An indicator of plant species richness of semi-natural habitats and crops on arable farms

TY - JOUR

T1 - An indicator of plant species richness of semi-natural habitats and crops on arable farms

AU - Manhoudt, A. G. E.

AU - Udo de Haes, H. A.

AU - de Snoo, G. R.

N1 - ISI Document Delivery No.: 941AC Times Cited: 15 Cited Reference Count: 53 Manhoudt, AGE de Haes, HAU de Snoo, GR de Snoo, geert/M-4315-2013; Udo de Haes, Helias/M-4004-2013 18 0 16 Elsevier science bv Amsterdam 1873-2305 <Go to ISI>://WOS:000230186000015

PY - 2005

Y1 - 2005

N2 - As a straightforward method of assessing on-farm biodiversity, plant species numbers were compared in a fixed sampling area for each type of habitat distinguished independent of farm size and applicable for comparing different farm strategies. Using the species-area relationship, the minimum sampling areas were determined. For ditch banks, crops and field margin strips sampling areas of 400 m(2) (independent of the ditch bank width), 100 and 25 m(2), respectively, were proposed. Indicator threshold values for conventional farms were defined based on the best 10% of the variation in species richness among farms. With appropriate farm management these targets could be achieved. In comparison to ditch banks, crops and sown field margin strips were relatively poor in plant species. The respective numbers of naturally occurring plant species found in crops and field margin were both significantly smaller than those found in ditch banks. In contrast, ecological management of ditch banks appeared to be a promising means of increasing species richness. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

AB - As a straightforward method of assessing on-farm biodiversity, plant species numbers were compared in a fixed sampling area for each type of habitat distinguished independent of farm size and applicable for comparing different farm strategies. Using the species-area relationship, the minimum sampling areas were determined. For ditch banks, crops and field margin strips sampling areas of 400 m(2) (independent of the ditch bank width), 100 and 25 m(2), respectively, were proposed. Indicator threshold values for conventional farms were defined based on the best 10% of the variation in species richness among farms. With appropriate farm management these targets could be achieved. In comparison to ditch banks, crops and sown field margin strips were relatively poor in plant species. The respective numbers of naturally occurring plant species found in crops and field margin were both significantly smaller than those found in ditch banks. In contrast, ecological management of ditch banks appeared to be a promising means of increasing species richness. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

KW - environmental certification bench marking indicator plant species richness semi-natural habitat crop canonical distribution nature conservation biodiversity flora commonness management dependence diversity adjacent europe Agriculture Environmental Science

U2 - 10.1016/j.agee.2005.01.006

DO - 10.1016/j.agee.2005.01.006

M3 - Article

SN - 0167-8809

VL - 109

SP - 166

EP - 174

JO - Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment

JF - Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment

IS - 1-2

ER -