Enhancement of Linear Agricultural Areas to Provide Invertebrates as Potential Food for Breeding Birds

TY - JOUR

T1 - Enhancement of Linear Agricultural Areas to Provide Invertebrates as Potential Food for Breeding Birds

AU - Evans, T. R.

AU - Mahoney, M. J.

AU - Cashatt, E. D.

AU - de Snoo, G.R.

AU - Musters, C. J. M.

N1 - ISI Document Delivery No.: DZ0HK Times Cited: 0 Cited Reference Count: 52 Evans, Tracy R. Mahoney, Meredith J. Cashatt, Everett D. de Snoo, Geert Musters, C. J. M. Musters, Cornelis/K-7828-2013 Evans, Tracy/0000-0001-8433-8065 0 4 Mdpi ag Basel <Go to ISI>://WOS:000385518200008

PY - 2016

Y1 - 2016

N2 - Birds are an important part of the agricultural landscape, as having nature value, but also as pest control agents and bio-indicators for the health of the environment. Here we look at linear non-crop elements in agricultural areas as a potential source of food for nestlings of avian species. We measured invertebrate availability as it relates to structural complexity at the local and landscape levels in three counties in central Illinois. Invertebrates were measured with taxonomic diversity, abundance, and estimated biomass during spring of 2012 and 2013. Our study shows that easily modifiable field edge characteristics have the greatest impact on invertebrate diversity and abundance, as compared to field and landscape features. This finding shows that a potential invertebrate food source as measured by both diversity and biomass, may be easily enhanced without changes to agricultural practices.

AB - Birds are an important part of the agricultural landscape, as having nature value, but also as pest control agents and bio-indicators for the health of the environment. Here we look at linear non-crop elements in agricultural areas as a potential source of food for nestlings of avian species. We measured invertebrate availability as it relates to structural complexity at the local and landscape levels in three counties in central Illinois. Invertebrates were measured with taxonomic diversity, abundance, and estimated biomass during spring of 2012 and 2013. Our study shows that easily modifiable field edge characteristics have the greatest impact on invertebrate diversity and abundance, as compared to field and landscape features. This finding shows that a potential invertebrate food source as measured by both diversity and biomass, may be easily enhanced without changes to agricultural practices.

KW - agricultural landscape biodiversity bird food invertebrate abundance invertebrate diversity landscape complexity agri-environment schemes field margins relative importance plant-communities management diversity conservation vegetation abundance responses

U2 - 10.3390/land5030026

DO - 10.3390/land5030026

M3 - Article

SN - 2073-445X

VL - 5

SP - 26

JO - Land

JF - Land

IS - 3

ER -