Inter-Specific Variation in the Potential for Upland Rush Management Advocated by Agri-Environment Schemes to Increase Breeding Wader Densities

Encroachment of rush Juncus spp. in the United Kingdom uplands poses a threat to declining wader populations due to taller, denser swards that can limit foraging and breeding habitat quality for some species. Rush management via cutting, implemented through agri-environment schemes (AESs), could thus increase wader abundance, but there is insufficient assessment and understanding of how rush management influences upland waders. Across two upland regions of England [South West Peak (SWP) and Geltsdale nature reserve, Cumbria], we surveyed waders over four visits in fields where rush was managed according to AES prescriptions (treatment; n = 21) and fields without rush management that were otherwise ecologically similar (control; n = 22) to assess how the densities of breeding wader pairs respond to rush management in the short-term. We find evidence for regional variation in the response of waders to rush management, with densities of Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago significantly higher in treatment than control fields in the SWP, but not Geltsdale. There were no statistically significant responses to treatment on densities of Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata or Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus. The 95% confidence intervals for the treatment parameter estimates suggest that this may be due to limited statistical power in the case of Lapwing. For Curlew, however, any potential increases in densities are negligible. There was no evidence that variation in rush cover, which ranged from 10 to 70%, influenced densities of any of our three focal species. Our results suggest that rush management through AES prescriptions delivered in isolation of other interventions may not lead to general increases in breeding wader densities in the short-term, but benefits may arise in some situations due to regional and inter-specific variation in effectiveness. Rush management supported with interventions that improve soil conditions and thus food availability, or reduce predation pressure, may enable AES rush management to generate benefits. Additional research is required to maximise the potential benefits of rush management for each species through the development of prescriptions that tailor to individual species’ optimum sward structure.

Changes in species composition of waders in western Ukraine during the historical period of zoological research

Introduction. Information on historical changes in the fauna of geographical regions and biota habitats is important for understanding the processes that take place in ecosystems. The results of such an analysis in combination with modern research can indicate not only the global trends in changes of animal associations and the status of particular populations of species, but also reveal the reasons that caused the situation. Materials and discussion. The first lists of bird species in the 18th – early 19th centuries showed the nesting of 12 species of waders. However, during the 19th century 37 species of waders were found, 12 of which were nesting. 13 wader species were permanent migratory and 8 – rare migratory species. In the first half of the 20th century, there were 27 species of waders on the territory of Prykarpattia, and 25 in Volyn, among which there is a larger list of migratory and vagrant species in the foothills of the Carpathians. In the second half of the 20th century, 39 species of waders were described within the western regions of Ukraine, of which 17 were nesting, and four of them were recorded during the last decade. Conclusions. There are 42 species of waders (39 of them are recent) registered in the western part of Ukraine. Among them 17 species are nesting, 15 – migratory and seven – vagrant species. During the 20th–21st centuries, 23 species of waders, including only 7 nesting species, have not changed their status of stay. However, it has changed for 17 species: two species have disappeared; four – have become vagrant; the Ruff Calidris pugnax and the Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis have changed their status from nesting to migratory. The Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus, the Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus and the Wood Sandpiper T. glareola that were common, somewhere numerous bird, – have become few in numbers; and the Great Snipe Gallinago media and the Black-tailed Gotwit Limosa limosa – have become rare. The Jack Snipe Lymnocryptes minimus has become migratory. The nesting of sandpipers, with a southern area of distribution, in the western regions of Ukraine proves the fact of the global warming. However, the drop of the water level, drying out of wet meadows and swamps and, as a consequence, plant succession, have terminated the nesting of such species as the Ruff and the Marsh Sandpiper; the Black-tailed, the Great Snipe and the Wood Sandpiper become rare; the Northern Lapwing and the Green Sandpiper have become much less numerous.

Long-term dynamics of trematode infections in common birds that use farmlands as their feeding habitats

Background The biodiversity of farmland habitats is witnessing unprecedented change, mostly in declines and simplification of assemblages that were established during centuries of the use of traditional agricultural techniques. In Central Europe, conspicuous changes are evident in populations of common farmland birds, in strong contrast to forest birds in the same region. However, there is a lack of information on longitudinal changes in trematodes that are associated with common farmland birds, despite the fact that diversity of trematodes is directly linked to the preservation of long-established food webs and habitat use adaptations of their hosts. Methods We analyzed the population trends of trematodes for the period 1963–2020 in six bird species that use Central European farmlands as their predominant feeding habitats. Namely, we examined Falco tinnunculus, Vanellus vanellus, winter populations of Buteo buteo, Ciconia ciconia, extravilan population of Pica pica, and Asio otus, all originating from the Czech Republic. Results We observed dramatic population losses of all trematode species in C. ciconia and V. vanellus; the changes were less prominent in the other examined hosts. Importantly, the declines in prevalence and intensity of infection affected all previously dominant species. These included Tylodelphys excavata and Chaunocephalus ferox in C. ciconia, Lyperosomum petiolatum in P. pica, Strigea strigis in A. otus, Neodiplostomum attenuatum and Strigea falconis in B. buteo (χ2 test P < 0.001 each), and Echinoparyphium agnatum and Uvitellina adelpha in V. vanellus (completely absent in 2011–2000). In contrast, the frequency and spectrum of isolated records of trematode species did not change to any large extent except those in V. vanellus. Conclusions The analysis of six unrelated common bird species that use farmlands as their feeding habitats revealed a previously unreported collapse of previously dominant trematode species. The previously dominant trematode species declined in terms of both prevalence and intensity of infection. The causes of the observed declines are unclear; of note is, however, that some of the broadly used agrochemicals, such as azole fungicides, are well known for their antihelminthic activity. Further research is needed to provide direct evidence for effects of field-realistic concentrations of azole fungicides on the survival and fitness of trematodes. Graphical abstract

Biodiversity of the Regional Landscape Park Samara Plavni within the first large reservoir in Europe Biodiversity of the Regional Landscape Park Samara Plavni within the first large reservoir in Europe

The creation of reservoirs in river valleys for the accumulation of fresh water has been and remains an important issue around the world. This process has both positive and negative consequences for people and nature. Significant changes in the regime of rivers and their valleys, flooding of meadows and forests, flooding of soils and changes in the composition of flora and fauna of adjacent territories are taking place. In this article, we consider the restoration of the biodiversity of a site of disturbed lands after the creation of one of the first large reservoirs in Europe – the Dnieper (Zaporozhe) on the River Dnieper, which has existed since 1933. The territory of the Samara floodplains was formed on the floodplain of the mouth of the Samara River, as a result of which the territories of various forest, meadow and bog biotopes were flooded. For almost 90 years, new biotopes have been developing, and populations of plant and animal species, especially waterfowl, have been renewed and enriched. In the conditions of climate change and anthropogenic pressure, the existence of this territory has fallen into question. To control the conservation of biodiversity, it is necessary to apply various management methods, one of which is creation of nature reserves. The article presents the results of a complex of scientific studies that were carried out during the zoning of the regional park Samara Plavni to improve the management of the protection of water areas and river banks. We have investigated: hydrological features, species diversity of the flora and coenotic diversity of the vegetation, fauna of aquatic invertebrates, and terrestrial vertebrates. Zoning of the Regional Landscape Park was based on the composition of stable components of ecosystems. When applying the protected regime in different zones, conditions will be created for the preservation of habitats of species, including those protected in Europe: higher plants (Senecio borysthenicus (DC.) Andrz. ex Czern., Tragopogon borystenicus Artemcz.), reptiles (Emys orbicularis (Linnaeus, 1758), Vipera renardi (Christoph, 1861)), birds (Aythya ferina (Linnaeus, 1758), Vanellus vanellus (Linnaeus, 1758), Haematopus ostralegus Linnaeus, 1758, Numenius arquata (Linnaeus, 1758), Alcedo atthis (Linnaeus, 1758), Lanius excubitor (Linnaeus, 1758)), mammals (Lutra lutra (Linnaeus, 1758)). Such changes would increase the implementation of the reproductive potential of all species without exception in the studied ecosystems.

Improving Extensive Green Roofs for Endangered Ground-Nesting Birds

Cities are considered hotspots of biodiversity due to their high number of habitats such as ruderal areas, wastelands and masonry works hosting peculiar biocoenoses. Urban biodiversity represents a challenging and paradigmatic case for contemporary ecology and nature conservation because a clear distinction between nature reserves and anthropogenic lands is becoming obsolete. In this context, extensive green roofs may represent suitable habitat for ground-nesting birds and wild plants, providing suitable conditions occur. In this paper, case studies are used to show how existing extensive green roofs can be improved in order to make them function as replacement habitat for endangered ground-nesting birds. The setup of an uneven topography, combined with hay spreading and seed sowing, significantly enhanced the reproductive performance of the northern lapwing (Vanellus vanellus), one of the most endangered ground-nesting birds in Switzerland.

Fauna of birds of the flown meadows of the Pinega river (Arkhangelsk region)

Исследования, проведенные на лугах северо-востока Архангельской области в долине реки Пинеги, показали изменения фауны и численности некоторых видов птиц, связанные со значительным сокращением или прекращением сельскохозяйственного использования лугов. Следствием стало сокращение численности или отсутствие полевого жаворонка Alauda arvensis и чибиса Vanellus vanellus на некоторых лугах, ранее используемых как выпасы или сенокосы. Исчезновение дубровника Ocyris aureola не связано с прекращением сельскохозяйственного использования лугов. В то же время, в связи с зарастанием лугов древесно-кустарниковой растительностью, относительно высока численность лугового чекана Saxicola rubetra, камышовой овсянки Schoeniclus schoeniclus, пеночки-веснички Phylloscopus trochilus, чечевицы Carpodacus erythrinus, фифи Tringa glareola, большого улита Tringa nebularia и др. Studies conducted in the meadows of the northeast of the Arkhangelsk Region in the valley of the Pinega River, showed changes in the fauna and abundance of some bird species associated with a significant reduction or cessation of the agricultural use of the meadows. The effect was a reduction in the number or absence of the Skylark Alauda arvensis and the Lapwing Vanellus vanellus in some meadows previously used as pastures or hayfields. At the same time, due to the overgrowing of meadows with tree-shrub vegetation, the numbers of Whinchat Saxicola rubetra, Reed Bunting Schoeniclus schoeniclus, Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus, Common Rosefinch Carpodacus erythrinus, Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola, and Greenshank Tringa nebularia became relatively high. The disappearance of Yellow-breasted Bunting Ocyris aureola is not related to the termination of the agricultural use of the meadows.

A longitudinal study of the effects of trees, geese and avian predators on breeding wader meadow birds: the case of the Demmerik polder, the Netherlands

In the Netherlands, breeding populations of wader meadow birds are in sharp decline. One possible cause is that breeding areas are becoming less open because of tall trees and other factors. The effects of tree lines are generally studied by means of transversal studies spanning a short period of time. We report on a longitudinal field study from 1993 to 2010 into the breeding densities of Eurasian Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus), Northern Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus), Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa) and Common Redshank (Tringa totanus) in the Demmerik polder, the Netherlands. One part of this polder, a nature reserve, has an older tree line, while two agricultural parts are divided by a newly developing tree line. As the tree line in the agricultural parts was developing, foraging families of Greylag Goose (Anser anser) showed a strong increase in only one of these parts during the breeding season. During the same period, the density of avian predators also increased in the whole polder. Analysis shows waders avoid trees in both situations: with an existing tree line (a static situation) and with a growing tree line (a dynamic situation). We investigated the possible role of geese and avian predators in explaining the decline in density of breeding wader meadow birds, by systematic comparison of several different models. In these models, the effect of the growing tree line has the greatest impact on breeding meadow birds. Models with geese describe the trends of breeding wader meadow birds better than those including avian predators, but since these two variables, geese and avian predators, are confounded, no definitive conclusion can yet be drawn. Potential explanations of and functional mechanisms behind the strong decline in breeding meadow bird populations in this area are discussed.

Tendance et répartition des limicoles nicheurs du Marais poitevin. Bilan des deux enquêtes 2005-2006 et 2015-2016

Le Marais poitevin est l’une des plus grandes zones humides de France après la Camargue. Connu à l’échelle internationale pour l’accueil des oiseaux d’eau en migration et en hivernage, le Marais poitevin est aussi un site clé à l’échelle nationale pour la reproduction des limicoles. Depuis les années cinquante, le paysage du Marais poitevin a fortement évolué, plus de 47 % de la surface de prairies a été transformée en cultures céréalières. Cette étude fait le bilan des deux dernières enquêtes décennales sur la reproduction de huit limicoles du Marais poitevin 2005-2006 et 2015-2016. En dix ans, les effectifs nicheurs sont à la baisse pour le Vanneau huppé Vanellus vanellus (Linnaeus, 1758) (–9 %), le Chevalier gambette Tringa totanus (Linnaeus, 1758) (–30 %) et la Barge à queue noire Limosa limosa (Linnaeus, 1758) (–45 %). La création de plans d’eau associée aux réfections des digues suite à la tempête Xynthia (2010) a consolidé et favorisé les populations d’Avocette élégante Recurvirostra avosetta Linnaeus, 1758 (+89 %) et dans une moindre mesure celles d’Échasse blanche Himantopus himantopus (Linnaeus, 1758) (+10 %). L’analyse de l’influence des mesures agro-environnementales sur le territoire semble signaler une faible efficacité relative du premier et deuxième niveau pour l’accueil de la nidification d’une partie des espèces de limicoles nicheurs contrairement aux niveaux les plus contraignants, les plus environnementaux, incluant notamment le paramètre « maintien des niveaux d’eau au printemps ». Il est urgent pour l’avenir des limicoles reproducteurs du Marais poitevin que des mesures fortes soient instaurées par la mise en place d’une politique agricole « zone humide » volontaire, visant à maintenir et augmenter fortement les surfaces de prairies avec des niveaux d’eaux plus élevés au printemps.