scholarly journals The Importance of Low-Intensive Agricultural Landscape for Birds of Prey

Land ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 252
Author(s):  
Emanuel Ștefan Baltag ◽  
Viorel Pocora ◽  
Lucian Eugen Bolboaca ◽  
Constantin Ion
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Landscape ◽  
Diversity Index ◽  
Forest Edge ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
Common Buzzard ◽  
Trophic Networks ◽  
Heterogeneous Landscape ◽  
The Common ◽  
Breeding Seasons ◽  
Agricultural Areas

Low-intensive agricultural areas of Romania sustain high species diversity. Together with natural habitats, these areas are very important for European biodiversity. The ecosystem´s health is reflected in the predator status because of their position at the top of the trophic networks. The Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo) is the most common bird of prey species in Europe. During the first survey census conducted in Eastern Romania (2011–2012 breeding seasons), 8.55–10.35 breeding pairs/100 square km have been counted. The Common Buzzard density varies between breeding seasons and with differences in habitat structure. Their density is positively influenced by the density of forest edge and Simpson diversity index of habitats but is negatively influenced by the total habitat fragmentation and mean daily temperature. According to this analysis, the selection of breeding territories by common buzzards is positively influenced by a heterogeneous landscape in an area with low-intensive agriculture and with large areas of open habitats made up of natural or semi-natural vegetation.

scholarly journals Abundance of raptors and habitat preferences of the common buzzard Buteo buteo and the common kestrel Falco tinnunculus during the non-breeding season in an agricultural landscape (Western Slovakia)

2014 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vladimír Nemček
Keyword(s):  
Breeding Season ◽  
Human Activities ◽  
Agricultural Landscape ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Habitat Preferences ◽  
Falco Tinnunculus ◽  
Common Buzzard ◽  
Buteo Buteo ◽  
The Common ◽  
Breeding Seasons

Abstract Habitat use and preferences by raptors were studied during three non-breeding seasons (2011-201 3) in an agricultural landscape in western Slovakia. The non-breeding season on agricultural land showed high variation and changes in the cover of habitats related to human activities. The most abundant raptor species were the common buzzard Buteo buteo (L.) (1 52 individuals) and the common kestrel Falco tinnunculus (L.) (78 individuals). The common buzzard preferred alfalfa and avoided ploughed fields. The common kestrel showed a high habitat preference for alfalfa, corn fields, stubbles and fallow. It also avoided ploughed fields and wheat.

scholarly journals Diet composition, body condition and sexual size dimorphism of the common African toad (Amietophrynus regularis) in urban and agricultural landscape

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin Yeboah Ofori ◽  
John Bosu Mensah ◽  
Roger Sigismund Anderson ◽  
Daniel Korley Attuquayefio
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition ◽  
Diet Composition ◽  
Sexual Size Dimorphism ◽  
Agricultural Landscape ◽  
Individual Characteristics ◽  
Generalist Predator ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
Size Dimorphism ◽  
The Common ◽  
Prey Items

AbstractLand use and land cover change (LULCC) are major drivers of global biodiversity loss. The conversion of natural habitats into human-modified landscapes poses novel and multifaceted environmental stressors to organisms, influencing their ecology, physiology, life history and fitness. Although the effects of LULCC have been studied extensively at the community level, there is scant information about its effect on population and individual characteristics. We assessed the diet composition, body condition, and sexual size dimorphism of the common African toad (Amietophrynus regularis) in urban and agricultural landscape. Diet composition was evaluated using gut content analysis, while body condition was measured using residual mass index. Overall, 935 prey items comprising six classes, at least 18 orders and 31 families were obtained from toads. This broad dietary niche suggested that Amietophrynus regularis is a generalist predator. The family Formicidae was the most consumed prey item, with a frequency of occurrence above 80% at both sites. We found no sex- or habitat-biased dietary partitioning in the toads. A statistically significant positive correlation existed between snout-vent-length (SVL) and diversity of prey items (Pearson’s correlation r = 0.999, p ≤ 0.0001) for toads from farmland, which also had better body conditions. The toads showed female-biased sexual size dimorphism, but males had longer tibio-fibula, radio-ulna, foot, and distal fore limbs. This study is probably the first to assess the diet composition, body condition and sexual size dimorphism of Amietophrynus regularis simultaneously. The ecological, evolutionary and conservation implications of our findings are discussed.

scholarly journals Population Densities and Community Structure of Birds Breeding in a Suburban Wooded Grassland in the Highveld of Lesotho

2019 ◽  
Vol 53 (2) ◽  
pp. 155-164
Author(s):  
G. Kopij
Keyword(s):  
Community Structure ◽  
Diversity Index ◽  
Mapping Method ◽  
Feeding Guilds ◽  
Avian Community ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
Turtle Dove ◽  
Breeding Seasons ◽  
Avian Community Structure

Abstract The mapping method was employed to study avian community structure in relation to rainfall in a town suburb in Highveld grassland in southern Africa. Studies were conducted in two breeding seasons: 1998, with dry spring; and 2001, with close to average spring rainfall. The total rainfall in 1998 was 1254 mm, while in 2001 it was 1445 mm, in both years much above the long-term annual average (866 mm). The avian community remained remarkably similar in both years, both in respect to the number of species (44 in 1998 and 53 in 2001), and dominance relationships. The Simpson’s Diversity Index was high and also very similar in 1998 and 2001 (D = 0.91; 0.93 respectively). In all years, dominant species included the Laughing Dove, Grey-headed Sparrow, Speckled Dove, Cape Turtle-Dove and Common Fiscal. The Southern Red Bishop in 2001 was also in the group of dominants. Significant differences were noted in the overall density of all birds, but contrary to expectation density was higher in 1998, with lower rainfall, than in 2001, with higher rainfall. The proportions of nesting and feeding guilds were similar in both years compared, except for the granivores, which were proportionally more common in 1998 than in 2001. This difference was mainly due to the Laughing Dove and Grey-headed Sparrow. Generally, it appears that the suburban avian community is more stable and more diverse than neighbouring communities in the natural habitats.

scholarly journals Agricultural Abandonment in Chosen Terrain Attributes Context – Case Study from the Poľana Unesco Biosphere Reserve (Central Slovakia)

2017 ◽  
Vol 36 (4) ◽  
pp. 339-351
Author(s):  
Matej Masný ◽  
Karol Weis ◽  
Martin Boltižiar
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Agricultural Landscape ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Diversity Index ◽  
Biosphere Reserve ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Agricultural Abandonment ◽  
Terrain Attributes ◽  
Agricultural Areas ◽  
Steep Slopes

Abstract Agricultural land in many post-socialist countries passed through a similar scenario of eminent changes in the past decades. One of the important milestones was the process of collectivisation (in 1950−1970), transformation to market-oriented economy (after 1989) and the following integration into the European Union. These changes were often attended by the process of agricultural abandonment. This paper presents an approach to the evaluation of agricultural abandonment by analysis of land use change in chosen terrain attributes (slope levels and altitude levels) context. It studies the area of a northern part of the Poľana UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) Biosphere reserve that represents mountain agricultural landscape. All of the analyses were realised in GIS (geographic information systems), based on the orthophotos that represented the land use structure in 1949, 1986 and 2006. Dramatic decrease in real usage of agricultural areas attended by the process of secondary succession was observed especially in steep slopes and higher altitude levels. To quantify the changes, landscape metrics such as class area (CA), number of patches (NP) and mean patch size (MPS) were used. Changes in landscape classes had an influence on landscape diversity. It was expressed by decrease in Shannon‘s diversity index (SDI) and Shannon‘s evenness index (SEI).

Willughby's Buzzard: names and misnomers of the European Honey-buzzard (Pernis apivorus)

2018 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 80-91 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. R. Birkhead ◽  
I. Charmantier ◽  
P. J. Smith ◽  
R. Montgomerie
Keyword(s):  
Accurate Description ◽  
Separate Species ◽  
Common Buzzard ◽  
Buteo Buteo ◽  
John Ray ◽  
The Common ◽  
Francis Willughby

The European Honey-buzzard (Pernis apivorus) was first accurately described and clearly distinguished from the Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo) by Francis Willughby and John Ray in their Ornithology, originally published in Latin in 1676. Alfred Newton's statement that Pierre Belon had described the species over a century earlier is not entirely correct, as Belon confused this honey-buzzard's features with those of the common buzzard and even appeared uncertain whether it was a separate species. One of Willughby's important contributions to ornithology was the identification and use of “characteristic marks” to distinguish and identify species, including those that distinguish the European Honey-buzzard from the Common Buzzard. Because Willughby provided the first accurate description of Pernis apivorus  – and because his contribution to ornithology has never been formally recognized –  we propose that the common name of the European Honey-buzzard be changed to Willughby's Buzzard.

Observations regarding the flight biology and behaviour of the Common buzzard (Buteo Buteo) in the Râul Doamnei hydrographical basin (Romania)

2011 ◽  
Vol 54 (1) ◽  
pp. 171-222
Author(s):  
Adrian Mestecăneanu ◽  
Florin Mestecăneanu
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Common Buzzard ◽  
Buteo Buteo ◽  
The Common

Observations regarding the flight biology and behaviour of the Common buzzard (Buteo Buteo) in the Râul Doamnei hydrographical basin (Romania) In this paper, the authors analyse the flight biology and behaviour of the Common buzzard (Buteo buteo) observed in the Râul Doamnei hydrographical basin, depending on the environmental conditions and ecological seasons. Along three years, during the 3031 observations, 4549 individuals were observed.

scholarly journals Predation on Drosophila suzukii within Hedges in the Agricultural Landscape

Insects ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 305
Author(s):  
Alexandra Siffert ◽  
Fabian Cahenzli ◽  
Patrik Kehrli ◽  
Claudia Daniel ◽  
Virginie Dekumbis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Landscape ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Agricultural Landscapes ◽  
Gut Content ◽  
Drosophila Suzukii ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
Host Fruit ◽  
Molecular Gut Content Analysis ◽  
Wild Fruits ◽  
Diverse Community

The invasive Drosophila suzukii feeds and reproduces on various cultivated and wild fruits and moves between agricultural and semi-natural habitats. Hedges in agricultural landscapes play a vital role in the population development of D. suzukii, but also harbor a diverse community of natural enemies. We investigated predation by repeatedly exposing cohorts of D. suzukii pupae between June and October in dry and humid hedges at five different locations in Switzerland. We sampled predator communities and analyzed their gut content for the presence of D. suzukii DNA based on the COI marker. On average, 44% of the exposed pupae were predated. Predation was higher in dry than humid hedges, but did not differ significantly between pupae exposed on the ground or on branches and among sampling periods. Earwigs, spiders, and ants were the dominant predators. Predator communities did not vary significantly between hedge types or sampling periods. DNA of D. suzukii was detected in 3.4% of the earwigs, 1.8% of the spiders, and in one predatory bug (1.6%). While the molecular gut content analysis detected only a small proportion of predators that had fed on D. suzukii, overall predation seemed sufficient to reduce D. suzukii populations, in particular in hedges that provide few host fruit resources.

scholarly journals Landscape structure affects the sunflower visiting frequency of insect pollinators

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Károly Lajos ◽  
Ferenc Samu ◽  
Áron Domonkos Bihaly ◽  
Dávid Fülöp ◽  
Miklós Sárospataki
Keyword(s):  
Landscape Structure ◽  
Honey Bees ◽  
Agricultural Landscape ◽  
Edge Density ◽  
Wild Bees ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
Mass Flowering ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Pollinator Community ◽  
Foraging Ranges

AbstractMass-flowering crop monocultures, like sunflower, cannot harbour a permanent pollinator community. Their pollination is best secured if both managed honey bees and wild pollinators are present in the agricultural landscape. Semi-natural habitats are known to be the main foraging and nesting areas of wild pollinators, thus benefiting their populations, whereas crops flowering simultaneously may competitively dilute pollinator densities. In our study we asked how landscape structure affects major pollinator groups’ visiting frequency on 36 focal sunflower fields, hypothesising that herbaceous semi-natural (hSNH) and sunflower patches in the landscape neighbourhood will have a scale-dependent effect. We found that an increasing area and/or dispersion of hSNH areas enhanced the visitation of all pollinator groups. These positive effects were scale-dependent and corresponded well with the foraging ranges of the observed bee pollinators. In contrast, an increasing edge density of neighbouring sunflower fields resulted in considerably lower visiting frequencies of wild bees. Our results clearly indicate that the pollination of sunflower is dependent on the composition and configuration of the agricultural landscape. We conclude that an optimization of the pollination can be achieved if sufficient amount of hSNH areas with good dispersion are provided and mass flowering crops do not over-dominate the agricultural landscape.

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