

N/A

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http://www.esajournals.org/doi/abs/10.1890/10-0645.1
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Title

Landscape fragmentation in Europe

Reference

European Environment Agency (EEA)
EEA Report No 2/2011

Author(s)

As above

Study type

Report

Abstract

Roads, motorways, railways, intensive agriculture and urban developments are breaking up Europe's landscapes into ever-smaller pieces, with potentially devastating consequences for flora and fauna across the continent, according to a new joint report from the European Environment Agency (EEA) and the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN). The report, 'Landscape fragmentation in Europe', demonstrates how areas of land are often unable to support high levels of biodiversity when they are split into smaller and smaller parcels.

Policy theme(s)

Biodiversity >> Habitats >> Habitat management
Land use >> Planning

Keywords

Entry Source:

Selected for Science for Environment Policy News Alert

Referred to in EC doc:

N/A

View this study at:

http://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/landscape-fragmentation-in-europe
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info@bafu.admin.ch

Title

Climate change vulnerability of forest biodiversity: climate and competition tracking of demographic rates

Reference

Global Change Biology, 2011; 17 (5): 1834
DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2486.2010.02380.x

Author(s)

James S. Clark, David M. Bell, Michelle H. Hersh, Lauren Nichols

Study type

Peer Review Journal

Abstract

Forest responses to climate change will depend on demographic impacts in the context of competition. Current models used to predict species responses, termed climate envelope models (CEMs), are controversial, because (i) calibration and prediction are based on correlations in space (CIS) between species abundance and climate, rather than responses to climate change over time (COT), and (ii) they omit competition. To determine the relative importance of COT, CIS, and competition for light, we applied a longitudinal analysis of 27 000 individual trees over 6–18 years subjected to experimental and natural variation in risk factors. Sensitivities and climate and resource tracking identify which species are vulnerable to these risk factors and in what ways. Results show that responses to COT differ from those predicted based on CIS. The most important impact is the effect of spring temperature on fecundity, rather than any input variable on growth or survival. Of secondary importance is growing season moisture. Species in the genera Pinus, Ulmus, Magnolia, and Fagus are particularly vulnerable to climate variation. However, the effect of competition on growth and mortality risk exceeds the effects of climate variation in space or time for most species. Because sensitivities to COT and competition are larger than CIS, current models miss the most important effects. By directly comparing sensitivity to climate in time and space, together with competition, the approach identifies which species are sensitive to climate change and why, including the heretofore overlooked impact on fecundity.

Policy theme(s)

Biodiversity >> Habitats >> Habitat management
Climate change and energy >> Climate change adaptation >> Biodiversity impacts
Forests >> Forest protection >> Forest biodiversity

Keywords

bayesian analysis, climate change, climate tracking,competition,drought,resource tracking, tree demography

Entry Source:

Shortlisted for Science for Environment Policy News Alert

Referred to in EC doc:

N/A

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http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-2486.2010.02380.x/abstract
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jimclark@duke.edu

Title

Is spatial structure the key to promote plant diversity in Mediterranean forest plantations?

Reference

Basic and Applied Ecology
Volume 12, Issue 3, May 2011, Pages 251-25

Author(s)

P. Gonzalez-Moreno, J.L. Quero, L. Poorter, F.J. Bonet and R. Zamora

Study type

Peer Review Journal

Abstract

Mediterranean forest plantations are currently under an intense debate related to their ecological function, sustainability and future performance. In several Mediterranean countries, efforts are directed to convert pine plantations into mixed and more diverse forests. This research aims to evaluate the effect of the spatial configuration of pine plantations on regeneration and plant diversity in order to facilitate plantation management towards more diversified stands. Spatial characteristics of plantations (proximity to different vegetation types, fragmentation and internal patch structure) were related to abundance of seedlings of an ecologically important broadleaved species, Holm Oak (Quercus ilex L.), and the Shannon diversity index of the community. Q. ilex seedling abundance and plant diversity in pine plantation patches are favoured by the proximity to oak patches located uphill. Fragmentation affected only plant diversity, with smaller patches having more diversity. The internal structure of the pine patch influenced both regeneration of Q. ilex and diversity. Pine patches with lower pine tree density were characterized by higher diversity and less Q. ilex regeneration confirming that internal structure affects species differently. From a management perspective, the process of conversion of Mediterranean pine plantations to mixed oak–pine forests could be facilitated by (1) having the seed source uphill from the plantation, (2) increasing the fragmentation of plantations and (3) promoting the internal heterogeneity of plantations to create a diverse range of light environments matching the different requirements of species.

Policy theme(s)

Biodiversity >> Habitats >> Habitat management
Forests >> Forest protection >> Forest biodiversity

Keywords

Fragmentation, Shape, Landscape ecology, Context, Geometry, Spatial configuration, Distance, Dispersal

Entry Source:

Selected for Science for Environment Policy News Alert

Referred to in EC doc:

N/A

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http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1439179111000272
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pgonzalez@ebd.csic.es

Title

Mixed effects of organic farming and landscape complexity on farmland biodiversity and biological control potential across Europe

Reference

Journal of Applied Ecology
Volume 48, Issue 3, pages 570-579, June 2011

Author(s)

Study type

Peer Review Journal

Abstract

Organic farming in Europe has been shown to enhance biodiversity locally, but potential interactions with the surrounding landscape and the potential effects on ecosystem services are less well known.
In cereal fields on 153 farms in five European regions, we examined how the species richness and abundance of wild plants, ground beetles and breeding birds, and the biological control potential of the area, were affected by organic and conventional farming, and how these effects were modified by landscape complexity (percentage of arable crops within 1000 m of the study plots). Information on biodiversity was gathered from vegetation plots, pitfall traps and by bird territory mapping. The biological control potential was measured as the percentage of glued, live aphids removed from plastic labels exposed in cereal fields for 24 h.

Policy theme(s)

Agriculture >> Agricultural management >> Organic farming
Biodiversity >> Habitats >> Habitat management

Keywords

agricultural intensification, agri-environment schemes, biological control, ecosystem services, landscape homogenization, species richness

Entry Source:

Shortlisted for Science for Environment Policy News Alert

Referred to in EC doc:

N/A

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http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-2664.2010.01950.x/abstract
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camilla.winqvist@slu.se

Title

Methods of enhancing botanical diversity within field margins of intensively managed grassland: a 7-year field experiment

Reference

Journal of Applied Ecology
Volume 48, Issue 3, pages 551-560, June 2011

Author(s)

Rochelle A. Fritch, Helen Sheridan, John A. Finn, Laura Kirwan and Daire O Huallachain

Study type

Peer Review Journal

Abstract

Increased intensification in agricultural grasslands has led to well-documented declines in the associated flora. Manipulation of field margins for biodiversity enhancement in arable systems has been extensively investigated. However, there is a paucity of corresponding long-term research within intensively managed grasslands. We investigated a combination of establishment and management methods to enhance botanical diversity of newly established field margins in intensively managed grasslands.

Policy theme(s)

Agriculture >> Agricultural management >> Agri-environment schemes
Biodiversity >> Habitats >> Habitat management

Keywords

Grazing, hay cutting, margin width, natural regeneration, pasture, plant diversity, wildflower seed mixture

Entry Source:

Selected for Science for Environment Policy News Alert

Referred to in EC doc:

N/A

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http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-2664.2010.01951.x/abstract
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rochelle.fritch@gmail.com

Title

Use of topographic variability for assessing plant diversity in agricultural landscapes

Reference

Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment

Author(s)

Gabriela Hofer, Robert G.H. Bunce, Peter J. Edwards, Erich Szerencsits, Helene H. Wagner and Felix Herzog

Study type

Peer Review Journal

Abstract

The relationship between plant diversity and topographic variability in agricultural landscapes was investigated, with the aim of determining whether sampling landscape units of 1 km2 (LUs) across a gradient of topographic variability is more efficient than a random design for assessing the range of biodiversity in climatically and biogeographically homogenous areas called sub-regions. Representative plant species data from the Swiss biodiversity monitoring programme were analyzed covering a broad environmental gradient of four altitudinal belts and seven biogeographic regions. The focus of the study laid on agricultural areas but the whole dataset was as well analyzed to put the agricultural LUs in a general context.
Plant species lists of LUs were used to calculate two diversity components: ECOrichness, the number of ecological plant types per LU (as a measure of beta diversity) and AGROrichness, the number of species of conservation importance for agriculture. Mixed regression models were used to analyse the effects of topographic variability on the two plant diversity components, including sub-regions (areas with the same combination of altitudinal belt and biogeographic region) as random factor. These analyses were performed for the whole dataset (419 LUs within 22 sub-regions) and for the focal subset of 187 agricultural LUs within 13 sub-regions.
ECOrichness increased significantly with topographic variability for both the general and the agricultural dataset. The partial correlations within the sub-regions revealed consistent trends for the agricultural LUs but some inconsistencies for the whole dataset. For the monitoring of agricultural LUs the sampling along a gradient of topographic variability is therefore suggested as an efficient means for assessing the range of plant species diversity within sub-regions. Compared to other measures of landscape heterogeneity like habitat heterogeneity, sampling LUs along topographic variability is cheap and easily applied and it was demonstrated to work over large environmental gradients.

Policy theme(s)

Agriculture >> Agricultural management >> Agri-environment schemes
Biodiversity >> Habitats >> Habitat management

Keywords

Abiotic gradients; Landscape heterogeneity; Niche diversity

Entry Source:

Shortlisted for Science for Environment Policy News Alert

Referred to in EC doc:

N/A

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http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167880911001319
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gabriela.hofer@art.admin.ch

Title

Set-aside promotes insect and plant diversity in a Central European country

Reference

Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment
Volume 141, Issues 3-4, May 2011, Pages 296-301

Author(s)

Anikó Kovács-Hostyánszki, Ádám Körösi, Kirill Márk Orci, Péter Batáry and András Báldi

Study type

Peer Review Journal

Abstract

The area of non-cropped habitats has been decreasing in Europe largely due to land conversion into cropland and energy crops. In Hungary, special agri-environment schemes in Environmentally Sensitive Areas require the establishment of sown set-aside fields especially for endangered bird species. We tested if these set-aside fields are beneficial for plants and insects of agricultural landscapes. We compared the herbaceous flora, grasshopper (Orthoptera), bee (Apidae) and butterfly (Rhopalocera) fauna of five field types (1, 2 and 3 year-old set-aside, winter cereal fields and semi-natural grasslands). Species richness, abundance and species composition of insects were tested against field type and plant species richness. The wheat fields were the poorest habitats for all taxa. The species richness and abundance of the studied insects were usually higher in set-aside than in cereal fields with no significant difference between set-aside of different age. We found the highest number of orthopteran species and butterfly individuals in semi-natural grasslands. At community level, field type and plant species richness had a significant effect on orthopteran assemblages. Butterfly assemblages were significantly affected by field type. Bee assemblages were not significantly related to the above variables. We can conclude that set-aside fields provide important habitat patches for plants and insects, in some cases with similar value to semi-natural grasslands. Our results emphasise the importance of set-aside within the Hungarian agri-environment scheme. Establishment of set-aside management in other Central European countries will likely to be of a similar value as the Hungarian set-aside fields.

Policy theme(s)

Agriculture >> Agricultural management >> Agri-environment schemes
Biodiversity >> Habitats >> Habitat management

Keywords

Agri-environment schemes, Bee, Butterfly, Grassland, Hungary, Orthopteran, Plant species richness, Wheat field

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kovacsanko@yahoo.co.uk

Title

Adapting global conservation strategies to climate change at the European scale: The otter as a flagship species

Reference

Biological Conservation
Volume 144, Issue 8, August 2011, Pages 2068-2080

Author(s)

Carmen Cianfrani, Gwenaëlle Le Lay, Luigi Maiorano, Héctor F. Satizábal, Anna Loy and Antoine Guisan

Study type

Peer Review Journal

Abstract

Climate change has created the need for new strategies in conservation planning that account for the dynamics of factors threatening endangered species.
Here we assessed climate change threat to the European otter, a flagship species for freshwater ecosystems, considering how current conservation areas will perform in preserving the species in a climatically changed future. We used an ensemble forecasting approach considering six modelling techniques applied to eleven subsets of otter occurrences across Europe. We performed a pseudo-independent and an internal evaluation of predictions. Future projections of species distribution were made considering the A2 and B2 scenarios for 2080 across three climate models: CCCMA-CGCM2, CSIRO-MK2 and HCCPR HADCM3. The current and the predicted otter distributions were used to identify priority areas for the conservation of the species, and overlapped to existing network of protected areas.
Our projections show that climate change may profoundly reshuffle the otter's potential distribution in Europe, with important differences between the two scenarios we considered. Overall, the priority areas for conservation of the otter in Europe appear to be unevenly covered by the existing network of protected areas, with the current conservation efforts being insufficient in most cases. For a better conservation, the existing protected areas should be integrated within a more general conservation and management strategy incorporating climate change projections. Due to the important role that the otter plays for freshwater habitats, our study further highlights the potential sensitivity of freshwater habitats in Europe to climate change.

Policy theme(s)

Biodiversity >> Threats to biodiversity >> Endangered species
Biodiversity >> Habitats >> Habitat management
Climate change and energy >> Climate change adaptation >> Biodiversity impacts

Keywords

Long-term conservation plan, Climate change, Freshwater ecosystem, Ensemble forecasting, Species distribution models

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carmen.cianfrani@unil.ch

Title

Spatial planning for biodiversity conservation: Assessment of forest landscapes' conservation value using umbrella species requirements in Poland

Reference

Landscape and Urban Planning
Volume 102, Issue 1, 30 July 2011, Pages 16-23

Author(s)

Tobias Edman, Per Angelsta, Grzegorz Mikusinski, Jean-Michel Roberg, and Arkadiusz Sikora

Study type

Peer Review Journal

Abstract

Maintenance of biodiversity requires spatial planning for the conservation of species habitats. In this study, the distribution of the White-backed Woodpecker (Dendrocopos leucotos) in Poland was used to assess the usefulness of a demographic model compared to an area-based model for predicting the occurrence of breeding pairs in local landscapes. The models were applied to the European Forest Map and to CORINE land cover data, two spatial databases derived from remote sensing. We tested the performance of the models by comparing predicted occurrence of the species with actual occurrence in 10 km  x  10 km of the Polish Ornithological Atlas Database (POAD). Both models proved useful for identifying areas with high potential for hosting breeding woodpeckers. However, the demographic model performed consistently better at predicting the presence of at least one breeding pair in local landscapes. In north-eastern and south-eastern Poland, expected occurrences coincided with the actual occurrence of the species according to POAD. In north-western Poland, however, occurrence was predicted but not confirmed by the atlas data. The eastern regions are situated at the border to Lithuania, Belarus, Ukraine and Slovakia. These countries hold large areas of high conservation value forests and large populations of White-backed Woodpecker. This pattern evokes the need for cross-border governance, and planning with an eco-regional perspective that considers both EU and non-EU countries. Moreover, the results stress the need to incorporate population requirements when assessing the distribution of forests with high conservation value.

Policy theme(s)

Forests >> Forest protection >> Forest biodiversity
Biodiversity >> Habitats >> Habitat management

Keywords

Biodiversity conservation, High conservation value forest, Habitat models, Ecoregional planning, Distribution range, Europe

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tobias.edman@lm.se

Title

Is research keeping up with changes in landscape policy? A review of the literature

Reference

Journal of Environmental Management
Volume 92, Issue 9, September 2011, Pages 2097-2108

Author(s)

Elisabeth Conrad, Mike Christie and Ioan Fazey

Study type

Peer Review Journal

Abstract

Several innovative directions for landscape policy development and implementation have emerged over recent years. These include: (i) an expansion of scope to include all landscape aspects and landscape types, (ii) an increased emphasis on public participation, (iii) a focus on designing measures appropriate for different contexts and scales, and (iv) encouraging support for capacity-building. In this paper, we evaluate the extent to which these policy directions are reflected in the practice of academic landscape research. We evaluate all research papers published in three leading landscape journals over six years, as well as published research papers relating directly to the European Landscape Convention. The latter, which was adopted in 2000, establishes a framework for landscape protection, planning and management in Europe and is to date the only international legal instrument of its kind. Results indicate that whilst policy innovations do not appear to be a major stimulus for academic research, studies nevertheless address a range of landscape aspects, types and scales (albeit with a slight bias towards bio-physical landscape aspects). However, geographical representativeness of research is weak and dominated by the United States and northern/western Europe, and research capacity likewise appears to be unevenly distributed. Landscape research is also limited in the extent to which it involves stakeholders or develops innovative methods for doing so, notwithstanding that this remains a key challenge for policy-makers. Results point to the potential for landscape research to address areas (topical and geographical) which have received little attention to date, as well as suggesting mutual benefits of stronger links between policy and academia.

Policy theme(s)

Biodiversity >> Habitats >> Habitat management
Land use >> Planning

Keywords

Landscape policy, Landscape research, European Landscape Convention,
Participation

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elisabeth.conrad@um.edu.mt

Title

Identification of landscapes for drafting Natura 2000 network Management Plans: A case study in Sicily

Reference

Landscape and Urban Planning
Volume 101, Issue 3, 15 June 2011, Pages 228-243

Author(s)

Patrizia Russo, Laura Carullo, Lara Riguccio and Giovanna Tomaselli

Study type

Peer Review Journal

Abstract

Article 6 of the Habitats Directive provides appropriate Management Plans (MPs) for Natura 2000 network sites which comply with ecological requirements. In Sicily, between 2000 and 2006, 58 Management Plans were drawn up involving 219/233 regional sites. These drafts had to refer to regional directives, drawing on European Union and national guidelines. They require knowledge and intervention not only with reference to aspects of site biology, but also to landscape components. Landscapes should be described 'considering them as the synthesis of physical, biological, historical and cultural characteristics'. This work presents the results of a method proposed by ECOVAST (European Council for the Village and Small Town), based on a visual cognitive analysis for identifying landscapes which was tested while drafting the Natura 2000 site MP 'Torre Manfria, Biviere of Gela and seafront area' on Sicily's southern coast. The work consists of: drafting thematic maps for preliminary territorial analysis; producing a layout of routes from which the landscape was observed; identifying Landscape Units and filling analysis and assessment charts; drafting final results. The results show that the adapted ECOVAST method for the cognitive phase of the MP provided a satisfactory level of information about the landscape as expressed in the European Landscape Convention, the main reference for European Union states. The defined Landscape Units and their relative characteristics provided support for geographically referencing the 'management actions'. Adapting the ECOVAST method helped identify the landscape as having an explicit role in the ELC within a plan type which subordinates protecting the landscape.

Policy theme(s)

Biodiversity >> Habitats >> Habitat management
Biodiversity >> Habitats >> Protected areas/Natura 2000

Keywords

SCIs and SPAs, Site analysis, Methodological instrument

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patrusso@unict.it

Title

Farming system modelling for agri-environmental policy design: The case of a spatially non-aggregated allocation of conservation measures

Reference

Ecological Economics
Volume 70, Issue 5, 15 March 2011, Pages 891-899

Author(s)

Laure Bamière, Petr Havlík, Florence Jacquet, Michel Lherm, Guy Millet and Vincent Bretagnolle

Study type

Peer Review Journal

Abstract

This paper addresses the issue of designing policies for habitat conservation on agricultural land. The case under study requires a non-aggregated spatial distribution of the fields to be enrolled in an agri-environmental programme. A spatially explicit mathematical programming farm-based model, which accounts for three spatial levels (field, farm and landscape), is coupled with a relevant spatial pattern index (the Ripley L-function) to analyse the design and implementation of an agri-environmental programme aimed to preserve the Tetrax tetrax in the Plaine de Niort, France. The model is run using a stylised map with heterogeneous soil types and both crop growing and mixed dairy farms. Results show that valuable insights into agri-environmental programme design are gained through a detailed representation of farming system management. The suitable, non-aggregated spatial pattern for T. tetrax conservation is more costly than less-suitable, more aggregated patterns, because it tends to require equal participation of all farms. The policy simulations reveal that the various spatial patterns can be obtained through relatively simple uniform contract structures. An effective contract structure entails a set of two degressive payments which encourages all farms to enrol at least a small share of their land in the program.

Policy theme(s)

Agriculture>>Agricultural management>>Agri-environment schemes
Biodiversity >> Habitats>>Habitat management

Keywords

Agri-environmental programmes; Spatial pattern; Mathematical programming; Biodiversity; Farmland birds

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N/A

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lbamiere@grignon.inra.fr

Title

Incorporating biodiversity conservation and recreational wildlife values into smart growth land use planning

Reference

Landscape and Urban Planning
Volume 100, Issues 1-2, 30 March 2011, Pages 136-143

Author(s)

Jared G. Underwood, Joyce Francis, Leah R. Gerber

Study type

Peer Review Journal

Abstract

Smart growth land use planning seeks to balance the infrastructure needs of a growing human population and protection for the environment. Unfortunately, the data required to adequately incorporate biodiversity objectives into land use plans is often not available to planners. One problem is that there are few documented methods that detail how biodiversity data held by resource management agencies can be converted to a format useful for inclusion into smart growth plans. Here we demonstrate an approach that allows for state, provincial, or federal resource management agencies to disseminate data on (1) biodiversity conservation, and (2) conservation of wildlife of recreational value for incorporation into local land use plans. Our approach uses modeled threats and species richness data to identify high priority conservation areas and areas more suitable for future development. This approach provides a transparent mechanism to facilitate inclusion of biodiversity objectives into smart growth planning.

Policy theme(s)

Biodiversity >> Habitats >> Habitat management
Land use >> Land use change

Keywords

Biodiversity, Conservation planning, Land-use planning, Smart growth, Wildlife

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jared.underwood@asu.edu

Title

Bio economic modeling for a sustainable management of biodiversity in agricultural lands

Reference

Ecological Economics
Volume 70, Issue 4, 15 February 2011, Pages 617-626

Author(s)

L. Mouysset, L. Doyen, F. Jiguet, G. Allaire and F. Leger

Study type

Peer Review Journal

Abstract

For several decades, significant changes in farmland biodiversity have been reported in Europe. Agriculture is a major driver of these modifications. Taking into account these environmental impacts, agriculture nowadays aims at a more sustainable way of producing which would reconcile its economic and ecological functions. The objective of this paper is to give insights into the impact of public policies on both conservation of biodiversity and farming production. We develop a macro-regional model combining community dynamics of 34 bird species impacted by agricultural land-uses and an economic decision model. The ecological dynamic model is calibrated with the STOC (French Breeding Bird Survey) and AGRESTE (French land-uses) databases while the economic model relies on the gross margins of the FADN (Farm Accountancy Data Network). We investigate the scenario based on subsidies and taxes. We show that simple economic instruments could be used to establish scenarios promoting economic performances and bird populations. It is pointed out how the sustainability of the policies is sensitive to the ecological and economic indicators used by the planner. The bio-economical analysis shows several solutions for the ecology-economy trade-off. These results suggest that many possibilities are available to develop multi-functional sustainable agriculture.

Policy theme(s)

Agriculture >> Agricultural management >> Agri-environment schemes
Biodiversity >> Habitats >> Habitat management

Keywords

Biodiversity, Agriculture, Bioeconomic modelling, Sustainability, Bird, Land-use

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mouysset@mnhn.fr

Title

The Satoyama Index: A biodiversity indicator for agricultural landscapes

Reference

Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment
Volume 140, Issues 1-2, 30 January 2011, Pages 20-26

Author(s)

Taku Kadoya  and Izumi Washitani

Study type

Peer Review Journal   

Abstract

Agricultural development to meet rapidly growing demands for food and biofuel and the abandonment of traditional land use have had major impacts on biodiversity. Habitat diversity is one of the most important factors influencing biodiversity in agricultural landscapes. In this study we propose an ecological index of ecosystem or habitat diversity in agricultural landscapes - the Satoyama Index (SI) - that is discernible under appropriate spatial units (e.g., 6 km × 6 km) from 1 km × 1 km gridded land-cover data available from an open-access web site. A high SI value is an indicator of high habitat diversity, which is characteristic of traditional agricultural systems, including Japanese satoyama landscapes, while a low value indicates a monotonic habitat condition typical of extensive monoculture landscapes. The index correlated well with the spatial patterns of occurrence of a bird of prey (Butastur indicus) and species richness of amphibians and damselflies in Japan. The values of the SI also corresponded well to the spatial patterns of typical traditional agricultural landscapes with high conservation value in other countries, for example, the dehesas of the Iberian Peninsula and shade coffee landscapes in Central America. Globally, the pattern of East/South-East Asian paddy belts with their high index values contrasts markedly with the low values of the Eurasian, American, and Australian wheat or corn belts. The SI, which correlates landscapes with biodiversity through potential habitat availability, is highly promising for assessing and monitoring the status of biodiversity irrespective of scale.

Policy theme(s)

Agriculture >> Agricultural management >> Agri-environment schemes
Biodiversity >> Habitats >> Habitat management

Keywords

Amphibian species richness, Butastur indicus, Convention on Biological Diversity, Countryside biodiversity, Damselfly species richness, Landscape heterogeneity

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Shortlisted for Science for Environment Policy News Alert

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kadoya@nies.go.jp

Title

Topographically controlled thermal-habitat differentiation buffers alpine plant diversity against climate warming

Reference

Journal of Biogeography, 2010
DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2699.2010.02407.x

Author(s)

Daniel Scherrer, Christian Körner

Study type

Peer Review Journal   

Abstract

We aim to: (1) explore thermal habitat preferences in alpine plant species across mosaics of topographically controlled micro-habitats; (2) test the predictive value of so-called 'indicator values'; and (3) quantify the shift in micro-habitat conditions under the influence of climate warming.
Location: Alpine vegetation 2200-2800 m a.s.l., Swiss central Alps.
Methods: High-resolution infra-red thermometry and large numbers of small data loggers were used to assess the spatial and temporal variation of plant-surface and ground temperatures as well as snow-melt patterns for 889 plots distributed across three alpine slopes of contrasting exposure. These environmental data were then correlated with Landolt indicator values for temperature preferences of different plant species and vegetation units. By simulating a uniform 2 K warming we estimated the changes in abundance of micro-habitat temperatures within the study area.
Results: Within the study area we observed a substantial variation between micro-habitats in seasonal mean soil temperature (ΔT = 7.2 K), surface temperature (ΔT = 10.5 K) and season length (>32 days). Plant species with low indicator values for temperature (plants commonly found in cool habitats) grew in significantly colder micro-habitats than plants with higher indicator values found on the same slope. A 2 K warming will lead to the loss of the coldest habitats (3% of current area), 75% of the current thermal micro-habitats will be reduced in abundance (crowding effect) and 22% will become more abundant.
Main conclusions: Our results demonstrate that the topographically induced mosaics of micro-climatic conditions in an alpine landscape are associated with local plant species distribution. Semi-quantitative plant species indicator values based on expert knowledge and aggregated to community means match measured thermal habitat conditions. Metre-scale thermal contrasts significantly exceed IPCC warming projections for the next 100 years. The data presented here thus indicate a great risk of overestimating alpine habitat losses in isotherm-based model scenarios. While all but the species depending on the very coldest micro-habitats will find thermally suitable 'escape' habitats within short distances, there will be enhanced competition for those cooler places on a given slope in an alpine climate that is 2 K warmer. Yet, due to their topographic variability, alpine landscapes are likely to be safer places for most species than lowland terrain in a warming world.

Policy theme(s)

Biodiversity >> Habitats >> Habitat management
Climate change and energy >> Climate change adaptation >> Biodiversity impacts

Keywords

Climate change, indicator values, micro-habitat, snow distribution, soil
temperature, species diversity, surface temperature, Switzerland, thermometry.

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N/A

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Shortlisted for Science for Environment Policy News Alert

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http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-2699.2010.02407.x/abstract
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daniel.scherrer@unibas.ch

Title

Conserving biodiversity with tradable permits under changing conservation costs and habitat restoration time lag

Reference

Ecological Economics
Volume 70, Issue 3, 15 January 2011, Pages 533-541

Author(s)

Martin Drechsler and Florian Hartig

Study type

Peer Review Journal

Abstract

Tradable permits are a common environmental policy instrument that has recently been applied also to the conservation of biodiversity. Biodiversity conservation differs in many respects to the classical applications of tradable permits like emissions control. One particularity is that, even if the permit system maintains a constant total amount of species habitat, habitat turnover (the destruction of a habitat and restoration elsewhere) affects the ecosystem. Another particularity is that the restoration of habitats often takes much time, leading to time lags between the initiation of restoration activities and the time when restored habitat is available for trading. We use an agent-based model of a tradable permit market to study the influence of heterogeneous and dynamic conservation costs and habitat restoration time lags on key variables of the market, such as the costs incurred to the market participants and the amount of habitat turnover. Our results show that there may be trade-offs between these key variables. We also find that restoration time lags can lead to fluctuations in permit prices that reduce the efficiency of the permit market. We conclude that temporal lags deserve a careful analysis when implementing tradable permit systems for the preservation of natural habitats and biodiversity.

Policy theme(s)

Biodiversity >> Habitats >> Habitat management

Keywords

Agent-based model, Biodiversity conservation, Environmental policy, Habitat restoration, Habitat turnover, Time lag, Tradable permits

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Selected for Science for Environment Policy News Alert

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martin.drechsler@ufz.de

Title

Landscape composition influences farm management effects on farmland birds in winter: A pan-European approach

Reference

Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment Volume 139, Issue 4, 15 December 2010, Pages 571-577

Author(s)

Flavia Geiger et al

Study type

Peer Review Journal

Abstract

This study examined the effects of agricultural intensity, various farming practices, landscape composition and vegetation cover on the abundance and species richness of wintering farmland birds, assessed simultaneously across seven European regions. The abundance and species richness of wintering farmland birds were negatively affected by agricultural intensity. The effects of yield and farm type were interlinked. Of the 10 farming practices assessed, mechanical weeding and the amount of organic fertilizer applied negatively affected farmland birds, presumably due to reduced food availability on arable fields. Positive effects of organic farming on farmland birds proved to be limited to simplified landscapes. More farmland birds were observed in areas with more stubble, pasture and green manure crops. Species richness was higher in areas with more pasture. The results of this study show that farm management, vegetation cover and landscape composition all influence wintering farmland birds. Heterogeneous landscapes comprising arable crops as well as grasslands support most species of farmland birds in winter. The effectiveness of organic farming and agri-environment schemes depends on landscape composition. Therefore, different agri-environment schemes should be designed for different landscape types.

Policy theme(s)

Agriculture >> Agricultural management >> Agri-environment schemes
Agriculture >> Agricultural management >> Organic farming
Biodiversity >> Habitats >> Habitat management

Keywords

Organic farming, Farming practice, Agricultural intensification, Arable, Agri-environment scheme

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Selected for Science for Environment Policy News Alert

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N/A

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flavia.geiger@wur.nl

Title

Reference

Conservation Biology
Volume 24, Issue 6, pages 1644-1653, December 2010

Author(s)

GÁBOR HORVÁTH, et al

Study type

Peer Review Journal

Abstract

Human-made objects (e.g., buildings with glass surfaces) can reflect horizontally polarized light so strongly that they appear to aquatic insects to be bodies of water. Insects that lay eggs in water are especially attracted to such structures because these insects use horizontal polarization of light off bodies of water to find egg-laying sites. Thus, these sources of polarized light can become ecological traps associated with reproductive failure and mortality in organisms that are attracted to them and by extension with rapid population declines or collapse. Solar panels are a new source of polarized light pollution. Using imaging polarimetry, we measured the reflection–polarization characteristics of different solar panels and in multiple-choice experiments in the field we tested their attractiveness to mayflies, caddis flies, dolichopodids, and tabanids. At the Brewster angle, solar panels polarized reflected light almost completely (degree of polarization d ≈100%) and substantially exceeded typical polarization values for water (d ≈30-70%). Mayflies (Ephemeroptera), stoneflies (Trichoptera), dolichopodid dipterans, and tabanid flies (Tabanidae) were the most attracted to solar panels and exhibited oviposition behavior above solar panels more often than above surfaces with lower degrees of polarization (including water), but in general they avoided solar cells with nonpolarizing white borders and white grates. The highly and horizontally polarizing surfaces that had nonpolarizing, white cell borders were 10- to 26-fold less attractive to insects than the same panels without white partitions. Although solar panels can act as ecological traps, fragmenting their solar-active area does lessen their attractiveness to polarotactic insects. The design of solar panels and collectors and their placement relative to aquatic habitats will likely affect populations of aquatic insects that use polarized light as a behavioral cue.

Policy theme(s)

Biodiversity >> Habitats >> Habitat management
Biodiversity >> Threats to biodiversity >> Human impacts
Climate change and energy >> Climate change mitigation >> Renewable energy

Keywords

evolutionary trap, habitat selection, maladaptation, polarized light pollution

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Selected for Science for Environment Policy News Alert

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N/A

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http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1523-1739.2010.01518.x/abstract
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roberba1@msu.edu