Search

The aim of the paper is to evaluate the significance of linear strips of woody vegetation (biocorridors) in the agricultural landscape for the populations of mammals. Data on their occurrence were obtained using camera traps that were installed in 14 biocorridors in selected locations in South Moravia (Czech Republic). Data collection took place from October 2020 to June 2022. A total of 40 camera traps were used, which captured over 49,000 images of 16 species. The largest percentage was represented by roe deer (57%), followed by European hare (14%) and fallow deer (11%). Of the 16 species mentioned, 10 were found mainly at night. With the onset of winter (December-February), the nocturnal occurrence of the species in the biocorridors gradually decreased and increased in the morning hours. The phase of the day, the season, the character of the vegetation, the size and shading of the biocorridor had a significant influence on the spatiotemporal occurrence of mammals. Biocorridors proved to be an important landscape element especially in terms of the occurrence of smaller predators and common habitat generalists such as roe deer and hare. Both species used biocorridors very intensively, so can significantly support the survival of their populations in agricultural landscapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Plant populations in agricultural landscapes are mostly fragmented and their functional connectivity often depends on seed and pollen dispersal by animals. However, little is known about how the interactions of seed and pollen dispersers with the agricultural matrix translate into gene flow among plant populations. Objectives: We aimed to identify effects of the landscape structure on the genetic diversity within, and the genetic differentiation among, spatially isolated populations of three temperate forest herbs. We asked, whether different arable crops have different effects, and whether the orientation of linear landscape elements relative to the gene dispersal direction matters. Methods: We analysed the species' population genetic structures in seven agricultural landscapes across temperate Europe using microsatellite markers. These were modelled as a function of landscape composition and configuration, which we quantified in buffer zones around, and in rectangular landscape strips between, plant populations. Results: Landscape effects were diverse and often contrasting between species, reflecting their association with different pollen- or seed dispersal vectors. Differentiating crop types rather than lumping them together yielded higher proportions of explained variation. Some linear landscape elements had both a channelling and hampering effect on gene flow, depending on their orientation. Conclusions: Landscape structure is a more important determinant of the species' population genetic structure than habitat loss and fragmentation per se. Landscape planning with the aim to enhance the functional connectivity among spatially isolated plant populations should consider that even species of the same ecological guild might show distinct responses to the landscape structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Unexploited public areas such as roadsides could provide habitat to help preserve biodiversity in South America, as in other regions. Our objective was to determine the importance of the roadsides of the Argentine Pampas for native birds and to suggest management strategies. We surveyed birds inhabiting roadsides in all seasons and determined whether roadsides were used as habitat. We recorded a total of 95 species on roadsides, which represents 55% of those species described from the area. Species included specialists of grassland, wetland and woodland, 4 vulnerable species and 19 declining species. Bird richness decreased in winter, as well as grassland specialists' abundances. Most individuals used roadsides for foraging and performing reproduction-related behaviours, mainly on native trees; these and tall grass were the main substrates. We conclude that many species of birds use the habitat provided by roadsides, and we recommend management strategies such as favouring seed availability in winter, restoring trees and tall grass and increasing vegetation diversity to maximize roadside conservation value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seminatural habitats are declining throughout the world; thus, the role of small anthropogenic habitats in the preservation of plants is becoming increasingly appreciated. Here, we surveyed the orchid flora of roadside verges in five Central European countries (Austria, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia) and tested how the surrounding landscape matrix affects the overall number of species and individuals, and also different functional groups of orchids. We found more than 2,000 individuals of 27 orchid species during our surveys. According to our results, the increasing coverage of agricultural and urban areas negatively affects both the number of orchid species and individuals on roadsides. Our study further suggests that differences in the surrounding habitats affect which species are found on roadsides, since the increasing coverage of grasslands or forested areas around orchid occurrences had a significant positive effect on the number of grassland or forest‐dwelling species and individuals, respectively. Most variance in orchid numerosity and diversity was explained by the cover of the suitable habitat types of the respective taxa in the surrounding landscape of the sampling points. This highlights the importance of roadsides acting as refugia for numerous species and valuable plant communities as well as in supporting biodiversity in general. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Linear landscape elements such as hedgerows and road verges have the potential to mitigate the adverse effects of habitat fragmentation and climate change on species, for instance, by serving as a refuge habitat or by improving functional connectivity across the landscape. However, so far this hypothesis has not been evaluated at large spatial scales, preventing us from making generalized conclusions about their efficacy and implementation in conservation policies.Here, we assessed plant diversity patterns in 336 vegetation plots distributed along hedgerows and road verges, spanning a macro‐environmental gradient across temperate Europe. We compared herb‐layer species richness and composition in these linear elements with the respective seed‐source (core) habitats, that is, semi‐natural forests and grasslands. Next, we assessed how these differences related to several environmental drivers acting either locally, at the landscape level or along the studied macro‐ecological gradient.Across all regions, about 55% of the plant species were shared between forests and hedgerows, and 52% between grasslands and road verges. Habitat‐specialist richness was 11% lower in the linear habitats than in the core habitats, while generalist richness was 14% higher. The difference in floristic composition between both habitat types was mainly due to species turnover, and not nestedness. Most notably, forest‐specialist richness in hedgerows responded positively to tree cover, tree height and the proportion of forests in the surrounding landscape, while generalist richness was negatively affected by tree height and buffering effect of trees on subcanopy temperatures. Grassland and road verge diversity was mainly influenced by soil properties, with positive effects of basic cation levels on the number of specialists and those of bioavailable soil phosphorus on generalist diversity.Synthesis and applications. We demonstrate that linear landscape elements provide a potential habitat for plant species across Europe, including slow‐colonizing specialists. Additionally, our results stress the possibility for land managers to modify local habitat features (e.g. canopy structure, subcanopy microclimate, soil properties, mowing regime) through management practices to enhance the colonization success of specialists in these linear habitats. These findings underpin the management needed to better conserving the biodiversity of agricultural landscapes across broad geographical scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background In many parts of the world, roadsides are regularly managed for traffic-safety reasons. Hence, there are similarities between roadsides and certain other managed habitats, such as wooded pastures and mown or grazed grasslands. These habitats have declined rapidly in Europe during the last century. For many species historically associated with them, roadsides may function as new primary habitats or as dispersal corridors in fragmented landscapes. Current recommendations for roadside management to promote conservation values are largely based on studies of plants in semi-natural grasslands, although such areas often differ from roadsides in terms of environmental conditions and disturbance regimes. Moreover, roadsides provide habitat not only for plants but also for many insects. For these reasons, stakeholders in Sweden have emphasised the need for more targeted management recommendations, based on actual studies of roadside biodiversity. Methods This systematic map provides an overview of the available evidence on how biodiversity is affected by various forms of roadside management, and how such management influences the dispersal of species along roads or roadsides. We searched for literature using 13 online publication databases, 4 search engines, 36 specialist websites and 5 literature reviews. Search terms were developed in English, Danish, Dutch, French, German, Norwegian, Spanish and Swedish. Identified articles were screened for relevance using criteria set out in a protocol. No geographical restrictions were applied, and all species and groups of organisms were considered. Descriptions of included studies are available in an Excel file, and also in an interactive GIS application that can be accessed at an external website. Results Our searches identified more than 7000 articles. The 207 articles included after screening described 301 individual studies considered to be relevant. More than two-thirds of these studies were conducted in North America, with most of the rest performed in Europe. More than half of the studies were published in grey literature such as reports from agencies or consultants. The interventions most commonly studied were herbicide use, sowing and mowing, followed by soil amendments such as mulching and fertiliser additions. The outcomes most frequently reported were effects of interventions on the abundance or species richness of herbs/forbs, graminoids and woody plants. Effects on insects and birds were reported in 6 and 3% of the studies, respectively. Conclusions This systematic map is based on a comprehensive and systematic screening of all available literature on the effects of roadside management on biodiversity and dispersal of species. As such it should be of value to a range of actors, including managers and policymakers. The map provides a key to finding concrete guidance for conservation- and restoration-oriented roadside management from published research. However, the map also highlights important knowledge gaps: little data was found for some geographical regions, research is heavily biased taxonomically towards plants, and no study was found on how species dispersal was affected by roadside management. The map could therefore be a source of inspiration for new research.

[Display omitted] • Flow and sediment connectivity was mapped in the agricultural terraced catchment. • Incorporation of natural-artificial linear landscapes alters spatial patterns of connectivity. • Connectivity gradually increased with the closing of the distance to the linear landscapes. • Artificial ditches enhance both lateral and longitudinal connectivity than road networks. • Introduced weight factor to calculate the index generated more reliable connectivity map. Linear landscape elements, such as man-made ditches and road networks, play a pivotal role in the transport of water and eroded sediments. Yet very few studies have focused on the variations in drainage flow paths disturbed by artificial linear landscapes and their contribution to flow and sediment connectivity (FSC). This study utilized the index of connectivity (IC) to examine and distinguish the impact of natural and artificial linear landscape elements (i.e., natural streams, man-made ditches, and road networks) on the spatial distribution of FSC. The method was employed in a typical agricultural terraced catchment of the Honghe Hani Rice Terraces World Heritage Site of China, based on two weight factors - roughness index (RI) and Rndvic factor. The results indicate that the incorporation of the linear landscape elements for the IC calculation remarkably affected the spatial distribution of FSC. Specifically, FSC values notably increased by closing the distance to linear landscape elements within a specific threshold. Moreover, in the confluence between natural and artificial linear landscape elements, the mean value of FSC was higher compared to scenarios without any or only one linear landscape element. In comparison, the presence of road networks only improved lateral connectivity by modifying the surface flow along east-west directions, while man-made ditches significantly influenced both longitudinal and lateral connectivity to a larger degree, especially in the terraced area. This finding underscores the effectiveness of ditch constructions as management practices for the regulation of water resources and facilitating the downstream transfer of sediment. Field observations and validation confirmed that Rndvic, which incorporates vegetation variable as a weight factor in the calculation of IC, yields more accurate and reliable maps of FSC than that of RI. This study holds far-reaching significance for water resources management and landscape sustainability within terrace-protected areas, providing invaluable insights for decision-makers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the past 50 years, widespread removal of hedges and hedgerows in many European regions, with a consequent reduction in biodiversity, has occurred as a result of farming intensification. Acknowledging the ecological importance of linear farmland landscape elements, many agro-environmental schemes provide financial support for the management, conservation and reconstruction of hedges and hedgerows. The efficacy of such initiatives, also aimed at bat conservation, could be enhanced by including the role of hedges and hedgerows correlated to the variability of their physical structure and to the surrounding landscape context. Linear landscape elements are in fact of great importance to bats, whose flight activity tends to increase in proximity to hedges and hedgerows, used both during foraging and as commuting routes. Nevertheless, information concerning the correlation between various physical structures of hedges and flight and foraging techniques in bats is still lacking. The present study analyses the activity of bats along two different hedge types, with and without trees, and in open spaces, in an area of the Padana plane (North-western Italy) as a function of different flight behaviours.

Agricultural intensification and the subsequent fragmentation of semi-natural habitats severely restrict pollinator and pollen movement threatening both pollinator and plant species. Linear landscape elements such as hedgerows are planted for agricultural and conservation purposes to increase the resource availability and habitat connectivity supporting populations of beneficial organisms such as pollinators. However, hedgerows may have unexpected effects on plant and pollinator persistence by not just channeling pollinators and pollen along, but also restricting movement across the strip of habitat. Here, we tested how hedgerows influence pollinator movement and pollen flow. We used fluorescent dye particles as pollen analogues to track pollinator movement between potted cornflowers Centaurea cyanus along and across a hedgerow separating two meadows. The deposition of fluorescent dye was significantly higher along the hedgerow than across the hedgerow and into the meadow, despite comparable pollinator abundances. The differences in pollen transfer suggest that hedgerows can affect pollinator and pollen dispersal by channeling their movement and acting as a permeable barrier. We conclude that hedgerows in agricultural landscapes can increase the connectivity between otherwise isolated plant and pollinator populations (corridor function), but can have additional, and so far unknown barrier effects on pollination services. Functioning as a barrier, linear landscape elements can impede pollinator movement and dispersal, even for highly mobile species such as bees. These results should be considered in future management plans aiming to enhance the persistence of threatened pollinator and plant populations by restoring functional connectivity and to ensure sufficient crop pollination in the agricultural landscape.

Rural roadsides (RRS) are key elements for conserving biodiversity and ecosystem services in agricultural landscapes. Their restoration and management require simple protocols to assess (diagnose) their conservation status and ecological functionality. We elaborated a conservation value index (CVI) of RRS by constructing a decision tree based on the experts' opinion. The index, which can range between 4 and 30, evaluates the conservation status and ecological functionality of RRS according to 11 attributes related to vegetation structure. The CVI was applied to 30 RRS in southeastern Buenos Aires (Argentina). Values ranged from 4 to 29, being the cropped RRS those with the lowest value. The RRS with the highest CVI (>21) were those characterized by higher richness of native, entomophily and cultural value species, higher coverage of native species and perennial grasses, lower coverage of weeds and invasive species, and presence of at least a vulnerable and/or phytotelmata species. This index represents a first contribution applicable to the diagnosis of the conservation status of RRS through the identification of key attributes of vegetation structure suggested by experts. In addition, the index provides relatively synthetic information about the status of RRS, which in spite of their multiple ecological functions are seldom taken into account for their conservation within territorial planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

River valleys have been subjected to human-induced changes for centuries, but they are still considered regional hotspots of biodiversity. In central Europe, some vascular plant species demonstrate confinement to the corridors of large rivers. They are termed river corridor plants (RCPs). RCPs are an important component of regional biodiversity and include a high proportion of threatened species, thus they deserve attention. Here we examine: (1) the detailed distribution pattern of RCPs within a river valley, (2) the habitat preferences of RCP species, and (3) the correlation between the richness of RCP species and selected variables. The studied variables include: river bed proximity, distance from the river mouth, floodplain coverage, richness of native, red listed and invasive species, and number of habitats considered to be of Europaean Community importance. Surveys were conducted in 10 transects running perpendicularly to the San River bed (Poland, central Europe). Each transect was divided into 14 plots (1 km × 1 km). In each plot, the site locations of RCPs as well as their habitats were recorded. The occurrence of all vascular plant species in a particular plot was also noted. The richness and abundance of RCP species depended on the distance from the river and the floodplain coverage in a plot. The plots located in the vicinity of the river were the richest in RCP species and usually harbored the largest number of native, red-listed and invasive species. They were also characterized by the largest number of habitats considered to be of importance to the European Community. RCP species differed in the degree of confinement to habitats regarded as typical for them. Some of the RCP species were recorded only within typical habitats while others were found in several different types of habitats, including anthropogenic ones. Knowledge concerning the RCP distribution pattern and its correlates can make restoration initiatives in river valleys more effective. While implementing conservation measures in river valleys, one should keep in mind that: (1) hotspots of RCP and invasive species spatially overlap and (2) anthropogenic linear elements occurring within river valleys constitute important habitats for some RCP species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In many parts of the world, roadsides are regularly managed for traffic-safety reasons. Hence, there are similarities between roadsides and certain other managed habitats, such as wooded pastures and mown or grazed grasslands. These habitats have declined rapidly in Europe during the last century. For many species historically associated with them, roadsides may function as new primary habitats or as dispersal corridors in fragmented landscapes. Current recommendations for roadside management to promote conservation values are largely based on studies of plants in semi-natural grasslands, although such areas often differ from roadsides in terms of environmental conditions and disturbance regimes. Moreover, roadsides provide habitat not only for plants but also for many insects. For these reasons, stakeholders in Sweden have emphasised the need for more targeted management recommendations, based on actual studies of roadside biodiversity. Methods: This systematic map provides an overview of the available evidence on how biodiversity is affected by various forms of roadside management, and how such management influences the dispersal of species along roads or roadsides. We searched for literature using 13 online publication databases, 4 search engines, 36 specialist websites and 5 literature reviews. Search terms were developed in English, Danish, Dutch, French, German, Norwegian, Spanish and Swedish. Identified articles were screened for relevance using criteria set out in a protocol. No geographical restrictions were applied, and all species and groups of organisms were considered. Descriptions of included studies are available in an Excel file, and also in an interactive GIS application that can be accessed at an external website. Results: Our searches identified more than 7000 articles. The 207 articles included after screening described 301 individual studies considered to be relevant. More than two-thirds of these studies were conducted in North America, with most of the rest performed in Europe. More than half of the studies were published in grey literature such as reports from agencies or consultants. The interventions most commonly studied were herbicide use, sowing and mowing, followed by soil amendments such as mulching and fertiliser additions. The outcomes most frequently reported were effects of interventions on the abundance or species richness of herbs/forbs, graminoids and woody plants. Effects on insects and birds were reported in 6 and 3% of the studies, respectively. Conclusions: This systematic map is based on a comprehensive and systematic screening of all available literature on the effects of roadside management on biodiversity and dispersal of species. As such it should be of value to a range of actors, including managers and policymakers. The map provides a key to finding concrete guidance for conservation- and restoration-oriented roadside management from published research. However, the map also highlights important knowledge gaps: little data was found for some geographical regions, research is heavily biased taxonomically towards plants, and no study was found on how species dispersal was affected by roadside management. The map could therefore be a source of inspiration for new research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic agriculture is often deemed effective in conserving and promoting biodiversity, yet most studies have so far only focused on farmland in temperate areas and a few taxonomic groups, mainly birds and arthropods. Mediterranean agroecosystems host considerable biodiversity, and their wildlife likely delivers quantitatively important ecosystem services to agriculture, yet information is still limited. Here, we test the importance of organic farming and habitat structure for bat activity and richness in the Mediterranean. We disentangled the effects of organic vs. conventional management and habitat structure by adopting acoustic surveys and a matched-pair sampling design. Foraging bats preferred organic over conventional farming, with a scale-independent effect of local farm management on activity (but not richness), consistently across bat species and functional guilds. While fine-scale habitat structure had contrasting effects on bat species and guilds, the positive influence of linear landscape elements on bat activity was consistent and independent of management options. We highlight the key role of organic farming in preserving and promoting bat activity in agricultural areas, which brings the mutual benefit of sustaining bat conservation and emphasising the precious ecosystem services bats provide. To increase bat richness, however, appropriate management of landscape structure must be secured at larger geographical scales. • Foraging bats prefer organic over conventional farming. • Preference for organic farming is consistent across functional guilds of bats. • Landscape elements such as hedgerows and trees are key elements favoured by bats. • Bat richness is not influenced by farmland management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In many parts of the world, roadsides are regularly managed for traffic-safety reasons. Hence, there are similarities between roadsides and certain other managed habitats, such as wooded pastures and mown or grazed grasslands. In contrast to roadsides, the latter habitats have declined rapidly in Europe during the last century, and today only a fraction of their former extent remains. For many species historically associated with these habitats, roadsides may therefore function as new primary habitats or as dispersal corridors in fragmented landscapes. Current recommendations for roadside management to promote conservation values are largely based on studies of plants in semi-natural grasslands, although such areas often differ from roadsides in terms of environmental factors and impacts. Moreover, roadsides provide habitats not only for plants but also for many insects, especially if they are sandy and exposed to the sun. For these reasons, stakeholders in Sweden have emphasised the need for more targeted management recommendations, based on actual studies of roadside biodiversity. Methods: The proposed systematic map is intended to provide an overview of the available evidence on how bio-diversity is affected by various forms of roadside management, and how such management influences the dispersal of species along roads or roadsides. Relevant interventions include e.g. mowing, shrub removal, control of invasive/nuisance species, sowing or planting, burning, grazing by livestock, scraping and ditching. Non-intervention or alternative forms of roadside management will be used as comparators. Relevant outcomes include measures of species or genetic diversity, the abundance of individual species or groups of organisms, species distribution patterns, and movement rates of individuals or propagules. Searches will be made for peer-reviewed and grey literature in English and several other languages. No geographical restrictions will be applied, and all species and species groups will be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Road verges can facilitate the movement of pollinators and pollen in intensively managed agroecosystems, reducing the negative impacts of fragmentation (i.e., isolation of wild pollinator communities) and enhancing the pollination service provided to wild plants. To assess the role of road verges in sustaining the pollination service to wild plants, we studied gardens consisting of two plant species arranged within sixteen road verges and their adjacent fields during two consecutive seasons in the Argentine Pampas. We assessed the influence of attributes of road verges on pollination service at different scales: road verges width, species richness of flowering plant, and flower abundance (patch scale), crops and successional pastures (adjacent land use scale), and landscape heterogeneity (landscape scale). We measured the pollination service provided to two species of potted plants (Hirschfeldia incana and Lobularia maritima) in three different ways: visitation rate, conspecific and heterospecific pollen transfer to stigmas, and distance of pollen transfer from a fixed source. The number of conspecific and heterospecific pollen grains deposited on stigmas decreased with an increased abundance of floral units in associated road verges, which is caused by a dilution effect on individual plant pollination. Also, the pollen transfer into adjacent fields decreased with an increased abundance of floral units in the nearby road verges, which is caused by a decrease of pollen spillover into adjacent crop fields. The visitation rate within adjacent fields increased with higher flowering plant species richness in associated road verges. Also, the number of conspecific pollen grains in the road verges adjacent to successional pastures increased with higher flowering plant species richness in road verges, which results in a concentration effect of pollinator visits and pollen transfer into road verges. We conclude that managing flower abundance and increasing flowering plant species richness in road verges are crucial practices for maintaining the pollination service of entomophilous plants in intensively managed agroecosystems. • We assessed the role of road verges on insect pollination in rural landscapes. • The number of pollen grains decreased with higher flower abundance. • Pollen transfer into adjacent fields decreased with higher flower abundance. • The visitation rate into adjacent fields increased with higher plant richness. • Distance from the pollen source did not affect the pollen transfer in road verges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Loss of roost sites in buildings represents the major threat to Myotis myotis populations in the Czech Republic. To identify features that may determine roost selection by M. myotis, we compared a range of structural and habitat variables for 17 maternity roosts and 17 unoccupied, but potentially suitable, buildings in the Moravian Karst (Czech Republic). Roosts and control sites were mainly in churches and chateaus and all were detached from the surrounding buildings and uninsulated. The only difference between habitat surrounding roost and control buildings was that roost buildings had relatively lower amounts of hedges as linear connective features. Our results suggest that bats do not select building features from among suitable detached and uninsulated churches and chateaus and that bats tend to select building roosts that are not connected to woodland by hedges. Protection of roosts is an important conservation issue for female M. myotis and suitable roost sites such as detached and uninsulated buildings that are not connected to woodland by hedges are important maternity roosting resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Information on soil redistribution rates associated with the intricate patterns of Mediterranean agroecosystems is a key requirement for assessing both soil degradation, and off-site sediment problems that can affect downstream water bodies. Excess lead-210 (210Pbex) measurements provide a very effective means of documenting spatial patterns of rates of soil redistribution in different landscapes, but to date the approach has not been widely used in mountain Mediterranean landscapes. This research aims to use 210Pbex measurements to estimate soil redistribution rates on slopes uncultivated and under cultivation, within two complex toposequences located in the vicinity of Estaña Lake, characterized by an intricate mosaic of land use, steep slopes and anthropogenic modification (e.g. terraces and tracks), which are typical of these agroecosystems in northeastern Spain. A perceptual model is developed to account for the soil redistribution dynamics along both toposequences. This provides a simple and novel methodology adapted to Mediterranean agroecosystems, which besides using information on soil redistribution rates provided by 210Pbex measurements, also takes into account variations in land use and the presence of linear landscape elements, which modify runoff and soil redistribution processes and sediment connectivity along the toposequences. The results show that erosion predominated on the steep cultivated slopes, but lower soil redistribution rates were found on the uncultivated slopes. On the flat areas at the bottom of both transects, deposition was dominant. Variations in land use and the presence of linear landscape elements control soil redistribution processes. Such elements can perform the role of Ecological Focus Areas (EFAs), proposed within ‘The Green’ Common Agricultural Policy for 2014, in which at least 7% of a farmer's land should comprise EFAs, which can include terraces, landscape features, buffer strips and afforested areas. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Linear landscape elements, such as ditches, hedgerows, lines of trees and field margins, provide important habitats and ecosystem services and function as ecological infrastructure for species within agricultural landscapes. Spatial maps of the distribution of these elements are needed to better represent landscape structure within regional scale environmental assessments. We present wall-to-wall maps for green lines, ditches and grass margins for Europe, using spatial modelling of ground observations on linear features from the 2009 LUCAS (land use/cover area frame statistical survey) database. We compare different spatial interpolation methods, ranging from spatial autocorrelation-based methods to methods that explain the occurrence of elements based on biophysical and socio-economic information. Our results are 1km2 resolution maps of the occurrence of linear landscape elements for Europe. Independent validation of green lines based on aerial photographs showed the best results for interpolation based on regionally estimated regressions relating the occurrence of landscape elements to environmental and socio-economic location factors. The results confirm the importance of the underlying biophysical and socio-economic factors on the presence and abundance of linear landscape elements. However, the total explanatory strength of the considered factors is moderate and a considerable uncertainty in the exact distribution remains. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Urbanisation and intensification of agriculture has led to large scale destruction of natural and semi-natural areas in Western Europe. Consequentially, the conservation of biodiversity in small landscape units has become a matter of increasing urgency. In this paper, we inventoried the arthropod diversity in roadside verges in the Netherlands and studied the relative importance of these linear elements. In addition, the occurrence of arthropods in roadside verges in other countries was studied by literature research. In the period 1998-2008, we sampled 57 roadside verges. This was mainly done by pitfall trapping, using sweeping nets and insect nets, and by sight observations. For several arthropod groups the majority of the Dutch indigenous species was sampled: ants (56% of the indigenous species), grasshoppers (53%), harvestmen (67%) and two spider families (52% and 68%). For ground beetles, weevils, butterflies, bees, hoverflies and three other spider families, values between 18–41% were found. Considering that only a minute fraction of the vast network of roadsides was sampled, these figures are remarkably high. Roadside verges are occasionally reported to act as dispersal corridors for exotic species, but this could not be confirmed for arthropods in the Netherlands. Several of the arthropod species inventoried in the Dutch verges are classified as threatened: five grasshopper and eleven bee species appear on national Red Lists and six ant species on the IUCN Red List. Also, in several other countries roadside verges in intensively used landscapes appear to offer opportunities for arthropod conservation. We conclude that, if rightly managed, roadside verges can serve as an important and valuable arthropod habitat. Therefore, we strongly recommend taking always into account the conservation of these arthropod assemblages during planning and actual management of roadside verges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Basic & Applied Ecology is the property of Urban & Fischer Verlag and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

1 Although habitat loss and fragmentation are assumed to threaten the regional survival of plant species, their effects on regional species dynamics via seed dispersal and colonization have rarely been quantified. 2 We assessed the impact of habitat loss and fragmentation on the connectivity, and hence regional survival, of wind-dispersed plant species of nutrient-poor semi-natural grasslands. We did this using a new approach to relate quantified habitat loss and fragmentation to quantified colonization capacity. 3 We quantified loss and fragmentation during the 20th century of moist, nutrient-poor semi-natural grasslands in study areas in the Netherlands, as well as their current distribution. After testing how well the habitat distribution matches species distributions of two wind-dispersed grassland forbs ( Cirsium dissectum, representative of species with long-distance wind dispersal, and Succisa pratensis, representative of species with short-distance wind dispersal), we combined the habitat distribution data with simulated seed dispersal kernels in order to quantify the impact on connectivity. 4 Habitat loss and fragmentation has dramatically reduced both the area (by 99.8%) and the connectivity of the grasslands. The remaining grasslands are practically isolated for seeds dispersed by wind, even for species with high wind dispersal ability (for which, interestingly, connectivity by wind dispersal decreased most). Linear landscape elements hardly contribute to connectivity by wind dispersal. Regional survival of the studied species has become completely dependent on the survival of a few large populations in nature reserves. Other remaining populations are decreasing in number and size and have low colonization capacity. 5 Habitat loss and fragmentation have drastically changed the regional species dynamics of wind-dispersed plant species, indicating that it is of utmost importance to preserve remaining populations in nature reserves and that the probability of colonization of new or restored sites is very low, unless the sites are adjacent to occupied sites or dispersal is artificially assisted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary 1.Fragmentation and habitat loss affects both existing and introduced populations. Small habitat areas may have harsher biotic and abiotic conditions, as well as restricting population sizes. Loss of connectivity reduces the opportunities for individuals to move between patches to rescue populations or to re-colonize patches. Knowledge of how landscape composition affects the introduced populations is therefore essential for successful management and future re-introductions. 2.To study the effect of landscape composition and structure on the success of colonization, population growth and dispersal distances, we introduced Roesel’s bush-crickets Metrioptera roeseli to 70 habitat islands in areas previously unoccupied by the species. The introduction sites differed in habitat area and connectivity. The population survival and dispersal were then studied for 5 years after initial introductions. 3.In addition to results showing the importance of suitable habitat for population persistence, connectivity in form of linear landscape elements and nodes was also crucial. Linear landscape elements and/or nodes were important for colonization success, growth and dispersal. Linear landscape elements and nodes also reduced the negative effects of unsuitable habitat (matrix) and isolation from suitable habitat and on the populations. 4.These results stress the importance of connectivity in the landscape for population survival and establishment. Consideration of this should be taken into account in both management and re-introductions of bush-crickets and other invertebrates with similar population characteristics and behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]