Grassland nature reserves for breeding wading birds in England and the implications for the ESA agri-environment scheme

Ausden, Malcolm; Hirons, G. J. M.

doi:10.1016/s0006-3207(01)00254-3

Cited by 64 publications

(69 citation statements)

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“…Low-intensity management coupled with high water tables and flooding have contributed to the importance of wet grasslands as wildlife habitat especially for waterfowl and wading birds (Ausden et al, 2001;Ausden and Hirons, 2002). The North Kent Marshes support nationally important breeding populations of lapwing (Vanellus vanellus) and redshank (Tringa totanus).…”

Section: Study Site: the Elmley Marshesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Modelling the hydrological impacts of climate change on UK lowland wet grassland

Thompson

Gavin

Refsgaard

et al. 2008

Wetlands Ecol Manage

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Hydrological impacts of climate change upon the Elmley Marshes, southeast England, are simulated using a coupled hydrological/hydraulic model developed using MIKE SHE/MIKE 11 and calibrated to contemporary conditions. Predicted changes in precipitation, temperature, radiation and wind speed from the UK Climate Impacts Programme associated with four emissions scenarios for the 2050s are used to modify precipitation and potential evapotranspiration data. For each emissions scenario two sets of potential evapotranspiration data are derived, one using changes in temperature (PET temp ), the other incorporating changes in temperature, radiation and wind speed (PET trws ). Results indicate drier conditions through the progressively higher emissions scenarios when compared to contemporary conditions. Changes are particularly pronounced when using PET trws . Summer water tables are lower (PET temp 0.01-0.08 m; PET trws 0.07-0.27 m) and the duration of high winter water tables is reduced. Although water tables still intercept the surface in winter when using PET temp , this ceases when PET trws is employed. Summer ditch water levels for the PET temp scenarios are lower (0.01-0.21 m) and in dry winters they do not reach mean field level. Under the PET trws scenarios summer and winter ditch water levels are lower by on average 0.21 m and 0.30 m respectively. Levels never reach the elevation of the marsh surface. Lower groundwater and ditch water levels result in declines in the magnitude and duration of surface inundation which is virtually eliminated with the PET trws scenarios. Hydrological changes can be expected to have ecological impacts which may include the loss of some grassland species adapted to periods of high water table. Reductions in the extent of surface water in spring, especially for the PET trws scenarios, are likely to reduce suitability for wading birds including lapwing (Vanellus vanellus) and redshank (Tringa totanus) for which the marshes are internationally renowned.

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Section: Study Site: the Elmley Marshesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Modelling the hydrological impacts of climate change on UK lowland wet grassland

Thompson

Gavin

Refsgaard

et al. 2008

Wetlands Ecol Manage

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“…data) and a key food source for Linnets (Moorcroft et al 1997) and Turtle Doves (Browne & Aebischer 2003) Turtle Doves have fewer breeding attempts compared to the 1960s Cirl Buntings require weedy overwinter stubbles near to extensively managed grassland (Evans 1996) Studies of land-uses or land management practices Set-aside can provide an important nesting and foraging habitat for a number of species (Buckingham et al 1999, Henderson et al 2000a, 2000b. In winter, weedy crop stubbles are the most important seed-eating foraging habitats for seed-eating birds (Wilson et al 1996) whilst unimproved pastures are preferred by insectivorous species (Tucker 1992) The structure and management of hedgerows determines their use by breeding birds (Green et al 1994) Bird diversity and the densities of some species can be higher on organic farms compared with conventional farms (Chamberlain et al 1999) Developing and testing of solutions Grey Partridge brood sizes can be nearly doubled by leaving outer 6 m of cereal fields unsprayed by pesticides (Rands 1985) Legal control of predators over a 3-year period increased Grey Partridge breeding density by a factor of 2.6 (Tapper et al 1996) Crop mixtures including kale, quinoa, fat hen and linseed are the most attractive to seed-eating birds (Henderson et al 2001, Boatman & Stoate 2002, Stoate et al 2003 A range of breeding and non-breeding birds responded to management prescriptions on farms taking part in the Arable Stewardship Pilot scheme compared with nearby farms outside the scheme (Bradbury & Allen 2003 Between 1995 and 1998, Cirl Bunting numbers increased by 82% on land under Countryside Stewardship agreement compared with only 2% on nearby non-agreement land (Peach et al 2001) Higher tier wet grassland ESA prescriptions are successful in maintaining or increasing the numbers of breeding Lapwings but lower tier prescriptions are not (Ausden & Hirons 2002) Spring /summer fallows provide Lapwings with nesting habitat throughout the breeding season, increase nest survival and can provide chick-rearing habitat in some instances (Sheldon 2002) Mowing date and method has a huge effect on Corncrake breeding success (Green et al 1997) Small undrilled patches in winter cereals can increase Skylark densities and productivity (Morris et al 2003) 1997), it has been possible to develop simple models which attempt to link bird abundance with the extent or attributes of different habitats. For one species (Grey Partridge), it has been possible to quantify the amounts ...…”

Section: (2) Autecological Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Peach et al . 2001, Ausden & Hirons 2002. A few studies have attempted to look at the ecological consequences of individual management prescriptions (e.g.…”

Section: (4) Developing and Testing Solutionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Science into policy: the role of research in the development of a recovery plan for farmland birds in England

Grice

Evans

Osmond

et al. 2004

Ibis

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The results of scientific research have played a central role in convincing decision-makers of the plight of farmland birds and in the development of land management measures and policies designed to reverse the population declines. Several types of study have contributed to what is now a considerable knowledge base on the ecological requirements of key species, the reasons for their declines and the remedial measures necessary to bring about population recovery. They include: monitoring; analyses of large-scale datasets; detailed studies of particular species, land-uses or land management practices; and the development and testing of solutions. As a consequence, there is now an excellent qualitative understanding of farmland bird ecology, which is well reflected in the suite of land management schemes and other policy initiatives that currently operate in England. Future research efforts should focus on the further development and testing of solutions and gaining a better understanding of the quantitative relationship between the provision of resources (especially nesting and foraging habitats) and the population response of target bird species. Such work should ensure that land management measures are deployed at the required scale, in appropriate locations and are of sufficient quality to influence the national populations of the declining species.

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“…Empirical analyses of management costs of protected areas range in scales from global (Balmford et al, 2003) to studies that consider a handful of sites managed by a single organisation (Ausden and Hirons, 2002;Ausden, 2007). These studies reveal marked variation in management costs across protected areas and attempts to attribute this cost variation to different site characteristics suggest some common factors.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Management costs for small protected areas and economies of scale in habitat conservation

Armsworth

Cantú‐Salazar

Parnell³

et al. 2011

Biological Conservation

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Protected area management must be resourced adequately to achieve its conservation objectives. The variability in management costs across candidate sites for protection therefore should inform conservation planning. For example, when considering whether to accept a donation of a property, a conservation organisation must determine whether an adequate endowment is available to fund future management activities. We examine variation in management costs across 78 small protected areas in the UK that are managed by a conservation NGO, the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust. Management costs exceed acquisition costs when funded on an endowment basis and are not correlated with acquisition costs or with proxy measures for conservation costs commonly relied upon in conservation planning studies. A combination of geographic, ecological and socioeconomic characteristics of sites explains 50% of the variation in management costs. Site area is the most important determinant of management costs, which demonstrate economies of scale; implementing conservation management on an additional hectare adjacent to a larger protected area would incur a lower cost than doing the same adjacent to a smaller site. In evidencing this effect of site area, we avoid problems of spurious correlation that confound previous studies. Protected areas that encompass a greater richness of priority habitats for conservation also require more expensive management. Conservation organisations may have little option but to create small protected areas to conserve biodiversity in highly fragmented landscapes, but the decision to do so should take account of the greater cost burden that small protected areas incur.

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Grassland nature reserves for breeding wading birds in England and the implications for the ESA agri-environment scheme

Cited by 64 publications

References 14 publications

Modelling the hydrological impacts of climate change on UK lowland wet grassland

Modelling the hydrological impacts of climate change on UK lowland wet grassland

Science into policy: the role of research in the development of a recovery plan for farmland birds in England

Management costs for small protected areas and economies of scale in habitat conservation

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