Nesting Success of Birds Breeding in Dutch Agricultural Grasslands

Beintema, A.J.; Müskens, Gerard

doi:10.2307/2403978

Cited by 175 publications

(187 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…[100]). Studies indicate that cattle become problematic to wader breeding when cattle are stocked at >2 head¨ha´1 [100], and may then trample between 35% and 70% of wader nests [101].…”

Section: Birds Of Preymentioning

confidence: 99%

Wet Grasslands as a Green Infrastructure for Ecological Sustainability: Wader Conservation in Southern Sweden as a Case Study

et al. 2016

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Abstract:Biosphere Reserves aim at being role models for biodiversity conservation. This study focuses on the unsuccessful conservation of waders (Charadrii) on wet grasslands in the Kristianstad Vattenrike Biosphere Reserve (KVBR) in southern Sweden. Predation on nests and young has been proposed as one reason contributing to the decline of waders. We explored this hypothesis by comparing two landscapes, one with declining (KVBR) and one with stable (Östergötland) wader populations on managed wet grasslands in southern Sweden. Specifically, we tested three predictions linked to predation on wader nests and young, namely that (1) the relative abundance of avian predators and waders; (2) the avian predator abundance; and (3) the predation rate on artificial wader nests, should all be higher in declining versus stable populations. All predictions were clearly supported. Nevertheless, predation may not be the ultimate factor causing wader population declines. We discuss the cumulative effects of landscape change linked to increased food resources for predators, reduced wet grassland patch size and quality. Holistic analyses of multiple wet grassland landscapes as social-ecological systems as case studies, including processes such as predation and other factors affecting waders, is a promising avenue towards collaborative learning for wet grasslands as a functional green infrastructure. However, if governance and management approaches can be improved is questionable without considerable investment in both ecological and social systems.

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“…[100]). Studies indicate that cattle become problematic to wader breeding when cattle are stocked at >2 head¨ha´1 [100], and may then trample between 35% and 70% of wader nests [101].…”

Section: Birds Of Preymentioning

confidence: 99%

Wet Grasslands as a Green Infrastructure for Ecological Sustainability: Wader Conservation in Southern Sweden as a Case Study

et al. 2016

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“…2); also conversion of mixed farms to arable or 'improved' grass monocultures; change from spring-sown to autumn-sown cereals (which reduces the area of spring tillage, favoured for nesting); and increased stocking densities on grassland (which leads to more disturbance, nest predation and trampling) (Beintema & Muskens 1987, Baines 1988, Beintema 1988, Galbraith 1988, Shrubb 1990, Shrubb & Lack 1991, Hudson et al 1994, Wilson et al 2001, Hart et al 2002. No change in annual survival during the years of decline , so reduced reproduction proposed as the demographic cause; and in some local populations annual production measured as insufficient to offset expected annual mortality (e.g.…”

Section: Greenmentioning

confidence: 99%

The recent declines of farmland bird populations in Britain: an appraisal of causal factors and conservation actions

Newton

2004

Ibis

629

501

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In this paper, the main aspects of agricultural intensification that have led to population declines in farmland birds over the past 50 years are reviewed, together with the current state of knowledge, and the effects of recent conservation actions. For each of 30 declining species, attention is focused on: (1) the external causes of population declines, (2) the demographic mechanisms and (3) experimental tests of proposed external causal factors, together with the outcome of (4) specific conservation measures and (5) agri-environment schemes. Although each species has responded individually to particular aspects of agricultural change, certain groups of species share common causal factors. For example, declines in the population levels of seed-eating birds have been driven primarily by herbicide use and the switch from spring-sown to autumn-sown cereals, both of which have massively reduced the food supplies of these birds. Their population declines have been associated with reduced survival rates and, in some species, also with reduced reproductive rates. In waders of damp grassland, population declines have been driven mainly by land drainage and the associated intensification of grassland management. This has led to reduced reproductive success, as a result of lowered food availability, together with increased disturbance and trampling by farm stock, and in some localities increased nest predation. The external causal factors of population decline are known (with varying degrees of certainty) for all 30 species considered, and the demographic causal factors are known (again with varying degrees of certainty) for 24 such species. In at least 19 species, proposed causal factors have been tested and confirmed by experiment or by local conservation action, and 12 species have been shown to benefit (in terms of locally increased breeding density) from options available in one or more agri-environment schemes. Four aspects of agricultural change have been the main drivers of bird population declines, each affecting a wide range of species, namely: (1) weed-control, mainly through herbicide use; (2) the change from spring-sown to autumn-sown cereal varieties, and the associated earlier ploughing of stubbles and earlier crop growth; (3) land drainage and associated intensification of grassland management; and (4) increased stocking densities, mainly of cattle in the lowlands and sheep in the uplands. These changes have reduced the amounts of habitat and /or food available to many species. Other changes, such as the removal of hedgerows and 'rough patches', have affected smaller numbers of species, as have changes in the timings of cultivations and harvests. Although at least eight species have shown recent increases in their national population levels, many others seem set to continue declining, or to remain at a much reduced level, unless some relevant aspect of agricultural practice is changed.Widespread population declines of farmland birds are of major conservation concern in Britain and other parts of Europe. S...

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“…Some waders, such as lapwing Vanellus vanellus or dunlin Calidris alpina, however, prefer shorter vegetation (Niethammer andVon Blotzheim 1966, Clausen andKahlert 2010). These species may benefit from high density livestock grazing, which would present no conflict with managing a salt marsh for staging geese, although the trampling of nests is lower when an area is grazed with low stocking density (Beintema and Müskens 1987, Fuller and Gough 1999, Mandema et al 2013). Trampling of nests may be largely prevented by postponing release dates of cattle to the end of the breeding season.…”

Section: Effects Of Grazing Treatmentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Short-term and long-term facilitation of goose grazing by livestock in the Dutch Wadden Sea area

et al. 2002

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Nesting Success of Birds Breeding in Dutch Agricultural Grasslands

Cited by 175 publications

References 5 publications

Wet Grasslands as a Green Infrastructure for Ecological Sustainability: Wader Conservation in Southern Sweden as a Case Study

Wet Grasslands as a Green Infrastructure for Ecological Sustainability: Wader Conservation in Southern Sweden as a Case Study

The recent declines of farmland bird populations in Britain: an appraisal of causal factors and conservation actions

Short-term and long-term facilitation of goose grazing by livestock in the Dutch Wadden Sea area

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