Habitat selection of the Ortolan bunting Emberiza hortulana in Poland: predictions from large‐scale habitat elements

Abstract

The Ortolan bunting Emberiza hortulana was censused in Poland during the Common Breeding Birds Monitoring Project in [2003][2004][2005][2006][2007][2008][2009]. Data from 683 monitoring polygons, covering in total more than 0.23% of the country, were used in the analysis. Based on the data and environmental information gathered in GIS databases (Corine land cover ''CLC2000 and 2006'' database, digital elevation model ''GTOPO30'' dataset, ''Wordclim'' dataset, and NDVI dataset), we modeled a habitat-and spatial-related variation of the Ortolan bunting's presence. Birds were recorded in 13.2% grid cells. The mean density was 0.5 individual/km 2 . We modeled the spatial presence of birds using multivariate adaptive regression splines (MARS). Then models were cross-validated to check their consistency. The environment-use model shows that the Ortolan bunting prefers extensively cultivated farmland dominated by non-irrigated arable fields, small coniferous and mixed forests, complex cultivation patterns, and meadows. The preferred areas are located on lowlands in western and central parts of the country where the climate is the driest and warmest. Such a repeatable spatial pattern model of the population helped to create a predictive map of the Ortolan bunting's presence in Poland. The general rule is that the probability gradient of its presence increases from the northeastern part of the country to the central and southwestern parts of Poland. Additionally, the Ortolan bunting avoids severe continental climate and regions with dense ground-level vegetation.

Predictive mapping of Meadow Pipit density using integrated remote sensing data and an atlas of vascular plants dataset

“…By employing remote sensing data and maps of vascular plant distribution, we have not limited the study to climate and habitat (Sardà-Palomera & Vieites 2011, Kosicki & Chylarecki 2012b. Meadow Pipit density relies strongly on an adequate, wet meadow habitat, which in turn depends on precipitation and non-natural processes, i.e.…”

“…(Guisan & Zimmermann 2000, Giordano et al 2010, Kosicki & Chylarecki 2012a, 2012b. Such data are only suitable for some species that have habitat requirements with sharp boundaries in the landscape, e.g.…”

“…Such data are only suitable for some species that have habitat requirements with sharp boundaries in the landscape, e.g. the Common Quail Coturnix coturnix (Sardà-Palomera & Vieites 2011) and the Ortolan Bunting Emberiza hortulana (Kosicki & Chylarecki 2012b). However, other species may respond to more detailed habitats, which are not defined in remote sensing data (Akçakaya 2001, Giordano et al 2010.…”

“…Here, we construct habitat suitability models for Meadow Pipit density in Poland using remote sensing data, the atlas of vascular plants (Zając & Zając 2001) and data from the 'Common Bird Monitoring Scheme' (Gregory et al 2007, Kosicki & Chylarecki 2012a, 2012b. The habitats identified by remote sensing were reclassified into finer categories according to where they were relative to plant atlas records, i.e.…”

Integrating Open Access Geospatial Data to Map the Habitat Suitability of the Declining Corn Bunting (Miliaria calandra)

“…For example, the Ortolan bunting (Emberiza hortulana) population in Finland declined 72% between 1984 and 2002 [5], and in Poland, its population declined 20% between 2000 and 2010 [6]. The population collapse of the cirl bunting (Emberiza cirlus) in Britain between 1970 and 1990 coincided with unprecedented large-scale changes in agricultural practice, leading to losses in the species' breeding habitat [7,8].…”