1. Indicators for biodiversity in agricultural landscapes: a pan-European study
- Author
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Billeter, R., Liira, J., Bailey, D., Bugter, R.J.F., Arens, P.F.P., Augenstein, I., Aviron, S., Baudry, J., Bukacek, R., Burel, F., Cerny, M., de Blust, G., de Cock, R., Diekotter, T., Dietz, H., Dirksen, J., Dormann, C., Durka, W., Frenzel, M., Hamersky, R., Hendrickx, F., Herzog, F., Klotz, S., Koolstra, B.J.H., Lausch, A., Le Coeur, D., Maelfait, J.P., Opdam, P., Roubalova, M., Schermann, A., Schermann, N., Schmidt, T., Schweiger, O., Smulders, M.J.M., Speelmans, M., Simova, P., Verboom, J., van Wingerden, W.K.R.E., Zobel, M., Edwards, P.J., Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH), Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule - Swiss Federal Institute of Technology [Zürich] (ETH Zürich), Institute of Botany and Ecology, University of Tartu, Agroscope FAL Reckenholz (AGROSCOPE), Alterra Green World Research (AGWR), Wageningen University and Research [Wageningen] (WUR), Plant Research International (PRI), Helmholtz Zentrum für Umweltforschung = Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ), Ecosystèmes, biodiversité, évolution [Rennes] (ECOBIO), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Observatoire des Sciences de l'Univers de Rennes (OSUR)-Institut Ecologie et Environnement (INEE), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université de Rennes 1 (UR1), Université de Rennes (UNIV-RENNES)-Université de Rennes (UNIV-RENNES), INRA SAD Armor, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA), Unité de recherche SAD Armorique (AMORIQUE), Centre Armoricain de Recherche en Environnement (CAREN), Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)-Université de Rennes 1 (UR1), Université de Rennes (UNIV-RENNES)-Université de Rennes (UNIV-RENNES)-Ecole Nationale Supérieure Agronomique de Rennes-Université de Rennes 2 (UR2), Université de Rennes (UNIV-RENNES)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Nature Conservation Authority (NCA), Nature Conservation Authority, Institute of Forest Ecosystem Research (IFER), Institute of Foret Ecosystem Research, INBO, Research Institute for Nature and Forest (INBO), INBO - Research Institute for Nature and Forest, State University of Ghent, Terrestrial Ecology Unit (TEREC) (TEREC), Institute of Integrative Biology (ETH), Projet GREENVEINS (UE), Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule - Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zürich [Zürich] (ETH Zürich), Wageningen University and Research Centre [Wageningen] (WUR), Helmholtz Zentrum für Umweltforschung (UFZ), Université de Rennes 1 (UR1), Université de Rennes (UNIV-RENNES)-Université de Rennes (UNIV-RENNES)-Institut Ecologie et Environnement (INEE), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Observatoire des Sciences de l'Univers de Rennes (OSUR)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), INRA SAD Armorique, Research Institute for Nature and Forest, INRA-SAD Armorique, Université de Rennes (UR)-Institut Ecologie et Environnement (INEE), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Observatoire des Sciences de l'Univers de Rennes (OSUR), Université de Rennes (UR)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Université de Rennes 2 (UR2)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Université de Rennes 2 (UR2)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), and Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)-Université de Rennes (UR)-Ecole Nationale Supérieure Agronomique de Rennes-Université de Rennes 2 (UR2)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)
- Subjects
Landgebruiksplanning ,arthropods ,boundary vegetation ,scale ,Landscape Centre ,PRI Biodiversiteit en Veredeling ,habitats ,Land Use Planning ,land-use ,species-richness ,Wageningen Environmental Research ,semi-natural plants ,577: Ökologie ,species richness ,[SDU.ENVI]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Continental interfaces, environment ,agri-environment schemes ,WIMEK ,conservation ,Alterra - Centrum Landschap ,indicator taxa ,plant diversity ,ecosystem service ,PRI Biodiversity and Breeding ,communities ,monitoring ,birds - Abstract
1D; International audience; 1. In many European agricultural landscapes, species richness is declining considerably. Studies performed at a very large spatial scale are helpful in understanding the reasons for this decline and as a basis for guiding policy. In a unique, large-scale study of 25 agricultural landscapes in seven European countries, we investigated relationships between species richness in several taxa, and the links between biodiversity and landscape structure and management. 2. We estimated the total species richness of vascular plants, birds and five arthropod groups in each 16-km 2 landscape, and recorded various measures of both landscape structure and intensity of agricultural land use. We studied correlations between taxonomic groups and the effects of landscape and land-use parameters on the number of species in different taxonomic groups. Our statistical approach also accounted for regional variation in species richness unrelated to landscape or land-use factors. 3. The results reveal strong geographical trends in species richness in all taxonomic groups. No single species group emerged as a good predictor of all other species groups. Species richness of all groups increased with the area of semi-natural habitats in the landscape. Species richness of birds and vascular plants was negatively associated with fertilizer use. 4. Synthesis and applications. We conclude that indicator taxa are unlikely to provide an effective means of predicting biodiversity at a large spatial scale, especially where there is large biogeographical variation in species richness. However, a small list of landscape and land-use parameters can be used in agricultural landscapes to infer large-scale patterns of species richness. Our results suggest that to halt the loss of biodiversity in these landscapes, it is important to preserve and, if possible, increase the area of semi-natural habitat.
- Published
- 2008