Earthworm abundance and availability does not influence the reproductive decisions of black-tailed godwits in an agricultural grassland

Mo A. Verhoeven; Alice D. McBride; Jos C.E.W. Hooijmeijer; Theunis Piersma; Nathan R. Senner

doi:10.1002/2688-8319.12125

Earthworm abundance and availability does not influence the reproductive decisions of black-tailed godwits in an agricultural grassland

Mo A. Verhoeven^*, Alice D. McBride, Jos C.E.W. Hooijmeijer, Theunis Piersma, Nathan R. Senner

^*Bijbehorende auteur voor dit werk

Onderzoeksoutput: Bijdrage aan wetenschappelijk tijdschrift/periodieke uitgave › Artikel › Wetenschappelijk › peer review

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Maintaining the biodiversity of agricultural ecosystems has become a global imperative. Across Europe, species that occupy agricultural grasslands, such as black-tailed godwits (Limosa limosa limosa), have undergone steep population declines. In this context, there is a significant need to both determine the root causes of these declines and identify actions that will promote biodiversity while supporting the livelihoods of farmers. Food availability, and specifically earthworm abundance (Lumbricidae), during the pre-breeding period has often been suggested as a potential driver of godwit population declines. Previous studies have recommended increasing the application of nitrogen to agricultural grasslands to enhance earthworm populations and aid agricultural production. Here we test whether food availability during the pre-breeding period affects when and where godwits breed. Using large-scale surveys of food availability, a long-term mark-recapture study, focal observations of foraging female godwits, and tracking devices that monitored godwit movements, we found little evidence of a relationship between earthworm abundance and the timing of godwit reproductive efforts or the density of breeding godwits. Furthermore, we found that the soils of intensively managed agricultural grasslands may frequently be too dry for godwits to forage for those earthworms that are present. The increased application of nitrogen to agricultural grasslands will therefore likely have no positive effect on godwit populations. Instead, management efforts should focus on increasing the botanical diversity of agricultural grasslands, facilitating conditions that prevent hardening soils, and reducing the populations of generalist predators.

Originele taal-2	Engels
Artikelnummer	e12125
Tijdschrift	Ecological Solutions and Evidence
Volume	3
Nummer van het tijdschrift	1
DOI's	https://doi.org/10.1002/2688-8319.12125
Status	Gepubliceerd - 2022
Extern gepubliceerd	Ja

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10.1002/2688-8319.12125Licentie: CC BY

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@article{26db778799434430a6d5144b386ce3c8,

title = "Earthworm abundance and availability does not influence the reproductive decisions of black-tailed godwits in an agricultural grassland",

abstract = "Maintaining the biodiversity of agricultural ecosystems has become a global imperative. Across Europe, species that occupy agricultural grasslands, such as black-tailed godwits (Limosa limosa limosa), have undergone steep population declines. In this context, there is a significant need to both determine the root causes of these declines and identify actions that will promote biodiversity while supporting the livelihoods of farmers. Food availability, and specifically earthworm abundance (Lumbricidae), during the pre-breeding period has often been suggested as a potential driver of godwit population declines. Previous studies have recommended increasing the application of nitrogen to agricultural grasslands to enhance earthworm populations and aid agricultural production. Here we test whether food availability during the pre-breeding period affects when and where godwits breed. Using large-scale surveys of food availability, a long-term mark-recapture study, focal observations of foraging female godwits, and tracking devices that monitored godwit movements, we found little evidence of a relationship between earthworm abundance and the timing of godwit reproductive efforts or the density of breeding godwits. Furthermore, we found that the soils of intensively managed agricultural grasslands may frequently be too dry for godwits to forage for those earthworms that are present. The increased application of nitrogen to agricultural grasslands will therefore likely have no positive effect on godwit populations. Instead, management efforts should focus on increasing the botanical diversity of agricultural grasslands, facilitating conditions that prevent hardening soils, and reducing the populations of generalist predators.",

keywords = "agricultural biodiversity, Limosa limosa, Lumbricidae, nitrogen, phenological mismatch",

author = "Verhoeven, {Mo A.} and McBride, {Alice D.} and Hooijmeijer, {Jos C.E.W.} and Theunis Piersma and Senner, {Nathan R.}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2022 The Authors. Ecological Solutions and Evidence published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of British Ecological Society.",

year = "2022",

doi = "10.1002/2688-8319.12125",

language = "English",

volume = "3",

journal = "Ecological Solutions and Evidence",

issn = "2688-8319",

publisher = "British Ecological Society",

number = "1",

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Earthworm abundance and availability does not influence the reproductive decisions of black-tailed godwits in an agricultural grassland. / Verhoeven, Mo A.; McBride, Alice D.; Hooijmeijer, Jos C.E.W.; Piersma, Theunis; Senner, Nathan R.

In: Ecological Solutions and Evidence, Vol. 3, Nr. 1, e12125, 2022.

Onderzoeksoutput: Bijdrage aan wetenschappelijk tijdschrift/periodieke uitgave › Artikel › Wetenschappelijk › peer review

TY - JOUR

T1 - Earthworm abundance and availability does not influence the reproductive decisions of black-tailed godwits in an agricultural grassland

AU - Verhoeven, Mo A.

AU - McBride, Alice D.

AU - Hooijmeijer, Jos C.E.W.

AU - Piersma, Theunis

AU - Senner, Nathan R.

PY - 2022

Y1 - 2022

N2 - Maintaining the biodiversity of agricultural ecosystems has become a global imperative. Across Europe, species that occupy agricultural grasslands, such as black-tailed godwits (Limosa limosa limosa), have undergone steep population declines. In this context, there is a significant need to both determine the root causes of these declines and identify actions that will promote biodiversity while supporting the livelihoods of farmers. Food availability, and specifically earthworm abundance (Lumbricidae), during the pre-breeding period has often been suggested as a potential driver of godwit population declines. Previous studies have recommended increasing the application of nitrogen to agricultural grasslands to enhance earthworm populations and aid agricultural production. Here we test whether food availability during the pre-breeding period affects when and where godwits breed. Using large-scale surveys of food availability, a long-term mark-recapture study, focal observations of foraging female godwits, and tracking devices that monitored godwit movements, we found little evidence of a relationship between earthworm abundance and the timing of godwit reproductive efforts or the density of breeding godwits. Furthermore, we found that the soils of intensively managed agricultural grasslands may frequently be too dry for godwits to forage for those earthworms that are present. The increased application of nitrogen to agricultural grasslands will therefore likely have no positive effect on godwit populations. Instead, management efforts should focus on increasing the botanical diversity of agricultural grasslands, facilitating conditions that prevent hardening soils, and reducing the populations of generalist predators.

AB - Maintaining the biodiversity of agricultural ecosystems has become a global imperative. Across Europe, species that occupy agricultural grasslands, such as black-tailed godwits (Limosa limosa limosa), have undergone steep population declines. In this context, there is a significant need to both determine the root causes of these declines and identify actions that will promote biodiversity while supporting the livelihoods of farmers. Food availability, and specifically earthworm abundance (Lumbricidae), during the pre-breeding period has often been suggested as a potential driver of godwit population declines. Previous studies have recommended increasing the application of nitrogen to agricultural grasslands to enhance earthworm populations and aid agricultural production. Here we test whether food availability during the pre-breeding period affects when and where godwits breed. Using large-scale surveys of food availability, a long-term mark-recapture study, focal observations of foraging female godwits, and tracking devices that monitored godwit movements, we found little evidence of a relationship between earthworm abundance and the timing of godwit reproductive efforts or the density of breeding godwits. Furthermore, we found that the soils of intensively managed agricultural grasslands may frequently be too dry for godwits to forage for those earthworms that are present. The increased application of nitrogen to agricultural grasslands will therefore likely have no positive effect on godwit populations. Instead, management efforts should focus on increasing the botanical diversity of agricultural grasslands, facilitating conditions that prevent hardening soils, and reducing the populations of generalist predators.

KW - agricultural biodiversity

KW - Limosa limosa

KW - Lumbricidae

KW - nitrogen

KW - phenological mismatch

U2 - 10.1002/2688-8319.12125

DO - 10.1002/2688-8319.12125

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85129803416

VL - 3

JO - Ecological Solutions and Evidence

JF - Ecological Solutions and Evidence

SN - 2688-8319

IS - 1

M1 - e12125

ER -

Earthworm abundance and availability does not influence the reproductive decisions of black-tailed godwits in an agricultural grassland

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