Traditional Vineyards Research Articles

300 Years of changes and persistences in the historic wine – growing area of Svätý Jur (Slovakia)

Svätý Jur represents a traditional vineyard landscape located in south-west Slovakia. We mapped and analysed changes and persistence in Svätý Jur to bring additional insight into the development of cultural landscapes in Europe. We digitised a unique map from the end of the 17th century, and a set of historical maps and aerial images from 1783, 1858, 1950, 1985, and 2017. The area of vineyards has decreased since the 18th century as a result of periods of cold weather, high taxes for vinegrowers and the spread of human plagues and vineyard diseases. Today, urbanisation is changing the area and character of the vineyards. This confirms the dynamic character of landscapes. We compared the persistence and found that it decreased over time until the last period, when persistence increased. The results are also presented in an upgraded Sankey diagram depicting the temporal aspect of changes and persistence in the area.

The changing geography of wine climates and its implications on adaptation in the Italian Alps

AbstractWine production and quality both strongly depend on suitable climatic conditions. Increasing the climate resilience of wine regions is therefore of critical importance but requires instruments to evaluate shifts in climatic conditions and growing suitability. This evaluation is particularly challenging in mountain viticultural areas due to their complex topoclimatic patterns, yet they offer the possibility to analyze climate change impacts and adaptation strategies across various climatic conditions and cultivated varieties. Here, we assessed historical and future bioclimatic conditions and identified effective adaptation strategies toward more sustainable and climate‐resilient wine production in the mountain winegrowing regions within South Tyrol in the Italian Alps. We found significant changes in climatic conditions under future scenarios, such as an increase in the Huglin index (HI) and cool night index (CNI) as well as a decreased dryness index (DI), causing an expansion of suitable areas for viticulture as well as a spread of unprecedented climatic conditions in traditional vineyards. Impacts and suitable adaptation options varied depending on climate type and grape variety, highlighting the need for targeted solutions that balance the need for high‐quality wine production with environmental protection and sustainability. Higher elevated areas over 1000 m a.s.l. will experience an increased suitability raising the need for restrictions regarding the expansion of vineyards to avoid degradation of natural ecosystems and biodiversity declines. In contrast, many traditional winegrowing areas will need to implement a combination of short‐ and long‐term adaptation measures to maintain traditional wine styles. Our findings provide a framework for the assessment of viticultural suitability and the formulation of appropriate adaptation strategies for the sustainable cultivation of wine grapes in a changing climate that applies to a variety of climates and grape varieties.

Particle film treatments on ‘Assyrtiko’ grapevines enhance physiology and grape attributes in Santorini Island

Like many viticultural regions of the Mediterranean region, Santorini is also affected by climate change. These changing climatic conditions pose challenges to adapt the island’s traditional viticulture practices to the new climatic conditions of climate change, which will intensify in the future, with the use of short- and long-term solutions with a sustainable manner respecting the tradition and the island’s landscape. Viticulture in this region copes with high temperatures, heat waves and drought which affect the maturity process, the technological maturity, as well as the physiology of the grapevine. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of kaolin and calcium carbonate foliar application on water relations, photosynthesis and berry composition of vines of grape cultivar ‘Assyrtiko’, trained with the traditional training system ‘Kouloura’, under drought conditions and vertical shoot positioned training system in Santorini. The effects of foliar application with kaolin and CaCO3 on vines of grape cultivar ‘Assyrtiko’ were evaluated, focusing on the impact on the vine’s physiology attributes, grape quality, and environmental sustainability. Based on the results of the present study, there were statistically significant differences on vine water stress where the foliar application of inert films reduced water stress during the three studied years. Kaolin and CaCO3 increased significantly the photosynthesis and stomatal conductance of the vines in comparison to the control. Furthermore, the foliar application with inert minerals has reduced sunburn and pest damage. The results of the present study confirm that the application of kaolin and CaCO3 constitutes an effective and economical solution for the water saving of the vines in dry conditions, while at the same time, it can improve the physiology of the plant and preserve the qualitative and quantitative attributes of the grapes. The foliar use of inert particle films on Santorini’s traditional vineyards could consist a sustainable and effective alternative to mitigate the effects of climate change which have intensified over the last decades in the region.

Analysis of land-use change in Mandrolisai 1860 to 2016: a case study from Sardinia (Italy)

ABSTRACT The focus on rural landscapes, already present in ‘Agenda 2000’, is reconfirmed for the CAP 2023–2027 (Green Deal). The CAP programmes have, however, often turned out to be generic and unsuited to the multifaceted reality of Mediterranean Europe, while FAO-GIAHS and UNESCO World Heritage programmes suit large territories. Both, as well as the CAP, support the conservation or renaturalisation of rural landscapes but cannot apply prescriptions at the planning stage. In Italy, the ‘Code of Cultural Heritage and Landscape’ contains prescriptive measures that the regions must include in their Landscape Plan (RLP); the municipalities must then adopt Urban Plans in accordance with the RLP. In Sardinia, RLP has protected the coastal areas (49.6 per cent of the 24,000 km2 surface area of the island) since 2006 but does not provide detailed guidelines for inland areas. We therefore tested the methodology proposed by the Ministry of Agriculture for recovering Historic Rural Landscapes in a study area of 23.63 km2 located in the heart of the island (in Mandrolisai region), where the two rural villages of Atzara and Sorgono border a system of traditional vineyards. Comparison of the 1860–1880 Land Register data, images from the first (1954) and last air flight (2016) shows that the agro-silvo-pastoral system has not changed structurally. In 2016, 53 per cent of the analysed area retains the same land-use macrocategories as the 1954 aerial photographs. Despite wide fluctuations in some agricultural crops, the most characteristic ones tend to occupy the same places, e.g., 72 per cent of 2016 vineyards compared to 1954. The biggest changes have been the transformation of natural pastures into cork oak wooded pastures, due to the sustained demand for cork.

Genetic diversity of grapevine landraces grown in a traditional vineyard in North Lebanon

Genetic diversity of grapevine landraces grown in a traditional vineyard in North Lebanon

Effect of grass cover and abandonment on soil surface changes and soil properties in traditional vineyards in Vráble viticultural region in southwestern Slovakia

Land use transition, related to the extensification of management and agricultural abandonment, is a widespread phenomenon across European landscapes. In this study, we examined the effects of protective grassing and abandonment on soil protection and regeneration in traditional vineyards of the Vráble viticultural region, located in the temperate climate zone of central Europe. We analysed changes in the soil surface level, soil profile, and soil properties at various slope positions: shoulder, backslope, and footslope. Variability in the soil surface level was assessed using the poles height method, which was developed to quantify soil erosion and deposition. The results showed that both measures positively affected soil development. In the abandoned vineyard, the soil surface level increased by 0.72 mm yr−1 on the slope shoulder, 0.26 mm yr−1 on the backslope, and 3.58 mm yr−1 on the footslope. In contrast, the cultivated vineyard exhibited minimal changes in the slope shoulder (0.02 mm yr−1), erosion on the backslope (4.52 mm yr−1), and deposition on the footslope (19.30 mm yr−1). The vineyard that was hoed for half of the analysed period and then grassed showed erosion rates of 0.25 mm yr−1 on the shoulder, 1.48 mm yr−1 on the backslope, and deposition of 3.42 mm yr−1 on the footslope. All slope profiles showed evidence of erosion-accumulation processes resulting from past management practices without protective vegetation cover; however, the development of a new humic layer was observed in grassed and abandoned vineyard. Grass cover and abandonment positively influenced soil organic carbon (SOC) content, bulk density, and porosity.

Relating the management difficulty to the abandonment rate of traditional mountain vineyards

Cultural landscapes and the associated land uses are highly dynamic and subject to continuous change over space and time. In recent times, European traditional agricultural practices such as winegrowing on steep slopes have come under pressure from various underlying factors such as e.g., the globalization of the wine market, the optimization of production processes, changes in customer preferences, increased pathogen pressure, climate change impacts, and urbanization pressure. At the local scale, specific workload and management difficulties play an important role in the decision of winegrowers to give up their activity. In this paper, we use the vineyard region of southern Switzerland as a case study to develop a specific and reproducible methodology for assessing and mapping the specific workload involved in maintaining single vineyard plots.We developed a management difficulty index which considers four parameters related to accessibility (oblique distance to the nearest road), mechanization difficulty (terrain slope), and unproductive additional workload (shape of the plot and portion of the vineyard edge bordering a forest). When analyzing the evolution of the areas planted with vines during the last 30 years we confirmed the assumed relationship between abandonment rates and management difficulty in zones designated for agriculture. In contrast, in zones designated for urban development this relationship is much less evident, since presumably the opportunity of converting the plots for more remunerative land use may act as the main driver for abandonment. In addition, plots which are easier to work are preferred for new vineyard establishment.Using the proposed management difficulty index as a criterion for public financial support to winegrowers managing highly demanding vineyard plots may represent an effective measure to counteract the loss of traditional vineyards in southern Alpine Switzerland.

Spontaneous renaturalization of open ecosystems in the hills of Brescia seen through the bird community

The sun-exposed open areas of the Brescia hills overlooking the Po Valley (Avanalpica region) were created by man starting from the 11th century. After the Second World War, following agro-pastoral abandonment, these areas have significantly shrunk. The evolution underway is towards the deciduous forest although in some areas the strong presence of quarries is blocking the vegetational succession or delaying it. Local birds are now largely associated with woodland coenosis and more scarcely with open areas, shrublands and wood edges. Seven open areas species have become extinct over the past 30 years: Woodchat Shrike, Barred Warbler, Rufous-tailed Rock-Thrush, Eastern Black-eared Wheatear, Tawny Pipit, Corn Bunting and Ortolan Bunting. Others, like Red-backed Shrike, Common Whitethroat, Cirl Bunting and Wood Lark have declined. Only the generalist Sardinian Warbler and Blue Rock-Thrush, typical of rocky areas with grassy spaces, are still relatively widespread although slightly decreasing. The Cirl Bunting, a species linked to traditional vineyards and orchards, is not expanding in the new intensively cultivated lands. The Eastern Subalpine Warbler is on the rise even though, due to its very low presence and lack of specific surveys, it may not have been detected in the past. The factors determining the presence of these species, i.e. traditional crops, flat open areas, soils with low grass and often with outcropping and/or rocky substrate, are in sharp decline. We can state that this bird community is negatively influenced by the percentage of tree cover and positively influenced by the presence of quarries which, however, represent an ephemeral and strongly impacting environment. In the absence of fires and/or natural disasters as well as human interventions, which are not likely to occur due to their poor economic sustainability, the prognosis for these birds is to be considered poor and a reduction in both bird and general biodiversity is to be expected.

Steep-slope viticulture: The effectiveness of micro-water storage in improving the resilience to weather extremes

Steep-slope vineyards are widely distributed in the Mediterranean region and have a pivotal role in wine production, economic development, and cultural heritage. Nevertheless, they are threatened by climate change in terms of opposite weather extremes, such as heavy rainfalls and long-lasting droughts. In response, rainwater harvesting systems have emerged as valuable solutions for managing water resources and controlling related problems. Of primary importance is the identification of suitable sites for installation. However, a systematic selection procedure still needs to be explored; it is necessary for morphologically complex vineyards that include historical features of significant cultural value (such as terraced systems). To fill this gap, this study employed a high-resolution overflow simulation model that combines a set of criteria to identify the optimal network of water harvesting structures (also drawing on traditional knowledge) and quantify the potential for water storage during rainfall of varying intensities. The study area considered is located within the “Soave Traditional Vineyards” (north of Italy) site, a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS) recognized by FAO. The surface overflow was simulated considering two key rainstorms that occurred in the last few years at different time intervals. 53 potential sites for water harvesting were selected according to field survey, runoff simulation, and topographic analysis. The results indicate that the water potentially collected from designed sites could have a double function: (1) mitigate the surface overflow that can potentially cause downslope terrace collapse or even flooding villages; (2) provide irrigation water for vineyards during water scarcity scenarios. The spatial distribution of the water collected could undoubtedly guide sustainable decisions in steep-slope viticultural systems under climate change forcing.

Lack of refuge as a bottleneck for reptiles in intensive woody crops

Abstract The lack of refuge has been suggested as one of the main factors affecting reptiles in intensive crops, but this theory has not been explored to any great extent. The aim of this work is to compare the reptile abundance and species richness between traditional and intensive vineyards and olive groves, and to test the acceptance of artificial shelter due to its scarcity in the new intensive woody crop. A total of 288 transects were carried out (144 in olive groves and 144 in vineyards) in six different types of plots: traditional olive groves, traditional vineyards, intensive olive groves with and without artificial refuge, and trellis vineyards with and without artificial refuge. The results showed a greater species richness and abundance of reptiles in the traditional plots than in the intensive plots (independently of the experimental refuges added). An important number of animals were observed using the artificial refuges in olive groves. Furthermore, most of the individuals were located on or escaped to old trees in traditional systems, including an important proportion of reptiles hidden in olive trunk cavities, whereas more individuals were observed on the ground in intensive systems. Our finding suggests the importance for reptile communities of the traditional agricultural systems due to the high availability of the refuge provided by old olive tree trunks and free-standing gobelet vineyards. Our results show that providing refuge may mitigate the negative effects of woody crops intensification on reptile communities.

Degradation of traditional vineyards in Slovakia by abandonment and soil erosion: A case‐study of Vráble

AbstractWe evaluated the effect of increased erosion events and decreased management intensity on the degradation of traditional vineyards. The study area is located near Vráble, Slovakia, in an area with warm dry climate with mild winters, and Luvisol and Regosol soils. For the erosion measurements, we used the pole height method, which uses vineyard poles as a passive soil‐surface marker. The erosion of a tilled vineyard increased from 33.47 Mg ha−1 yr−1 in the period 1983–2010 to 55.34 Mg ha−1 yr−1 in the period 2010–2021. In comparison, the erosion of the hoed and grassed vineyard has not changed significantly. We also quantified the regeneration of soil in abandoned vineyards. An average increase in level of the soil surface level after abandonment in 2010 was 0.56 mm yr−1. A control plot showed minimal change in the average exposed pole height over 10 years and confirmed the reliability of the pole height method. Land cover and management practices have dramatically changed in the study area over the last decade. Only 27.16% of the total vineyard area is currently tilled and potentially threatened by soil erosion. On the other hand, 35.73% of the vineyards are abandoned; abandonment is expected to continue into the future. Therefore, the loss of management associated with vineyard abandonment is more strongly linked to their degradation than increased soil erosion intensity.

The modernization of traditional vineyards into intensive trellis systems reduces the species richness and abundance of reptiles

Aim of the study: Traditional vineyards have, in the last few decades, been transformed into trellis systems, but little research has been carried out into the consequences as regards biodiversity. We compared the abundance and species richness of reptiles in conventional-traditional vineyards and trellis vineyards. Area of study: The study was conducted in a wine appellation area of origin denominated as Montilla-Moriles, Southern Spain. Material and methods: Reptile’s species richness and abundance were estimated by walking transects in 24 different vineyards (12 trellis and 12 traditional vineyards) in four consecutive years. Main results: The results showed an extremely low abundance in both management systems, since no reptiles were recorded in 43.1% of the transects. However, there was a greater abundance and diversity of reptiles in the traditional vineyards than in the trellis vineyards, with 7 vs. 3 species being found in traditional and trellis vineyards, respectively. Research highlights: The lack of refuge in trellis vineyards owing to the vertical growth of plants, whose branches grow higher from the ground, is probably the main cause of the lower abundance and species richness found in trellis systems, since both types of vineyard had bare ground owing to ploughing and the application of herbicides. Since the transformation of traditional vineyards into those with trellis systems is often subsidized, this modernization should be accompanied by certain agri-environmental measures (e.g., cover crops, artificial refuges or natural hedges) in order to compensate for the associated negative effects.

Land Suitability Analysis for Vineyard Cultivation in the Izmir Metropolitan Area

The grapevine, so-called Vitis vinifera L., is one of the most diffuse perennial crop plantations in the world due to a flourishing market that shaped the landscape and the societal values. Turkey has been a historical vine producer, counting on an overall vineyard extension of 550,000 hectares. Besides, Turkey has some favorable pre-requisites to be one of the most fertile lands for vineyard production: variegated topography, rich soil diversity, heterogeneous morphology, and several micro-climatic conditions. However, establishing a flourishing and fully productive vineyard requires many years, and therefore, the selection and management of sites should be considered with great attention. Within this work, a first land suitability analysis for vineyard production has been established for the entire metropolitan area of Izmir according to the most scientifically-agreed criteria: elevation, slope, aspect, land capability, and solar radiation. These criteria were superimposed through spatial overlay analysis using Esri ArcGIS (ver.10.8) and evaluated using the Principal Component Analysis technique. The first three bands were then extracted to define the most suitable areas for vineyard production in Izmir. The final layer has been used to define which areas can be considered for future strategic expansion and management. The discussion focuses on the Kozak plateau, where a new policy of vineyard plantation will be promoted with techniques that aim to maintain and revalorize the traditional vineyard landscapes and conserve traditional methods and practices that have evolved with the cultural values of the villagers and producers.

Structure and management of traditional agroforestry vineyards in the high valleys of southern Bolivia

In the south of Bolivia, a group of traditional wine growers are distinguished by the cultivation of grapevines on native trees that serve as tutors. These growers currently represent one of the few examples of agroforestry vineyards in the world. They offer an opportunity to analyze the structure and management of these cropping systems, and to identify the ecosystem services provided by the combination of grapevines that are trained on trees. We characterize 29 agroforestry vineyards located in three high valleys in southern Bolivia, describing the main farm features, the structure and management of the vineyards, and the advantages of on-tree vine staking as recorded by the farmers. Farms were small (2.2 ha on average), with about half viticulture and half other crops and forage. The workforce was about half family and half employees. The most commonly used tree species were the molle tree (Schinus molle) and chañar tree (Geoffroea decorticans), and the majority of grape varieties grown were landraces such as “Negra criolla” and “Vicchoqueña.” The main cultivation techniques were pruning of the trees and vines, application of manure more than mineral fertilizers, gravity irrigation, and application of few pesticides. The main services farmers expected from trees were protection against climate hazards and flooding, disease control, maintenance of soil fertility, and higher yields. Agroforestry is a promising option for the agroecological transition of viticulture, which deserves further studies at both plot and farm scales.

Native Yeasts and Lactic Acid Bacteria Isolated from Spontaneous Fermentation of Seven Grape Cultivars from the Maule Region (Chile).

Grapes are a source of native yeasts and lactic acid bacteria (LAB); however, the microbial make up is dependent on the grape cultivar and the regional growth conditions. Therefore, the aim of this study was to characterize the yeast and LAB in seven grape cultivars cultivated in Chile. Grape juices were fermented at 25 °C for 7 days. Samples were collected to analyze sugar, organic acids, and ethanol. Microbial evolution was measured with culture-dependent and molecular approaches. Then, a native isolated Candida oleophila was selected for further sequential fermentations with Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The grape cultivars in the Maule showed a diversity of non-Saccharomyces yeasts, with a greater diversity observed at the beginning of the fermentation. However, species from the Hansenasporia, Metschnikowia, Torulaspora, Lachancea, and Candida genera were detected after 7 days, suggesting tolerance to environments rich in ethanol, capability may be associated to the terroir studied, which is characterized by torrid weather and antique and traditional vineyards. The alcoholic fermentation negatively impacted the LAB population, and after 7 days only Leuconostoc mesenteroides was isolated. In the sequential fermentations, C. oleophila was able to produce fermented grape juices with <1.5 g/L glucose, 12.5% (v/v) alcohol, and low concentrations of malic (<1.00 g/L) and succinic (2.05 g/L) acids, while acetic acid reached values >0.3 (g/L). To our knowledge this is the first time C. oleophila has been reported as a potential starter culture for wine production. However, more studies are necessary to fully characterize the potential of C. oleophila on wine attributes.

Vineyard modernization drives changes in bird and mammal occurrence in vineyard plots in dry farmland

The fast intensification of agriculture affects many systems. In recent decades, traditional vineyards have been rapidly converted to trellis vineyards in Spain (the country with the largest vineyard surface worldwide) in an attempt to reduce harvesting costs and increase vine productivity. The implications of this modernization of vineyards on farmland biodiversity are still largely unknown. We studied 52 vineyards (26 traditional and 26 trellis) from June to September in south-western Spain, aiming to describe the effect of the modernization of goblet-shape traditional vineyards on vine structure and their management, as well as its effect on species' occurrence in vineyard plots. We applied hierarchical occurrence models to assess the occurrence probability of 10 bird species and two mammal species in traditional and trellis vineyard plots. Vineyard modernization involved taller vines (connected by metallic guide wires and poles by rows), greater distance between vine rows, bigger plot sizes, the systematic implementation of irrigation, and an application of fertilizers through the watering system (fertirrigation) in a third of studied vineyards. Other agrochemical treatments seemed to be equally used in both vineyard types. Due to the use of herbicides and frequent tilling, both types of vineyards showed low natural vegetation groundcover. Vineyard modernization had clear effects on fauna biodiversity in vineyard plots, with a higher occurrence in trellis vineyards of some species (rufous-tailed scrub-robin, European goldfinch, red-legged partridge, and house sparrow) and a higher occurrence of other species (European rabbit and European greenfinch) in traditional ones. Thus, vineyard modernization can drive a change in the community of birds and mammals that inhabit them. In addition, vineyard use by some species (particularly ground-dwelling ones) was strongly determined by the presence of arable land adjacent to the vineyard. These species may therefore use vineyards during summer because they provide water and/or better cover than harvested crops. Animals attracted to vineyards for water could be exposed to toxic doses of nitrates that are routinely applied through the watering system in a third of these. To maximize benefits for biodiversity, it would be advisable to manage modernization schemes in order to maintain landscape heterogeneity, with vineyards of both types combined with other agricultural systems, as well as higher proportions of natural vegetation surface cover.

Mechanisms to control grape erineum mite Colomerus vitis Pgst. in organic, biodynamic and traditional vineyards of the Crimea

Eco-oriented organic and biodynamic vineyards no longer relying on pesticides in protection schemes are indicative of a current trend in grape and wine growing of the Crimea. In this connection, new solutions to reduce pests and diseases have to be sought for, and monitoring which includes both eco-faunistic research and prediction of the numbers of phytophages is becoming of primary importance in the system of control of injurious species on grapes. A wide distribution of grape erineum mite Colomerus vitis Pgst. was registered in the bearing study vineyards on the South Coast of the Crimea and in the south-west of the Peninsula though its economic damage is negligible. The risk of the detrimental effect of the mite in the young study vineyards during the first two years after planting was stated. Key mechanisms to regulate the numbers of C. vitis in the organic and biodynamic study vineyards were revealed, such as winter pruning of canes as part of farming practices, application of sulfur to control Erysiphe necator, and natural regulation by indigenous predatory species of mites and other insects.

New geosite candidates from Urla (İzmir, Western Anatolia, Turkey): a list of geological assets nested with antique and modern cultural heritage

The Urla Basin is an approximately 20 km wide and 30 km long N-S-trending strike-slip basin, located in the westernmost part of the Western Anatolia Extensional Province. Although the basin-fill units are generally composed of sedimentary and volcanic rocks of Miocene to Recent, Triassic and Late Cretaceous-Paleocene sedimentary rocks are also exposed in the middle and western part of the basin. In addition to this geological diversity, the basin hosts many ancient settlements due to its geographical position and close contact with the Aegean Sea. This study mostly focuses on the northern part of the basin with a concentration on the possible geological heritage sites from the Urla and surroundings and its cultural heritage assets with respect geotourism. Klazomenai and Liman Tepe, one of the best examples of archaeological sites in the area, have a respectable Earth-science importance. Some other cultural heritage assets are also very valuable, such as the Yıldız Tepe Martyrdom Monument, Karantina Island, traditional vineyards of Urla, Urla Art Street and fellow-townsman that are well-known figures of literature and popular culture (e.g., Yorgo Seferis, Necati Cumalı and Tanju Okan). We present seven new geosite candidates, which are evaluated in the geological framework category groups B, C and E of the geosite framework list for Turkey. These sites have quite important geological meaning and value for the Earth-science education and geotourism potential.

Wildlife inventory from camera-trapping surveys in the Azores (Pico and Terceira islands).

BackgroundThe present publication provides a dataset from five camera-trapping sampling campaigns on two islands of the Azorean archipelago (Pico and Terceira islands), between 2013-2018. This dataset was obtained as a by-product of campaigns designed for different purposes. The sampling campaigns were designed to: (i) study the ecology of introduced mammals; (ii) assess the impact of introduced mammals on native birds (Azores woodpigeon - Columba palumbus azorica and Cory's shearwater - Calonectris diomeda borealis), through nest predation; and (iii) obtain information about the impact of vertebrates on agricultural systems, particularly on Azorean traditional vineyards. A total of 258 sites and 47 nests were sampled using camera traps. These sampling campaigns provided a large data series that allowed the creation of a vertebrate wildlife inventory.New informationWe obtained a total of 102,095 camera-trap records, which allowed us to to identify 30 species of vertebrates: one amphibian, one reptile, 17 birds and ten mammal species. This represented 100% of the amphibians and terrestrial mammals, 58% of the breeding birds and 50% of the reptile species known for Pico and/or Terceira islands. Concerning the colonisation status of the species, we recorded 15 indigenous (native non-endemic or endemic) and three introduced bird species; all known terrestrial amphibians, reptiles and mammals in the Azores are introduced species. The data collected contribute to increasing knowledge on the distribution of vertebrate species on Pico and Terceira islands, where most existing records of some species were only available to Island level (e.g. mustelids and hedgehogs). None of the identified species was previously unknown to the study area.

Are trellis vineyards avoided? Examining how vineyard types affect the distribution of great bustards

A significant restructuring of vineyards is currently taking place in the European Union (EU) as a result of the implementation of a restructuring and conversion of vineyards regulation (CE 1493/1999) in southwest Europe, so that trellis vineyards are rapidly replacing traditional vineyards (e.g., surface area from 18.1 % in 2010 to 34 % in 2015 in Castilla-La Mancha, Central Spain). These changes may influence patterns of space use in birds, which may avoid modified habitats. We assess how the location of traditional and trellis vineyards might influence the distribution of great bustard (Otis tarda), a globally threatened species. We estimate Resource Selection Functions (RSFs) to quantify the relative probability of use of different areas by the great bustards, and use the RSF’s to simulated scenarios of conversion from traditional to trellis vineyards (low - 10 %, medium - 30 %, and high rate - 60 %) to quantify the potential impact of such modifications on the availability of suitable great bustard habitat. Our results revealed that great bustards significantly avoid trellis vineyards, especially at closer distances. Transition scenarios show how an increase in the proportion of traditional vineyards converted to trellis vineyards greatly decrease the proportion of suitable habitat for great bustard. Compared to current conditions, the percentage loss of suitable habitat increased steadily with higher rates of converted vineyards, up to 60 % loss of suitable habitat at the highest rate of conversion. Because the effect of transforming traditional vineyards to trellis vineyards depends both on the amount of habitat available for bustards before the transformation occurs and on the overall area covered by vineyards, a correct estimation of transformable vineyard area will require a case-by-case assessment to assure a low impact on bustard populations. We identified alternative vineyard management options that would mitigate impacts on the great bustard populations.