Foraging ecology and reproductive biology of the stonechat Saxicola torquata: Comparison between a revitalized, intensively cultivated and a historical, traditionally cultivated agro-ecosystem
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Published source details
Revaz E., Schaub M. & Arlettaz R. (2008) Foraging ecology and reproductive biology of the stonechat Saxicola torquata: Comparison between a revitalized, intensively cultivated and a historical, traditionally cultivated agro-ecosystem. Journal of Ornithology, 149, 301-312.
Published source details Revaz E., Schaub M. & Arlettaz R. (2008) Foraging ecology and reproductive biology of the stonechat Saxicola torquata: Comparison between a revitalized, intensively cultivated and a historical, traditionally cultivated agro-ecosystem. Journal of Ornithology, 149, 301-312.
Actions
This study is summarised as evidence for the following.
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Provide or retain set‐aside areas in farmland Action Link |
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Provide or retain set‐aside areas in farmland
A site comparison study in 1999–2000 in two agricultural regions in Geneva and Valais, Switzerland (Revaz et al. 2008) found that sites within an intensively cultivated region with set-aside areas had a similar abundance and biomass of butterflies and moths to a traditional, extensively cultivated region. The abundance and biomass of adult butterflies and moths (abundance: 5.2 individuals/site; biomass: 6.9 mg/site) and caterpillars (abundance: 2.4–2.8 individuals/site; biomass: 23.1–28.3 mg/site) in set-aside strips in an intensively farmed landscape was not significantly different from sites in an extensively farmed landscape (adults: 1.5 individuals/site, 3.9 mg/site; caterpillars: 1.5–2.3 individuals/site, 3.9–57.6 mg/site). From 1991–1998, a total of 83 set-aside strips (10-m wide, totalling 19 ha) were established across one 500-ha agricultural region. A second, 360-ha region was extensively cultivated. Between March and September 1999 and 2000, grass-dwelling arthropods (including butterflies, moths and caterpillars) were surveyed by hand-netting along 30-m transects at each of five locations within set-aside strips in an intensive arable region, and six locations along irrigation canals and ditches in an extensively farmed region. Ground-dwelling arthropods (including caterpillars) were sampled for seven days using 15 pitfall traps next to each transect.
(Summarised by: Andrew Bladon)
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