The interplay of landscape composition and configuration: new pathways to manage functional biodiversity and agroecosystem services across Europe
Managing agricultural landscapes to support biodiversity and ecosystem services is a key aim of a sustainable agriculture. However, how the spatial arrangement of crop fields and other habitats in landscapes impacts arthropods and their functions is poorly known. Synthesising data from 49 studies (1515 landscapes) across Europe, we examined effects of landscape composition (% habitats) and configuration (edge density) on arthropods in fields and their margins, pest control, pollination and yields. Configuration effects interacted with the proportions of crop and non-crop habitats, and species’ dietary, dispersal and overwintering traits led to contrasting responses to landscape variables. O…
Data from: The interplay of landscape composition and configuration: new pathways to manage functional biodiversity and agro-ecosystem services across Europe
[Usage Notes] Martin et al_2019_datatables Data used in Martin et al. (2019) compiled from 49 studies and 1,515 landscapes across Europe. Includes data on the abundance of arthropod species per site and data on pollination, natural pest control and yields in crops across Europe. Martin et al_2019_data tables_300319.xlsx Martin et al_2019_traits database Functional traits data for 2088 species (morphospecies, individuals) from 144 arthropod families sampled in agricultural landscapes across Europe. All traits are categorical and based on published literature or expert knowledge. They are described in Table 1 and Appendix S1 of Martin et al. (2019). The traits included are: feeding habit ('Fu…
Sex-biased survival of nestlings under unfavourable conditions drives secondary sex ratio in little owls (Athene noctua)
Identifying variation in key life history traits is crucial to predict population dynamics of endangered species. An increased bias in sex ratio as a result of low habitat quality can reinforce population decline and drive small populations to extinction. This is particularly true for monogamous bird species such as the little owl (Athene noctua). However, the underlying mechanisms driving biased sex ratios often remain elusive. Using a robust sample of molecular sex determination data recorded at two nest visits within each of 247 broods we examined the development in brood sex ratio, sexual size dimorphism and factors affecting the survival of little owl nestlings. Brood sex ratio in litt…