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1.
Edge geometry influences patch-level habitat use by an edge specialist in south-eastern Australia 总被引：1，自引：1，他引：0
We investigated patterns in habitat use by the noisy miner (Manorina melanocephala) along farmland-woodland edges of large patches of remnant vegetation (>300 ha) in the highly fragmented box-ironbark woodlands
and forests of central Victoria, Australia. Noisy miners exclude small birds from their territories, and are considered a
significant threat to woodland bird communities in the study region. Seventeen different characteristics of edge habitat were
recorded, together with the detection or non-detection of noisy miners along 129 500-m segments of patch edge. Habitat characteristics
ranged from patch-level factors related to patch-edge geometry to site-level floristic factors. Backward (stepwise) logistic
regression analyses were used to identify habitat characteristics that were associated with the occupancy of a site by noisy
miners. After accounting for the effects of spatial autocorrelation on the occurrence of noisy miners along edges, we identified
projections of remnant vegetation from the patch edge into the agricultural matrix (e.g., corners of patches, peninsulas of
vegetation) and clumps of trees in the agricultural matrix within 100 m of the edge as significant predictors of the occupancy
of edges by noisy miners. This relationship was also confirmed in two other geographically and floristically distinct habitats
within Victoria. The use of edges with projections by noisy miners may confer advantages in interspecific territorial defence.
In light of these results, we advocate revegetation strategies that attempt to enclose projections within 100 m of the edge,
with fencing placed out to this new boundary, to reduce the likelihood of colonisation and domination of an edge by noisy
miners. Our study highlights the need for greater consideration to be given to the patterns in habitat use by aggressive edge
specialists, particularly in relation to patch-edge geometry and other human-induced components of landscapes. 相似文献
2.
In fragmented landscapes, remnant vegetation almost always occurs as irregular shapes and frequently with peninsulas or lobes
of habitat extending into the surrounding agricultural matrix. Historical time-series of many landscapes indicate that such
lobes tend to be lost through time, making remnants more regularly shaped as more habitat is lost. Although the biogeographic
peninsular effect suggests that the biodiversity value of lobes should be less than remnant interiors, R.T.T. Forman has suggested
that lobes in fragmented, human-dominated landscapes may provide positive ecological functions. We considered the distribution
and occurrence of birds in medium-sized (ca. 2000 ha) remnants of the box-ironbark forests of central Victoria, Australia.
We compared transects placed in the interiors, along edges and in lobes, finding that in general woodland-dependent species
occurred throughout lobes and edges in densities substantially greater than the interiors of the remnants (often ca. 2 km
from edges). We conducted analyses that weighted speciesȁ9 predilections to occupy the centres of large woodland areas using
independent data. We found that: (1) species favouring centres of large woodland areas (measured using independent data) were
distributed evenly throughout our study remnants; and (2) species capable of occupying smaller remnants (≤80 ha) were more
prevalent in lobes and along the straight edges of remnants. These results indicate that preservation of lobes is likely to
be important for maintaining avian biodiversity in fragmented landscapes, and that the addition of lobes in reconstructing
landscapes through revegetation may favour birds. 相似文献
3.
Biodiversity persistence in non-woody tropical farmlands is poorly explored, and multi-species assessments with robust landscape-scale
designs are sparse. Modeled species occupancy in agricultural mosaics is affected by multiple factors including survey methods
(convenience-based versus systematic), landscape-scale agriculture-related variables, and extent of remnant habitat. Changes
in seasonal crops can additionally alter landscape and habitat conditions thereby influencing species occupancy. We investigated
how these factors affect modeled occupancy of 56 resident bird species using a landscape-scale multi-season occupancy framework
across 24 intensively cultivated and human-dominated districts in Uttar Pradesh state, north India. Convenience-based roadside
observations provided considerable differences in occupancy estimates and associations with remnant habitat and intensity
of cultivation relative to systematic transect counts, and appeared to bias results to roadside conditions. Modeled occupancy
of only open-area species improved with increasing intensity of cultivation, while remnant habitat improved modeled occupancy
of scrubland, wetland and woodland species. Strong seasonal differences in occupancy were apparent for most species across
all habitat guilds. Further habitat loss will be most detrimental to resident scrubland, wetland and woodland species. Uttar
Pradesh’s agricultural landscape has a high conservation value, but will require a landscape-level approach to maintain the
observed high species richness. Obtaining ecological information from unexplored landscapes using robust landscape-scale surveys
offers substantial advantages to understand factors affecting species occupancy, and is necessary for efficient conservation
planning. 相似文献
4.
Studies dealing with community similarity are necessary to understand large scale ecological processes causing biodiversity
loss and to improve landscape and regional planning. Here, we study landscape variables influencing patterns of community
similarity in fragmented and continuous forest landscapes in the Atlantic forest of South America, isolating the effects of
forest loss, fragmentation and patterns of land use. Using a grid design, we surveyed birds in 41 square cells of 100 km2 using the point count method. We used multivariate, regression analyses and lagged predictor autoregressive models to examine
the relative influence of landscape variables on community similarity. Forest cover was the primary variable explaining patterns
of bird community similarity. Similarity showed a sudden decline between 20 and 40% of forest cover. Patterns of land use
had a second order effect; native bird communities were less affected by forest loss in landscapes dominated by tree plantations
(the most suitable habitat for native species) than in landscapes dominated by annual crops or cattle pastures. The effects
of fragmentation were inconclusive. The trade-off between local extinctions and the invasion of extra-regional species using
recently created habitats is probably the mechanism generating the observed patterns of community similarity. Limiting forest
loss to 30–40% of the landscape cover and improving the suitability of human-modified habitats will contribute to maintain
the structure and composition of the native forest bird community in the Atlantic forest. 相似文献
5.
Previous research has suggested that ducks and songbirds may benefit from prairie landscapes that consist primarily of contiguous
grasslands. However, the relative importance of landscape-level vs. local characteristics on mechanisms underlying observed
patterns is unclear. We measured effects of grassland amount and fragmentation on upland and wetland songbird and duck density
and nest success, and on some nest predators, across 16 landscapes in southern Alberta, Canada. We compared these landscape-level
effects with local-scale responses, including distance to various edges and vegetation characteristics. We also evaluated
several statistical approaches to comparing effects of habitat characteristics at multiple spatial scales. Few species were
influenced by grassland amount or fragmentation. In contrast, distance to edge and local vegetation characteristics had significant
effects on densities and nest success of many species. Previous studies that reported effects of landscape characteristics
may have detected patterns driven by local mechanisms. As a corollary, results were very sensitive to statistical model structure;
landscape level effects were much less apparent when local characteristics were included in the models. 相似文献
6.
Context
Habitat loss and fragmentation may alter habitat occupancy patterns, for example through a reduction in regional abundance or in functional connectivity, which in turn may reduce the number of dispersers or their ability to prospect for territories. Yet, the relationship between landscape structure and habitat niche remains poorly known.Objectives
We hypothesized that changes in landscape structure associated with habitat loss and fragmentation will reduce the habitat niche breadth of forest birds, either through a reduction in density-dependent spillover from optimal habitat or by impeding the colonization of patches.Methods
We surveyed forest birds with point counts in eastern Ontario, Canada, and analyzed their response to loss and fragmentation of mature woodland. We selected 62 landscapes varying in both forest cover (15–45%) and its degree of fragmentation, and classified them into two categories (high versus low levels of loss and fragmentation). We determined the habitat niche breadth of 12 focal species as a function of 8 habitat structure variables for each landscape category.Results
Habitat niche breadth was narrower in landscapes with high versus low levels of loss and fragmentation of forest cover. The relative occupancy of marginal habitat appeared to drive this relationship. Species sensitivity to mature forest cover had no apparent influence on relative niche breadth.Conclusions
Regional abundance and, in turn, density-dependent spillover into suboptimal habitat appeared to be determinants of habitat niche breadth. For a given proportion of forest cover, fragmentation also appeared to alter habitat use, which could exacerbate its other negative effects unless functional connectivity is high enough to allow individuals to saturate optimal habitat.7.
The influence of habitat availability and landscape structure on the distribution of wood cricket (Nemobius sylvestris) on the Isle of Wight, UK 总被引：2，自引：2，他引：0
Little information is available regarding the landscape ecology of woodland invertebrate species with limited dispersal ability.
An investigation was therefore conducted within woodland fragments in an agricultural landscape for the flightless wood cricket
(Nemobius sylvestris) on the Isle of Wight, UK. The current pattern of distribution of the species, established during a field survey, was related
to measures of habitat availability and habitat isolation/fragmentation. Results revealed that wood cricket populations were
patchily distributed and mainly found in relatively large mature woodland fragments situated closely (<50 m) to another occupied
site. Although the occurrence of wood cricket was related to fragment area, isolation, habitat availability and woodland age,
a logistic regression model revealed that presence of the species was most accurately predicted by fragment isolation and
area alone. These results highlight the vulnerability of relatively immobile woodland invertebrate species, such as wood cricket,
to the impacts of habitat loss and fragmentation. 相似文献
8.
Loss of connectivity is one of the main causes of decreases in habitat availability and, thus, in species abundance and occurrence
in fragmented landscapes. It is therefore important to measure habitat connectivity for conservation purposes, but there are
several difficulties in quantifying connectivity, including the need for species movement behavioral data and the existence
of few consistent indices to describe such data. In the present study, we used a graph theoretical framework to measure habitat
availability, and we evaluate whether this variable is adequate to explain the occurrence pattern of an Atlantic rainforest
bird (Pyriglena leucoptera, Thamnophilidae). The playback technique was used to parameterize the connectivity component of habitat availability indices
and to determine the presence or absence of the study species in forest patches. Patch- and landscape-level habitat availability
indices were considered as explanatory variables. Two of these were landscape-level indices, which varied in terms of how
inter-patch connections are defined, using either a binary or probabilistic approach. This study produced four striking results.
First, even short open gaps may disrupt habitat continuity for P. leucoptera. Second, the occurrence of P. leucoptera was positively affected by habitat availability. Third, proper measures of this explanatory variable should account for the
landscape context around the focal patch, emphasizing the importance of habitat connectivity. Finally, habitat availability
indices should consider probabilistic and not binary inter-patch connections when intending to explain the occurrence of bird
species in fragmented landscapes. We discuss some conservation implications of our results, stressing the advantages of an
ecologically scaled graph theoretical framework. 相似文献
9.
Nicolas Morellet Bram Van Moorter Bruno Cargnelutti Jean-Marc Angibault Bruno Lourtet Joël Merlet Sylvie Ladet A. J. Mark Hewison 《Landscape Ecology》2011,26(7):999-1010
Understanding how patterns of habitat selection vary in relation to landscape structure is essential to predict ecological
responses of species to global change and inform management. We investigated behavioural plasticity in habitat selection of
roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) in relation to variable habitat availability across a heterogeneous agricultural landscape at the home range and landscape
scales. As expected, woodland was heavily selected, but we found no functional response for this habitat, i.e. no shift in
habitat selection with changing habitat availability, possibly due to the presence of hedgerows which were increasingly selected
as woodlands were less abundant. Hedgerows may thus function as a substitutable habitat for woodlands by providing roe deer
with similar resources. We observed a functional response in the use of hedgerows, implying some degree of landscape complementation
between hedgerows and open habitats, which may in part compensate for lower woodland availability. We also expected selection
for woodland to be highest at the wider spatial scale, especially when this habitat was limiting. However, our results did
not support this hypothesis, but rather indicated a marked influence of habitat composition, as both the availability and
distribution of resources conditioned habitat selection. There was no marked between-sex difference in the pattern of habitat
selection at either scale or between seasons at the landscape scale, however, within the home range, selection did differ
between seasons. We conclude that landscape structure has a marked impact on roe deer habitat selection in agricultural landscapes
through processes such as landscape complementation and supplementation. 相似文献
10.
The reliability of ants as bioindicators of ecosystem condition is dependent on the consistency of their response to localised
habitat characteristics, which may be modified by larger-scale effects of habitat fragmentation and loss. We assessed the
relative contribution of habitat fragmentation, habitat loss and within-patch habitat characteristics in determining ant assemblages
in semi-arid woodland in Queensland, Australia. Species and functional group abundance were recorded using pitfall traps across
20 woodland patches in landscapes that exhibited a range of fragmentation states. Of fragmentation measures, changes in patch
area and patch edge contrast exerted the greatest influence on species assemblages, after accounting for differences in habitat
loss. However, 35% of fragmentation effects on species were confounded by the effects of habitat characteristics and habitat
loss. Within-patch habitat characteristics explained more than twice the amount of species variation attributable to fragmentation
and four times the variation explained by habitat loss. The study indicates that within-patch habitat characteristics are
the predominant drivers of ant composition. We suggest that caution should be exercised in interpreting the independent effects
of habitat fragmentation and loss on ant assemblages without jointly considering localised habitat attributes and associated
joint effects.
The State of Queensland's right to retain a non-exclusive, royalty free license in and to any copyright is acknowledged. 相似文献
11.
Ecological processes such as plant–animal interactions have a critical role in shaping the structure and function of ecosystems,
but little is known of how such processes are modified by changes in landscape structure. We investigated the effect of landscape
change on mistletoe parasitism in fragmented agricultural environments by surveying mistletoes on eucalypt host trees in 24
landscapes, each 100 km2 in size, in south-eastern Australia. Landscapes were selected to represent a gradient in extent (from 60% to 2% cover) and
spatial pattern of remnant wooded vegetation. Mistletoes were surveyed at 15 sites in each landscape, stratified to sample
five types of wooded elements in proportion to their relative cover. The incidence per landscape of box mistletoe (Amyema miquelii), the most common species, was best explained by the extent of wooded cover (non-linear relationship) and mean annual rainfall.
Higher incidence occurred in landscapes with intermediate levels of cover (15–30%) and higher rainfall (>500 mm). Importantly,
a marked non-linear decline in the incidence of A. miquelii in low-cover landscapes implies a disproportionate loss of this species in remaining wooded vegetation, greater than that
attributable to decreasing forest cover. The most likely mechanism is the effect of landscape change on the mistletoebird
(Dicaeum hirundinaceum), the primary seed-dispersal vector for A. miquelii. Our results are consistent with observations that habitat fragmentation initially enhances mistletoe occurrence in agricultural
environments; but in this region, when wooded vegetation fell below a threshold of ~15% landscape cover, the incidence of
A. miquelii declined precipitously. Conservation management will benefit from greater understanding of the components of landscape structure
that most influence ecological processes, such as mistletoe parasitism and other plant–animal mutualisms, and the critical
stages in such relationships. This will facilitate action before critical thresholds are crossed and cascading effects extend
to other aspects of ecosystem function. 相似文献
12.
Fine-scale effects of habitat loss and fragmentation despite large-scale gene flow for some regionally declining woodland bird species 总被引：3，自引：3，他引：0
Katherine A. Harrisson Alexandra Pavlova J. Nevil Amos Naoko Takeuchi Alan Lill James Q. Radford Paul Sunnucks 《Landscape Ecology》2012,27(6):813-827
Habitat loss and associated fragmentation effects are well-recognised threats to biodiversity. Loss of functional connectivity (mobility, gene flow and demographic continuity) could result in population decline in altered habitat, because smaller, isolated populations are more vulnerable to extinction. We tested whether substantial habitat reduction plus fragmentation is associated with reduced gene flow in three ??decliner?? woodland-dependent bird species (eastern yellow robin, weebill and spotted pardalote) identified in earlier work to have declined disproportionately in heavily fragmented landscapes in the Box-Ironbark forest region in north-central Victoria, Australia. For these three decliners, and one ??tolerant?? species (striated pardalote), we compared patterns of genetic diversity, relatedness, effective population size, sex-ratios and genic (allele frequency) differentiation among landscapes of different total tree cover, identified population subdivision at the regional scale, and explored fine-scale genotypic (individual-based genetic signature) structure. Unexpectedly high genetic connectivity across the study region was detected for ??decliner?? and ??tolerant?? species. Power analysis simulations suggest that moderate reductions in gene flow should have been detectable. However, there was evidence of local negative effects of reduced habitat extent and structural connectivity: slightly lower effective population sizes, lower genetic diversity, higher within-site relatedness and altered sex-ratios (for weebill and eastern yellow robin) in 10 × 10?km ??landscapes?? with low vegetation cover. We conclude that reduced structural connectivity in the Box-Ironbark ecosystem may still allow sufficient gene flow to avoid the harmful effects of inbreeding in our study species. Although there may still be negative consequences of fragmentation for demographic connectivity, the high genetic connectivity of mobile bird species in this system suggests that reconnecting isolated habitat patches may be less important than increasing habitat extent and/or quality if these need to be traded off. 相似文献
13.
Large termitaria act as refugia for tall trees,deadwood and cavity-using birds in a miombo woodland 总被引：1，自引：1，他引：0
Grant S. Joseph Graeme S. Cumming David H. M. Cumming Zacheus Mahlangu Res Altwegg Colleen L. Seymour 《Landscape Ecology》2011,26(3):439-448
Landscape heterogeneity can play an important role in providing refugia and sustaining biodiversity in disturbed landscapes.
Large Macrotermes (Isoptera) termite mounds in miombo woodlands form nutrient rich islands that sustain a different suite of woody plant species
relative to the woodland matrix. We investigated the role of termitaria in providing habitat for cavity-using birds in miombo
woodlands that had been greatly impacted by elephants and fire, by comparing the availability of habitat favored by cavity-using
birds (tall trees, trees with deadwood, and cavities) on and off mounds, and then testing its effect on species richness and
abundance of cavity-using birds. We surveyed 48 termitaria paired with 48 woodland matrix sites in the breeding season; and
54 matrix-termitarium pairs in the non-breeding season in Chizarira National Park, Zimbabwe. Generalized linear mixed-effects
models showed that termitaria harboured significantly higher densities (ha−1) of habitat components considered important for cavity nesting birds. Density of trees >6 m in height and incidence of trees
with deadwood was nearly 10 times greater on mounds than in the matrix, and the density of cavities was nine times higher
on mounds compared to the matrix. A model selection procedure showed that termitaria provided refugia for cavity-using birds
and contributed to the resilience of bird communities through high on-mound densities of trees with deadwood. Large termitaria
thus appear to play an important role in maintaining functionally important components of the avifauna in heavily impacted
Miombo woodlands. 相似文献
14.
Megan J. Brady Clive A. McAlpine Craig J. Miller Hugh P. Possingham Greg S. Baxter 《Landscape Ecology》2009,24(7):879-891
The matrix is an important element of landscape mosaics that influences wildlife indirectly through its influence on habitat,
and directly, if they live in or move through it. Therefore, to quantify and manage habitat quality for wildlife in modified
landscapes, it is necessary to consider the characteristics of both patch and matrix elements of the whole landscape mosaic.
To isolate matrix effects from the often simultaneous and confounding influence of patch and landscape characteristics, we
identified nineteen 500 m radius landscapes in southeast Queensland, Australia with similar remnant forest patch attributes,
habitat loss, and fragmentation, but exhibiting a marked gradient from rural through high-density suburban development of
the matrix, quantified by a weighted road-length metric. We measured habitat disturbance, structure, and floristics in patch
core, patch edge and matrix landscape elements to characterise how landscape habitat quality changes for small mammals. Correlation
analyses identified that with increased matrix development intensity, human disturbance of core sites increased, predators
and exotic plant species richness in matrix sites increased, and structural complexity (e.g. logs and stumps) in the matrix
decreased. Ordination analyses showed landscape elements were most similar in habitat structure and floristics at low to moderate
levels of matrix development, suggesting enhanced landscape habitat quality. Matrix development intensity was not, however,
the greatest source of overall variation of habitat throughout landscapes. Many variables, such as landholder behaviour, complicate
the relationship. For enhanced conservation outcomes the matrix needs to be managed to control disturbances and strategically
plan for matrix habitat retention and restoration. 相似文献
15.
Metapopulation theory and habitat fragmentation: a review of holarctic breeding bird studies 总被引：15，自引：0，他引：15
Paul Opdam 《Landscape Ecology》1991,5(2):93-106
Metapopulations are conceived as spatially structured populations consisting of distinct units (subpopulations), separated by space or barriers, and connected by dispersal movements. Metapopulations characteristically demonstrate a turnover of local populations going extinct and becoming re-established, resulting in a distribution pattern that shifts over time. Metapopulation theory is used to analyse the effects of habitat fragmentation on birds in the temperate zone, integrating various explanations for the paucity of species in isolated ecotopes.There is some evidence that turnover of local populations occurs in fragmented systems. A few studies based on time series demonstrate the local extinction rate to be related to the size of the habitat fragment, whereas the recolonization rate depends on the degree of isolation. Most evidence comes from short-term pattern studies in which the probability of occurrence was found to depend on the size of habitat fragments, on their relative position in the landscape and on the density of corridors lowering the landscape resistance. These data are consistent with predictions from metapopulation theory. However, almost all investigations consider wood fragmentation in agricultural landscapes, and there is a great need for studies in naturally fragmented landscapes as well as for studies focussing on other, less predictable, habitat types. 相似文献
16.
Anette Edvardsen Rune Halvorsen Ann Norderhaug Oddvar Pedersen Knut Rydgren 《Landscape Ecology》2010,25(7):1071-1083
Habitat specificity analysis provides a tool for partitioning landscape species diversity on landscape elements by separating
patches with many rare specialist species from patches with the same number of species, all of which are common generalists
and thus provide information of relevance to conservation goals at regional and national levels. Our analyses were based upon
species data from 2201 patch elements in SE Norwegian modern agricultural landscapes. The context used for measuring habitat
specificity strongly influences the results. In general the gamma diversity contribution and core habitat specificity calculated
from the patch data set were correlated. High values for both measures were observed for woodland, pastures and road verges
whereas midfield islets and boundary transitional types were ranked low, as opposed to findings in traditional, extensively
managed agricultural landscapes. This is due to our study area representing intensively used agricultural landscape elements
holding a more trivial species composition, in addition to ruderals being favoured by fertility and disturbance, a finding
also being supported by the semi-natural affiliation index. Results obtained by use of checklist data from the same study
area diverged from patch data. Caution is needed in interpretation of habitat specificity results obtained from checklist
data, because modern agricultural landscapes contain several land types which are seldom surveyed by botanists, thus being
under-represented in the data set. We propose the use of core habitat specificity and gamma diversity contribution in parallel
to obtain a value neutral diversity assessment that addresses patch uniqueness and other properties of conservation interests. 相似文献
17.
Although many empirical and theoretical studies have elucidated the effects of habitat fragmentation on the third trophic level, little attention has been paid to the impacts of this driver on more generalist groups of non-hymenopteran parasitoids. Here, we used the highly-diverse group of tachinid flies as an alternative model to test the effects of landscape fragmentation on insect parasitoids. Our aims were: (i) to evaluate the relative importance of habitat area and connectivity losses and their potential interaction on tachinid diversity, (ii) to test whether the effects of habitat fragmentation changes seasonally, and (iii) to further assess the effect of habitat diversity on tachinid diversity and whether different parasitoid-host associations modify the species richness response to fragmentation. In 2012 a pan-trap sampling was conducted in 18 semi-natural grasslands embedded in intensive agricultural landscapes along statistically orthogonal gradients of habitat area, connectivity and habitat diversity. We found an interaction between habitat area and connectivity indicating that tachinid abundance and species richness were more negatively affected by habitat loss in landscapes with low rather than with relatively large habitat connectivity. Although tachinid communities exhibited large within-year species turnover, we found that the effects of landscape fragmentation did not change seasonally. We found that habitat diversity and host association did not affect tachinid species diversity. Our results have important implications for biodiversity conservation as any attempts to mitigate the negative effects of habitat loss need to take the general level of habitat connectivity in the landscape into account. 相似文献
18.
Comparing the landscape level perceptual abilities of forest sciurids in fragmented agricultural landscapes* 总被引：8，自引：2，他引：6
Perceptual range is the maximum distance from which an animal can perceive the presence of remote landscape elements such as patches of habitat. Such perceptual abilities are of interest because they influence the probability that an animal will successfully disperse to a new patch in a landscape. Furthermore, understanding how perceptual range differs between species may help to explain differential species sensitivity to patch isolation. The objective of this research was to assess the perceptual range of eastern chipmunks (Tamias striatus), gray squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis), and fox squirrels (Sciurus niger) in fragmented agricultural landscapes. Animals were captured in remote woodlots and translocated to unfamiliar agricultural fields. There they were released at different distances from a woodlot and their movements towards or away from the woodlot were used to assess their ability to perceive forested habitat. Observed perceptual ranges of approximately 120 m for chipmunks, 300 m for gray squirrels, and 400 m for fox squirrels, suggest that differences in landscape-level perceptual abilities may influence the occurrence of these species in isolated habitat patches. 相似文献
19.
Context
Despite increasing evidence that landscape composition and configuration strongly influence the community structure of potential pest-regulators, landscape structure has seldom been explicitly linked with the rate and magnitude of pest-control services.Objectives and methods
We conducted a systematic literature review evaluating 158 relevant studies to: (1) characterize our existing understanding of the empirical relationships between landscape structure and avian-mediated insect pest control services in agricultural systems, (2) identify gaps in our current understanding, and (3) develop a conceptual model of landscape structural influences on avian-mediated pest control.Results and discussion
We found on-farm pest suppression by birds was often higher in landscapes with higher native habitat cover, higher compositional heterogeneity, and in agricultural patches in closer proximity to native habitats. We identified more than 200 bird species that provide pest control services across both temperate and tropical regions. While most avian predators are habitat-generalist species, a substantial fraction of pest control services in tropical regions was mediated by habitat-dependent species, suggesting a link between conservation management and maintenance of pest control services. We identified a three-part research agenda for future investigations of the relationships between landscape structure and avian-mediated pest control, focusing on an improved understanding of mechanisms related to: (1) predator–prey interactions and landscape modulation of trophic relationships, (2) bird dispersal ability and landscape connectivity, and (3) cross-habitat spillover of habitat-dependent avian predators.Implications
These findings can be applied to efforts to manage and design landscapes capable of supporting both biodiversity and ecosystem services.20.