Agricultural Landscapes Research Articles

The role of agricultural extension workers in transforming agricultural supply chains: enhancing innovation, technology adoption, and ethical practices in Nigeria

Agricultural extension workers play a pivotal role in transforming supply chains by bridging the gap between research, innovation, and on-the-ground farming practices. In Nigeria, where agriculture serves as a backbone for economic development and food security, the adoption of modern technologies and ethical farming practices remains critical. This article explores how agricultural extension workers contribute to enhancing productivity, promoting sustainability, and encouraging the diffusion of innovative technologies within Nigeria's agricultural sector. By serving as catalysts for the adoption of advanced tools such as precision agriculture, mobile-based information systems, and climate-smart practices, extension workers help improve efficiency, reduce post-harvest losses, and ensure farmers’ access to markets. The study highlights the challenges faced by these workers, including resource constraints, technological barriers, and policy limitations. Furthermore, the article delves into the ethical dimensions of farming, emphasizing the need for environmentally sustainable and socially responsible practices. Through case studies and a detailed examination of Nigeria’s agricultural landscape, this paper provides insights into the future direction of agricultural extension services and their role in ensuring food security and rural development. The article concludes with policy recommendations to strengthen extension services and their capacity to drive innovation and sustainability in Nigeria’s agriculture sector.

Agrobiodiversity Conservation Policies: Insights from an Integrated Micro-macro Economic Model in Ethiopia

AbstractNational strategies aiming to enhance agricultural productivity in sub-Saharan Africa have traditionally focused on encouraging the adoption of improved modern crop varieties. This approach led to genetic erosion and reduced option value for bioprospecting, an unintended consequence of the decline of locally conserved traditional varieties. Governments are often left with poor guidance to evaluate the costs and benefits of this strategy. In this paper, we propose a methodological framework for assessing agricultural policies based on local agrobiodiversity conservation. In particular, we modify a computable general equilibrium model with trade to account for the land allocated to traditional and improved modern varieties as input for the agricultural sector. As a case study we select the Ethiopian durum wheat. Several sources of data at macro, micro and agronomic levels are adopted to estimate parameters and economic effects. Accounting for climate change and technological projections up to 2050, results of a counterfactual scenario show that when policy-driven breeding programs in specific agroecological niches are implemented, they simultaneously achieves conservation and food production goals. The findings underscore the need for policy interventions aimed at promoting context-specific strategies that consider conservation and production objectives within the broader agricultural landscape.

Effects of spatial and temporal crop changes on bird diversity in peri‑urban agricultural lands

Numerous studies have investigated bird diversity-environment relationships in agricultural landscapes. While many studies have emphasized the importance of natural/semi-natural elements and their diversity within or surrounding farmlands, it remains unclear how crop diversity impacts birds. There is also a significant gap in our knowledge regarding the effects of temporal changes in crop composition on bird diversity. Using small farmlands in a sub-tropical city of China, we examined how spatial and temporal variation of crops and other local farmland features was linked to species diversity of birds and their traits. In small peri‑urban agricultural areas of Guangzhou, we collected bird and crop/non-crop data approximately bimonthly from December 2021 to October 2022. Overall crop diversity and seasonal crop changes were indexed by alpha diversity (Shannon-Wiener index) and beta diversity, respectively. Both alpha and beta crop diversities were positively associated with Shannon-Wiener diversity of birds. Alpha crop diversity also tended to have a positive impact on species richness. Percent cover of woody vegetation showed a positive effect on all three bird diversity indices, i.e., species richness, Shannon-Wiener diversity, and evenness. Percent cover of rice affected species richness positively and evenness negatively, whereas the effects of percent cover of corn were the opposite. In a fourth-corner analysis, the abundance of plant/seed-eating birds was negatively associated with alpha crop diversity, whereas the abundance of ground-foraging birds was positively associated with beta crop diversity. These patterns indicate that seasonally dynamic crop changes as well as local crop diversity can influence bird diversity and traits in small farmlands. They also suggest that natural/semi-natural woody vegetation, such as trees and shrubs, play a critical role in enhancing species diversity of birds in farmlands dominated by herbaceous edible crops.

Integrated Pest Management: An Update on the Sustainability Approach to Crop Protection.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) emerged as a pest control framework promoting sustainable intensification of agriculture, by adopting a combined strategy to reduce reliance on chemical pesticides while improving crop productivity and ecosystem health. This critical review synthesizes the most recent advances in IPM research and practice, mostly focusing on studies published within the past five years. The Review discusses the key components of IPM, including cultural practices, biological control, genetic pest control, and targeted pesticide application, with a particular emphasis on the significant advancements made in biological control and targeted pesticide delivery systems. Recent findings highlight the growing importance of genetic control and conservation biological control, which involves the management of agricultural landscapes to promote natural enemy populations. Furthermore, the recent discovery of novel biopesticides, including microbial agents and plant-derived compounds, has expanded the arsenal of tools available for eco-friendly pest management. Substantial progress has recently also been made in the development of targeted pesticide delivery systems, such as nanoemulsions and controlled-release formulations, which can minimize the environmental impact of pesticides while maintaining their efficacy. The Review also analyzes the environmental, economic, and social dimensions of IPM adoption, showcasing its potential to promote biodiversity conservation and ensure food safety. Case studies from various agroecological contexts demonstrate the successful implementation of IPM programs, highlighting the importance of participatory approaches and effective knowledge exchange among stakeholders. The Review also identifies the main challenges and opportunities for the widespread adoption of IPM, including the need for transdisciplinary research, capacity building, and policy support. In conclusion, this critical review discusses the essential role of IPM components in achieving the sustainable intensification of agriculture, as it seeks to optimize crop production while minimizing adverse environmental impacts and enhancing the resilience of agricultural systems to global challenges such as climate change and biodiversity loss.

Biomass tables and allometric equations for predicting the fodder and fuelwood production of prominent tree resources in agricultural landscapes of the mid-hills of the North-Western Himalayas

Biomass tables and allometric equations for predicting the fodder and fuelwood production of prominent tree resources in agricultural landscapes of the mid-hills of the North-Western Himalayas

Intrapopulation germinability may help the Mediterranean plant species Poterium spinosum L. to cope with climate changes and landscape fragmentation.

Poterium spinosum L. is a key plant species forming typical shrub communities, distributed across the Mediterranean eastern coasts. The conservation of P. spinosum is thus of the utmost importance, especially due to the ever-increasing environmental pressures like climate changes and habitat fragmentation. This study, in particular, investigated for the first time the germination variability of P. spinosum at intrapopulation level, by analysing the germination behavior of five different subpopulations growing along the coasts of Sicily. For a more exhaustive picture of the main drivers of biodiversity loss affecting the distributional area of P. spinosum, the trends of climate and land-cover changes were also studied over the periods 1931-2020 and 1958-2018, respectively. The results found significant intrapopulation variability in P. spinosum, whose germination parameters showed that fruits and seeds from distinct subpopulations respond differently to diverse temperatures. Seeds showed generally higher values of final germination percentage (FGP) compared to fruits, and at higher temperatures: the highest FGP in seeds was 70% at 20°C, whereas in fruits was 58.2% at 15°C. The environmental threats showed worrying trends across the study area: during 1931-2020, the average temperature increased by 1.5°C, whereas the average rainfall declined from 710 to 650mm. Similarly, in the period 1958-2018, the analysis of the CORINE land-cover changes showed a highly fragmented agricultural landscape, where natural areas were reduced to 2.5-5.0%. Germination variability at intrapopulation level should be considered as a fundamental adaptation strategy, which can increase the reproductive success of P. spinosum under climate and land-cover changes.

Insect conservation in agricultural landscapes needs both high crop heterogeneity and semi-natural habitats

Identifying landscapes that are suitable for both biodiversity conservation and agricultural production is a major challenge. Traditionally, much research has focused on biodiversity conservation outside of agricultural production areas, e.g., in semi-natural habitats. In contrast, recent research has mainly focused on the potential of crop heterogeneity. This includes both compositional (crop diversity) and configurational heterogeneity (field border density). However, if and how crop heterogeneity, and semi-natural habitats interact to shape insect diversity in agricultural landscapes remains poorly understood. Here we investigated the combined effects of crop diversity, field border density, and semi-natural habitats (i.e., grassland proportion, hedge density) on insect diversity. We sampled insect communities from 14 – 17 June 2021 with pan traps in 27 study landscapes (500 m x 500 m) covering independent gradients of these landscape variables and identified a total of 587 insect species with DNA metabarcoding. We found that field border density mediated the effects of crop diversity, grassland proportion, and hedge density on insect richness. At low levels of field border density (i.e., landscapes with mostly large fields), effects were either neutral (crop diversity), negative (grassland proportion) or weakly positive (hedge density). By contrast, at high levels of field border density, crop diversity, grassland proportion, and hedge density all exerted positive effects on insect richness. Responses to crop heterogeneity and semi-natural habitat differed among trophic groups of insects (decomposers, herbivores, parasitoids, predators). While variation in richness of herbivorous insects followed the patterns of the overall richness, decomposer richness was not related to any of the investigated variables. Predator richness increased with hedge density in landscapes, whereas parasitoid richness increased when high levels of field border density and grassland proportion coincided. Our study shows that increasing crop heterogeneity is a viable strategy for promoting insect diversity in agricultural landscapes. However, the effects of the amount of remaining semi-natural habitats, such as grassland or hedges, are mediated by configurational heterogeneity, and vary between trophic groups. Efforts to conserve insects in agricultural landscapes must therefore focus on both increasing the heterogeneity of the crop matrix by promoting crop diversity and increasing the density of field borders, while also maintaining or restoring semi-natural habitats as important source habitats for insect species.

ENVIRONMENTALLY ACCEPTABLE NORMS OF MAN-MADE LOADS ON IRRIGATED LANDS DURING WASTEWATER DISPOSAL

Nature management in a broad sense is considered as a combination of various forms of exploitation of the natural resource potential of natural and natural-man-made systems and measures to preserve it. Its most important component is the preservation, reproduction and rational change of the ecological balance of natural systems. It is from these positions that it seems necessary to determine environmentally acceptable norms of man-made loads on irrigated lands during the disposal of wastewater, widely used in the practice of water supply and sanitation. The use of wastewater from industrial and municipal facilities for irrigation of land is of fundamental importance from both ecological and economic positions. From an ecological point of view, the use of wastewater for irrigation of agricultural crops, in the presence and creation of waste-free and safe technologies for their disposal in irrigation fields, can serve as the basis for rational nature management, since at the same time the ecological sustainability of landscapes is ensured, which in turn makes possible the long-term exploitation of natural resources without their pollution and degradation. From an economic point of view, by creating agricultural landscapes in unproductive lands, using wastewater from industrial and municipal facilities, it is possible to ensure the production of a certain amount of agricultural products, provided that the damage caused to the natural system (S) will be less than the profit (S). Under these conditions, the object of wastewater disposal is the soil, which requires the need to determine a number of environmentally effective ways to optimize the soil-forming process, which would create, in an agroecological and economic sense, a perfect technology for their disposal, taking into account the laws of nature.

The Relationship between Erosion and Precipitation and the Effects of Different Riparian Practices on Soil and Total-P Losses via Streambank Erosion in Small Streams in Iowa, USA

Streambank erosion in agricultural landscapes contributes high amounts of sediment and total-P to surface water, resulting in the degradation of stream habitats and reduction in ecological services. Moreover, the implication of future climate change on bank erosion is also a growing concern. Streambank erosion rates from riparian forest buffers (RFo), grass filters (GFi), row-crops (RCr) and pastures, including fenced pastures (FPa), rotationally grazed pastures (RPa), intensive rotationally grazed pastures (IPa), and continuously grazed pastures (CPa), in three landform regions of Iowa, were measured over seven years. Bank erosion pins were measured seasonally (spring, summer and fall) in the first five years (2002–2006) and yearly for two more years (2007–2008). It was found that summer and spring seasons are the important ones since the relationships between erosion and precipitation were significantly “strong” in almost all the riparian practices, and precipitation was found to be the main factor driving streambank erosion. Streambank mean soil losses and soil total-P losses from RFo (23.3 tons km−1 yr−1 and 9.8 kg km−1 yr−1, respectively), GFi (31.1 and 9.9) and FPa (44.0 and 23.7) practices were all significantly lower than the grazing pasture practices, including RPa (142.3 and 58), CPa (255 and 105.1), IPa (234.6 and 122.7) and RCr fields (352.9 and 118.9). Also, RPa had significantly lower total-P loss than CPa, IPa and RCr practices (RFo, GFi, FPa < RPa < CPa, IPa, RCr). RCr practices had the highest streambank soil losses among all other riparian practices (RFo, GFi, FPa < RPa < IPa, CPa < RCr). The study showed that riparian conservation practices (RFo, GFi and FPa) showcased significant benefits in mitigating streambank soil loss and associated soil total-P load to streams. However, their effectiveness is highly sensitive to changing climatic conditions and the extent of spatiotemporal variations.

Vertebrate seed predation can limit recruitment of later‐successional species in tropical forest restoration

AbstractThe effects of vertebrate seed predation on the regeneration of restored forests are not well understood because most past studies have focused on seed predation within the first few years after restoration and have measured seed removal without quantifying subsequent seedling establishment of seeds that avoid predation. Quantifying the establishment of seeds that escape predation in restored forests at later stages of regrowth is crucial for anticipating longer‐term recovery trajectories. Here, we evaluated the potential role of vertebrate seed predators in limiting recruitment of later‐successional tree species in nine forests actively restored ≥15 years prior and in four paired remnant forest fragments embedded in an agricultural landscape in southern Costa Rica. We conducted seed addition experiments with four tree species inside and outside vertebrate exclosures and used camera trapping to detect seed predators. To determine the fate of seeds that avoided predation, we also measured seedling establishment after 1 year, given that other mortality factors may compensate in the absence of vertebrate seed predation. We detected two species of birds and five species of granivorous mammals removing seeds. Seed tagging indicated that most removal resulted in predation. For three of the four tree species tested, vertebrate seed predation reduced seedling establishment. The magnitude of this effect depended on species' susceptibility to other causes of mortality during the seed‐to‐seedling transition. Our study demonstrates that vertebrate seed predators can substantially reduce later‐successional seedling recruitment in restored forests and should be considered alongside dispersal limitation and microsite conditions as factors slowing forest recovery.Abstract in Spanish is available with online material.

Assessing the nutrient removal performance from rice-crayfish paddy fields by an ecological ditch-wetland system

Agricultural drainage from catchments significantly impacts aquatic ecosystems due to high nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations in runoff. While original ecological ditches and wetlands have demonstrated effectiveness in nutrient load removal, the overall impact of an ecological ditch-wetland system (EDWS) on agricultural nutrient removal has received limited attention. This study conducted a field experiment to investigate the physicochemical conditions and nutrient removal efficiency of an EDWS for purifying nutrient discharge from rice-crayfish paddy fields. Variations in water temperature (WT), dissolved oxygen (DO), pH, and total suspended solids (TSS) within the EDWS were assessed. Nutrient concentrations—including total nitrogen (TN), ammonium nitrogen (NH4-N), nitrate nitrogen (NO3-N), total phosphorus (TP), and soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP)—were monitored from the tillering to the ripening stage of the rice growth cycle. The evaluation of nutrient removal efficiencies in the EDWS revealed that ecological ditches exhibited higher removal efficiencies compared to wetlands. The average total removal efficiencies for TN, NH4-N, NO3-N, TP, and SRP were 37.50 %, 39.38 %, 38.62 %, 37.94 %, and 39.51 %, respectively, with peak removal efficiencies observed at specific growth stages of the rice crop. Furthermore, the study explored the influence of hydraulic retention time on nutrient removal efficiency in the EDWS, indicating higher nutrient discharge removal efficiencies under low water discharge rates. Linear regression analysis identified water discharge, influent nutrient loads, and TSS as significant factors affecting nutrient removal efficiency in the EDWS. This study provides valuable insights into the effectiveness of EDWS in purifying nutrient discharge from rice-crayfish paddy fields, highlighting their potential as sustainable solutions for nutrient management in agricultural landscapes.

Investigation of Spatiotemporal Changes and Impact Factors of Trade-Off Intensity in Cultivated Land Multifunctionality in the Min River Basin

Exploring the interrelationships and influencing factors of the multifunctionality of cultivated land is crucial for achieving its multifunctional protection and sustainable use. In this paper, we take the Min River basin as a case study to construct a multifunctional evaluation system based on “agricultural production, social security, ecological service, and cultural landscape” using multi-source data. We analyze the spatial and temporal characteristics of the multifunctionality of cultivated land through kernel density estimation (KDE) and visual mapping. Subsequently, we assess the trade-off strength between the multifunctional aspects of cultivated land using the root mean square error (RMSD). Finally, we identify the drivers of the multifunctional trade-off intensity of cultivated land and analyze their influencing mechanisms using Geographic Detectors. The results show that (1) from 2010 to 2020, the multifunctional structure of cultivated land in the study area underwent significant changes: the levels of agricultural production, social security, and ecological service functions first increased and then decreased, while the levels of cultural landscape function and comprehensive function continued to increase. The spatial distribution is characterized, respectively, by “high in the east and low in the west”, “high in the west and low in the east”, “high in the north and low in the south”, “high in the whole and sporadically low in the northeast”, and “high in the middle and low in the surroundings”. (2) During the study period, the trade-off strengths related to social security functions increased, while the trade-off strengths of the remaining multifunctional pairs of cultivated land showed a weakening trend, with high values of trade-off strengths among functions particularly prominent in the Nanping Municipal District. (3) Both natural and human factors significantly affect the multifunctional trade-off strength of cultivated land. Among the specific factors, elevation, slope, average annual temperature, and per capita GDP are the key factors influencing the strength of the trade-offs between functions. The results of this study provide empirical support for enriching the understanding of the multifunctionality of cultivated land and offer a decision-making basis for promoting the differentiated management of cultivated land resources and the synergistic development of its multifunctionality.

Linking landscape structure, floral resource distribution, pollen use and movement distances of a generalist predator

Abstract Understanding the habitat use and movement patterns of natural enemies in agricultural landscapes is essential for enhancing biological pest control. Since many natural enemies rely on floral resources, the distribution of these resources in combination with movement behaviour likely influence biological control in field crops. Nevertheless, few studies have assessed natural enemy movement at the landscape scale. Here we estimated minimal movement distances of the green lacewing Chrysoperla carnea based on consumed pollen and the spatial distribution of the respective plant species in 24 agricultural landscapes (500 m radius). Lacewings were sampled using sticky traps in the centre of each landscape, and the consumed pollen were identified. The location of the most important pollen‐providing plants was mapped in each landscape. Distances to potential sources of pollen consumed by 346 lacewings were used to derive minimal movement distances. Lacewings consumed mostly pollen from insect‐pollinated plants that were present within 500 m from the sampling location. The distance to the nearest source of consumed pollen exceeded 200 m in 31% of lacewing individuals, demonstrating the relevance of the landscape scale to understand their population dynamics. Distances were shorter to insect‐pollinated than to wind‐pollinated plants, and shorter early than late in the season. Mean and median distances to pollen sources were negatively associated to flower availability and edge density in the landscape, but this was not the case for minimal distances. Synthesis and applications. Our findings suggest that the spatial distribution of flowering wild plants can inform movement patterns of lacewings and other flower‐visiting insects in agricultural landscapes. In addition, the location of floral resources in the landscape is important for its capacity to sustain natural enemies. Given the strong reliance of lacewings on pollen from nearby insect pollinated woody plants, the promotion of native shrubs and trees, such as Prunus, Salix and Castanea, should be prioritized for natural enemy enhancement in agricultural landscapes. Doing this in the form of hedgerows or agroforestry systems would lead to only minimal reduction in production areas and provide additional benefits such as biodiversity conservation.

A Review of Agrivoltaic Systems: Addressing Challenges and Enhancing Sustainability

Agrivoltaics is a relatively new term used originally for integrating photovoltaic (PV) systems into the agricultural landscape and expanded to applications such as animal farms, greenhouses, and recreational parks. The dual use of land offers multiple solutions for the renewable energy sector worldwide, provided it can be implemented without negatively impacting agricultural production. However, agrivoltaics represent a relatively new technology, facing challenges including economic viability, vulnerability to wind loads, and interference with growing crops. This paper reviews the recent research on integrating agrivoltaics with farming applications, focusing on challenges, wind impact on agrivoltaics, and economic solutions. The effect of agrivoltaics on temperature control of the lands is a critical factor in managing (1) water and the soil of the land, (2) animal comfort, and (3) greenhouse productivity, positively or negatively. In this review, a contradiction between the different versions of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) standards and the wind tunnel results is shown. Important factors affecting the wind load, such as damping and mass increase, optimum stow position, and aerodynamic edge modification, are highlighted with emphasis on the significant knowledge gap in the wind load mitigation methods.

Local and landscape predictors of herbivory on subsistence croplands in Brazilian dry forests

ABSTRACT Understanding the impact of herbivores on croplands is critical to developing sustainable agricultural landscapes. Here, we test the hypothesis that field size and landscape structure modulate the levels of herbivory in cowpea and maize subsistence croplands in Brazilian drylands. We conducted the study in nine small-scale farms with varying levels of landscape structure and field sizes (0.10–1.67 ha). In each farm, we haphazardly sampled 20 plants of maize and cowpea. The frequency of foliar herbivory was high for both crops (0.45–0.72), but the average magnitude of damage was low (<3% of leaf surface in both crops), indicating that herbivory is not an ecosystem disservice. Nonetheless, the field size and level of human impact on the landscape matrix were positively related to the frequency and magnitude of damage on maize foliage and cowpea foliage and pods. Landscape composition (proportion of woodland/forest surrounding the field) and configuration (number of surrounding woodland/forest patches) had weaker effects on herbivory levels, mixing positive and negative effects on both crops. Our findings indicate that herbivory attack is not concerning in the agricultural fields studied, but suggest that maize and cowpea should be preferably grown in small fields surrounded by an environmental-friendly matrix and patches of conserved ecosystems.

Do planning practices hinder on-farm diversification in peri-urban Mediterranean France?

At the crossroads of spatial planning and agriculture, this article explores how planning practices impact on-farm diversification strategies in peri-urban Mediterranean France. It focuses on farm building permit applications, statistically analyzing a database of 860 buildings applied for and interviewing local authorities and farmers’ representatives. Results show the large proportion of applications related to reterritorialization of food systems, development of recreational activities, and production of green energy. These on-farm diversification trends highlight the transformation of peri-urban areas from a natural or agricultural landscape into a multifunctional landscape, posing several planning challenges. Planners don’t know how to assess whether a new building is really essential for farming, or to find the right trade-offs to support farming dynamics while limiting soil sealing. Their assessment criteria generally favor large, full-time, and economically viable farms. Comparing two provinces’ planning practices, we observe significant differences in interpretation of national law, with incoherent or unharmonized criteria applied especially when assessing professional farming activities, new dwellings, and solar energy projects. We also highlight two potential obstacles to farmers’ generational renewal and agroecological or food transitions: i) lack of transparency regarding the rules and the decision-making processes behind building permit assessment, and ii) the frequent rejection of applications for multi-purpose premises and lightweight, mobile, or dismantlable structures. Such results point to the role of planners in transforming peri-urban landscapes and the need for more consistent regulation of new farm buildings, supporting and not hindering farm adaptation strategies and the multifunctionality of peri-urban areas.

Sustainable and Low-Input Techniques in Mediterranean Greenhouse Vegetable Production

In the modern agricultural landscape, numerous challenges, such as climate change, diminishing arable lands, and the reduction of water resources, represent significant threats. The Mediterranean greenhouse farming model relies on low-input strategies to maximize both yield and quality. Its protected horticulture is essential for the year-round cultivation of high-value crops, ensuring efficient and sustainable production. In the realm of future agricultural strategies, leveraging internet-based approaches emerges as a pivotal factor for real-time and remote control of various agricultural parameters crucial for crop growth and development. This approach has the potential to significantly optimize agronomic inputs, thereby enhancing the efficiency of targeted vegetable production. The aim of the present review is to underscore the challenges related to the intensive greenhouse production systems emphasizing various strategies leading to low-input greenhouse vegetable production. The goal is to promote more sustainable and resource-efficient approaches in the cultivation of greenhouse vegetables. This review highlights several key strategies for optimizing the greenhouse environment, including efficient water management through conservation tillage, drainage water reuse, and selecting the most appropriate irrigation systems and timing. Additionally, light modulation and temperature control—using solar energy for heating and pad-and-fan systems for cooling—are crucial for enhancing both crop performance and resource efficiency. The review also explores low-input agronomical strategies, such as pest and disease control—including solarization and optimized integrated pest management (IPM)—as well as fertilization and advanced growing techniques. These approaches are essential for sustainable greenhouse farming.

Assessing plastic pollution in farmland: Impact of agricultural practices on bird nesting materials

Farmland, a vital terrestrial environment, has seen significant changes due to intensified agricultural practices and plastic pollution. Assessing plastic pollution in farmed areas remains challenging, and understanding its impacts on agricultural ecosystems is limited. The aim of the was to determine whether plastic pollution in agricultural landscapes depends on the type of crops. We used the Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio), an indicator bird species and investigated plastic contamination of 122 of its nests. We found plastic waste in 82.1 % of nests, totalling 6234 items weighing 197.2 g. On average, each nest contained 55.7 waste items, constituting approximately 4.3 % of the nest's mass. Plastic string fibres were predominant, making up 95.6 % of the items and 90.7 % of the mass. This variation may be due to different straw and hay management practices and varying levels of vigilance in removing plastic remnants. Contamination levels varied significantly among farmland types, with cultivated fields showing the highest contamination and meadows the lowest.

Riparian buffer strips promote biomass, species richness and abundance of flying insects in agricultural landscapes

Agricultural intensification is debated as one of the major drivers for the decline of insect biodiversity. Agri-environmental schemes (AES) are a common measure to promote biodiversity in agriculture by granting compensational payments to farmers for environmentally friendly practices. In this study we examined the effect of buffer strips of at least 5 m width, adjacent to small watercourses and drainage ditches, on insect biomass and insect species richness in agricultural landscapes. We selected ten arable fields in each of four regions in lower and upper Bavaria, Southern Germany. 25 out of 40 sites had a buffer strip between arable crops and watercourse. Insects were sampled at three time periods (May/June, June/July and August/September) for two weeks each. In each period two samples were collected (one per week). On each site Malaise traps were set up in 5 and 80 m distance to the embankment of the watercourse. Half of the samples was then subjected to metabarcoding and the other half was classified into different insect groups by morphological identification and the number of the individuals for each group was counted. For hoverflies (Syrphidae), individuals were identified at species-level. Data on vegetation structure (cover of grasses and herbs) in the studied riparian buffer strips was collected and correlated with number of species, abundances and biomass of flying insects. The five taxonomic orders with the highest species richness and individual numbers were: Diptera, Hymenoptera, Coleoptera, Lepidoptera and Hemiptera. Diptera dominated hereby with 34% of all species and 81% of all individuals. On average, mixed models indicated 31% higher insect biomass, 15% higher species richness and 29% higher individual numbers of flying insects in buffer strips at 5 m distance to the watercourse compared to sites with no buffer strip. The effect was even stronger for butterflies (32% higher species species richness, 70% more individuals) and hoverflies (24% higher species richness, 51% more individuals). In the presence of a buffer strip significantly higher numbers were found for total individuals, Diptera, Hymenoptera and Coleoptera. In 80 m distance to the watercourse, the samples of flying insects were not significantly influenced by a riparian buffer strip. This study highlights the importance of buffer strips in agricultural regions and their multifunctional potential in fostering biodiversity additionally to their acknowledged use for water protection. Ideally, buffer strips are rich in herbs and inflorescences and are therefore beneficial for the insect fauna by serving as valuable habitat with high potential connectivity at landscape level.

Comparison of hunting site strategies of the common buzzard Buteo buteo in open landscapes and along expressways.

The expansion of human activities in their many forms increases the frequency, diversity, and scale of human-wildlife interactions. One such negative form is the expansion of road infrastructure, causing road kill and traffic-related noise as well as habitat loss and fragmentation. Even so, habitats around road infrastructure are attractive foraging areas that attract certain bird species. We assessed the impact of road infrastructure on the foraging strategies of the common buzzard Buteo buteo. Birds were observed during two winter seasons in two land-use types, along an expressway and an open agricultural landscape. Individual birds were tracked for a 10-min sequence as a separate sample was analysed. The material, covering 1,220 min along the expressway, and 1,100 min in the agricultural landscape, was collected. Time spent by buzzards on medium-height sites was higher along the expressway than in farmland. Buzzards changed their hunting sites following the mean wind speed. Also, they more often changed their sites along the expressway than in farmland. The land-use types, snow cover, and the mean wind speed mediated the number of attacks on prey. These results illustrate the high plasticity of the buzzards' behaviour, which can adapt their hunting strategies to both foraging locations (expressway and farmland) and weather conditions. Roadsides along expressways are attractive foraging areas for this diurnal raptor, so reducing the risk of vehicle collisions with this and other birds of prey may require targeted planning efforts.