Changes in biodiversity of Czech agricultural landscape on multiple

spatial scales:example of birds and soil fauna

Jiří Reif1 and Jan Frouz1,2

1Institute for environmental studies, Charles University, Benátská 2, Prague, Czech Republic

2Institute of Soil Biology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Na sádkách 7, České Budějovice, Czech Republic

Land abandonment is one of the major trends in the current Czech land-use

What are the consequences for landscape-scale diversity patters?

Which species are affected at the local scale?

Changes in biodiversity of Czech farmland birds

Farmland bird = a species occupying human-cultivated open habitats: field, meadow and pasture, trees and scrub in open landscape

Non-farmland bird = a species living in wetlands, forest, alpine habitats above tree line, human settlements

Changes in bird species richness and distribution

Species richness of farmland birds

0102030405060

1985-1989 2001-2003

num

ber o

f spe

cies

total number of species decreased from 49 to 44

local species richness and occupancy did not change

num

ber o

f spe

cies

per

map

ping

squ

are

num

ber o

f occ

upie

d sq

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1985-19892001-2003

1985-19892001-2003

Species richness of farmland birds

loss of species adapted to heterogenous farmland with extensive cultivation

Species richness of farmland birds

reasons of loss unknown

spread of non-specialised species of scrubland and meadows

Species richness of farmland birds

Changes in bird abundance

Population changes in farmland birds

0 .0 0 .2 0 .4 0 .6 0 .8 1 .0 1 .2 1 .4 1 .6

Association w ith farm land hab itat

0 .88

0 .90

0 .92

0 .94

0 .96

0 .98

1 .00

1 .02

1 .04

1 .06

Population trend 1982-2006

Population changes in farmland birds

the effect of 1989/1990 changes on farmland birds

Population changes in farmland birds

the effect of 1989/1990 changes on farmland birds

Population changes in farmland birds

decline after 1990 less steep but ongoing, reverse for a few years only

Population changes in farmland birds

agricultural intensification depleted populations before 1990

farmland specialists probably suffer from land abandonment after 1990

generalist species living in scrub and meadows benefit from land abandonment

species specialised to extensively managed farmland gone extinct

Changes in biodiversity of Czech farmland birds

The effect of land abandonment on community and population

dynamic of soil dwelling insects.

Two model groups: Diptera Coleoptera

The most diverse insect ordersvery abundant in soilplay important role in litter

decomposition and nutrient cyclingimportant food source for other

consumers including birds

Habitat mosaique in fallow

abandoned in 1991

Habitat diversity increased after abandonment peaked in sites 3-5 years old and then decreased

Most common vegetation in fallows 10 years ald and older is Calamagrostis egigeios dominated grassland or shrubs dominated by Salix caprea and Betula.

Frouz, J., 1997. Res. Popul. Ecol. 39(2): 207-213 and unub. data

Suburban fallow near České Budějovice - DCA Diptera larvae community structure Community structure seems to be

more affected by habitat type than plot age

Calamagrostis display lower density, and diversity that habitat typical for intermediate stages of succession

Biomass decrease as well older fallow offer less food for predators

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Open Calamagrostis Melilotus Trifolium

ind

m-2

Other Ceratopogonidae Sciaridae EmpididaeStratiomidae Tipulidae Chironomidae Cecidomyiidae

Some groups prefer habitat common in young fallows such as Chironomidae or Tipulidae

0

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86 87 88 89 90 91 92

Chi

rono

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ae in

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-2

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Tipu

lidae

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m-2

Chironomidae Tipulidae

Chironomidae and Tipulidae changes in abandoned field near Vodnany – Czech republic

Frouz, J., 1997. Eur. J. Soil Biol. 33: 57-65.

Chironomidae - in fallow ower time and in individual patches

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Open Trifolium Melilotus Calamagrostis

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m-2

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Smittia aterrima larval habitat preference

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1993 1994 1995

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ance

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m-2

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open

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Preference for open habitat correspond with adult ovi-position preference. The reason may be high abundance of algae that are important food source.Temporal changes follow changes in preferred habitat cover

0102030405060708090

Open Trifolium Melilotus Calamagrostis

ind

trap-1

10da

ys-1

Adult flight

Frouz, J., 1997. Res. Popul. Ecol. 39(2): 207-213.Frouz, J., Olejnicek, J., 1999. Biologia, Bratislava 54: 169-178

Tipulidae in fallow ower time and in individual

patches

0100200300400500600700800

Open Melilotus Calamagostis

ind

m-2

Larval abundance and biomass correspond with occurece of young seedlings in groud layer important food for larvae

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1993 1994 1995

abun

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mel

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Frouz, J., 1997. Eur. J. Soil Biol. 33: 57-65.Frouz, J., 1998. In: Pižl, V., Tajovský, K. (Eds.), Soil Zoological Problems in Central Europe., České Budějovice: pp.31-36.

ConclusionFallow abandonment increased habitat diversity even at level of individual sites, this increase is the most pronounced in young fallow, in older fallow typically low diversity habitats develop (Calamagrostis epigeios or shrubs).

Diversity abundance and biomass of soil dwelling insects peaked in 3-5 year old fallow.

Some insect group are specialized on young or intermediate succession stages.

Thank you for your

attention