scholarly journals How much do we really lose?—Yield losses in the proximity of natural landscape elements in agricultural landscapes

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (13) ◽  
pp. 7838-7848 ◽  
Author(s):  
Larissa Raatz ◽  
Nina Bacchi ◽  
Karin Pirhofer Walzl ◽  
Michael Glemnitz ◽  
Marina E. H. Müller ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Landscapes ◽  
Yield Losses ◽  
Natural Landscape ◽  
Landscape Elements

scholarly journals Small Landscape Elements Double Connectivity in Highly Fragmented Areas of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Flávia Freire Siqueira ◽  
Dulcineia de Carvalho ◽  
Jonathan Rhodes ◽  
Carla L. Archibald ◽  
Vanessa Leite Rezende ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Atlantic Forest ◽  
Riparian Forest ◽  
Landscape Connectivity ◽  
Agricultural Landscapes ◽  
Landscape Configuration ◽  
Individual Species ◽  
Forest Fragments ◽  
Landscape Elements ◽  
Habitat Patches ◽  
Seed Disperser

The Atlantic Forest in Brazil is a biodiversity hotspot, yet its diverse ecosystems and species are becoming increasingly threatened by habitat loss and extreme habitat fragmentation. Most habitat patches of Atlantic Forest are dispersed across agricultural landscapes (e.g., grazing and cropping) in relatively small and isolated fragments (80% < 50 ha). Forest fragments < 1 ha, scattered trees in pastures, tree lines on trenches and fences, and remnant riparian forest, collectively called here Small Landscape Elements (SLEs), are very common in this context. While these SLEs make up much of the Atlantic Forests footprint, very little is known about their role or impact on the persistence and conservation of species. In this study, we investigate the role of SLEs on landscape configuration, particularly their contribution toward landscape connectivity of individual species and the genetic flow of species between larger forest fragments. We randomly selected 20 buffers of 707 hectares within a 411,670 hectare area of the Atlantic Forest that was completely covered by forest in the past located in the south of Minas Gerais State, Brazil. The forest cover randomly varied between these buffers. We used graph theory to measure landscape connectivity as the probability of connectivity for different disperser movement types between landscape knots (habitat patches). We used three estimated dispersal distances in the models: pollen disperser insect (50 m), low-mobility seed disperser bird (100 m) and high-mobility seed disperser bird (760 m). The SLEs together increased the probability of connection by roughly 50%, for all model dispersers, if compared to a theoretical baseline landscape containing no SLEs. Of all SLEs, riparian forests contribute the most toward enhancing landscape connectivity. In these highly fragmented landscapes, such as the Atlantic Forest (>70%), the position of SLEs within the landscapes was more important than their respective areas for connectivity. Although the landscapes were deeply fragmented, we showed that the presence of SLEs can increase connectivity and reduce further biodiversity loss in the Atlantic Forest.

scholarly journals Context matters: the landscape matrix determines the population genetic structure of temperate forest herbs across Europe

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tobias Naaf ◽  
Jannis Till Feigs ◽  
Siyu Huang ◽  
Jörg Brunet ◽  
Sara A. O. Cousins ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Flow ◽  
Landscape Structure ◽  
Population Genetic ◽  
Temperate Forest ◽  
Agricultural Landscapes ◽  
Plant Populations ◽  
Landscape Elements ◽  
Forest Herbs ◽  
Species Population ◽  
Linear Landscape Elements

Abstract Context Plant populations in agricultural landscapes are mostly fragmented and their functional connectivity often depends on seed and pollen dispersal by animals. However, little is known about how the interactions of seed and pollen dispersers with the agricultural matrix translate into gene flow among plant populations. Objectives We aimed to identify effects of the landscape structure on the genetic diversity within, and the genetic differentiation among, spatially isolated populations of three temperate forest herbs. We asked, whether different arable crops have different effects, and whether the orientation of linear landscape elements relative to the gene dispersal direction matters. Methods We analysed the species’ population genetic structures in seven agricultural landscapes across temperate Europe using microsatellite markers. These were modelled as a function of landscape composition and configuration, which we quantified in buffer zones around, and in rectangular landscape strips between, plant populations. Results Landscape effects were diverse and often contrasting between species, reflecting their association with different pollen- or seed dispersal vectors. Differentiating crop types rather than lumping them together yielded higher proportions of explained variation. Some linear landscape elements had both a channelling and hampering effect on gene flow, depending on their orientation. Conclusions Landscape structure is a more important determinant of the species’ population genetic structure than habitat loss and fragmentation per se. Landscape planning with the aim to enhance the functional connectivity among spatially isolated plant populations should consider that even species of the same ecological guild might show distinct responses to the landscape structure.

scholarly journals Structure Analysis of Hedgerows With Respect to Perennial Landscape Lines in Two Contrasting French Agricultural Landscapes

2019 ◽  
pp. 1278-1299
Author(s):  
Sébastien Da Silva ◽  
Florence Le Ber ◽  
Claire Lavigne
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Distribution ◽  
Structure Analysis ◽  
Landscape Heterogeneity ◽  
Agricultural Landscapes ◽  
Spatial Extent ◽  
Association Patterns ◽  
Landscape Elements ◽  
Animal Populations ◽  
Linear Landscape Elements

Characterizing the spatial distribution of hedgerows over landscapes is important for understanding the effects of this distribution on the dynamics of plant and animal populations. Because hedgerows are planted or managed, the authors hypothesized that their distribution depends on the presence of other linear landscape elements, namely, roads and channels. Using proximity analyses, the authors thus assessed how the spatial distribution of hedgerows was impacted by the position of these linear landscape elements and the spatial extent of this impact for two contrasting agricultural landscapes. The results indicate that hedgerows were generally associated at short distances with other elements (100-150 m). Hedgerows had different association patterns depending on their orientation in one of the two landscapes. In that same landscape, within-landscape heterogeneity was related to different association patterns. These results indicate that models of the spatial distribution of hedgerows would gain from being based on the location of roads and channels in the studied landscape.

RITERIA FOR OPTIMAL FUNCTIONING IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF LAND RECLAMATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT MEASURES

2020 ◽  
pp. 16-21
Author(s):  
O.V. Kablukov ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Land Reclamation ◽  
Agricultural Landscapes ◽  
Reclaimed Land ◽  
Natural Landscape ◽  
Environmentally Sustainable ◽  
Energy Material ◽  
Management Measures ◽  
Optimal Functioning ◽  
Quality Of Products

When choosing criteria for optimal management of cultural agricultural landscapes, it is necessary to be guided by the achievement of a specific goal - creating their environmentally sustainable structure and ensuring normal functioning. Various aspects of economic, technological, or natural landscape orientation can be com-ponents of the system of criteria for optimal functioning. The criteria are used in the design of agroecosystems and the formation of cultural agricultural landscapes on reclaimed land. In this case, the interaction of related processes aimed at increasing the productivity and sustainability of agricultural landscapes isensured, high quality of products is achieved, damage from aggressive and negative processes is localized, energy, material, labor and financial costs are minimized.

scholarly journals Linear woody landscape elements may help to mitigate leaf surface loss caused by the cereal leaf beetle

2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (10) ◽  
pp. 2225-2238
Author(s):  
Károly Lajos ◽  
Orsolya Császár ◽  
Miklós Sárospataki ◽  
Ferenc Samu ◽  
Ferenc Tóth
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Natural Enemies ◽  
Natural Enemy ◽  
Leaf Surface ◽  
Leaf Beetle ◽  
Agricultural Landscapes ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
Landscape Elements ◽  
Surface Loss ◽  
Cereal Leaf Beetle

Abstract Context Woody semi-natural habitats serve as permanent habitats and hibernation sites for natural enemies and, through spillover processes, they play an important role in the biological control of insect pests. However, this service is also dependent on the amount and configuration of the dominating woody habitat types: linear landscape elements (hedgerows, shelterbelts), and more evenly extended plantations. Relating natural enemy action to the landscape context can help to identify the effect of woody habitats on biological control effectiveness. Objectives In the Central European agricultural landscapes such as in the Hungarian lowlands, where our study took place, woody linear elements are characterised by high, while woody areal elements, mostly plantations, by low biological and structural diversity. In this study, we aimed to determine which composition and configuration of woody linear and areal habitats in the landscape may enhance the effect of natural enemy action on plant damage caused by the cereal leaf beetle (CLB, Oulema melanopus). Methods Herbivory suppression by natural enemies was assessed from the leaf damage difference between caged and open treatments. These exclusion experiments were carried out in 34 wheat fields on plants with controlled CLB infections. The results were related to landscape structure, quantified by different landscape metrics of both woody linear and areal habitats inside buffers between 150 and 500 m radii, surrounding the wheat fields. Results The exclusion of natural enemies increased the leaf surface loss caused by CLBs in all fields. Shelterbelts and hedgerows in 150–200 m vicinity of the wheat fields had a strong suppressing effect on CLB damage, while the presence of plantations at 250 m and further rather impeded natural enemy action. Conclusions Our results indicate that shelterbelts and hedgerows may provide a strong spillover of natural enemies, thus contribute to an enhanced biological control of CLBs.

Chinese Traditional Elements in Contemporary Landscape Architecture of the Symbolization Research

2013 ◽  
Vol 655-657 ◽  
pp. 1849-1852
Author(s):  
Jian Xin Xiong ◽  
Feng Xiong
Keyword(s):  
Landscape Architecture ◽  
Hot Flashes ◽  
Landscape Design ◽  
Character Space ◽  
Natural Landscape ◽  
Landscape Elements ◽  
National Characteristics ◽  
Traditional Natural ◽  
Modern Landscape ◽  
Landscape Gardening

In the design of the rise of classical wind hot flashes, how to reference to traditional natural landscape gardening technologies, thinking method and landscape elements, symbol of the new constitutional relations, and into the modern landscape design, and create a new character space, make the classical elements, symbol and modern garden good fusion, create with regional and national characteristics of modern landscape design.

Fox baiting in agricultural landscapes: preliminary findings on the importance of bait-site selection

2013 ◽  
Vol 40 (3) ◽  
pp. 184 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Carter ◽  
Gary W. Luck
Keyword(s):  
Site Selection ◽  
Habitat Complexity ◽  
Ground Cover ◽  
Low Complexity ◽  
Agricultural Landscapes ◽  
Landscape Elements ◽  
Remnant Vegetation ◽  
Roadside Vegetation ◽  
Bait Stations ◽  
Fox Control

Context Little is known about the importance of bait-site selection during lethal fox-baiting programmes. Improved bait placement may increase the efficacy of baiting and help reduce fox impacts on wildlife and livestock. Aims To determine whether bait uptake by the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) differed among five landscape elements (roadsides, fence lines, open paddocks, creek lines and remnant vegetation) and at sites with high or low habitat (ground cover) complexity. Methods We measured bait uptake at 300 bait stations distributed evenly among the landscape elements in agricultural landscapes in northern Victoria, Australia. Bait uptake was also compared between sites with low and high habitat complexity in districts subject to no fox control and annual fox control. Key results Among landscape elements, bait uptake was significantly higher in roadside vegetation and along vegetated creek lines than it was along fence lines and in open paddocks (P < 0.05 in each case). Within roadside vegetation, bait uptake was significantly (P = 0.001) lower at sites with a high habitat complexity than at sites with low complexity, particularly in areas subject to annual fox control. Conclusions Bait placement influences bait-uptake rates considerably and greater consideration should be placed on bait-site selection during fox-baiting programmes. Habitat complexity limited bait uptake, which may indicate a reduced capacity of foxes to find baits in complex habitats. Implications Our results should help improve bait-site selection in agricultural landscapes and may increase the efficacy of fox baiting to the benefit of native fauna and livestock.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document