Linnut kertovat viljelijälle monimuotoisuuden muutoksesta

Viljelijälle luonto on usein paitsi elinkeinon harjoittamisen väline ja työympäristö myös harrastuksen kohde. Maatalouden tehostumisen seurauksena tuotantoympäristön luonto, maisemarakenne sekä luonnonvarainen kasvi- ja eläinlajisto ovat muuttuneet. Viljelijät havainnoivat tapahtuneita muutoksia erityisesti linnuston kautta.vo

High variability of symbiotic nitrogen fixation in farming conditions

Symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) in perennial legume-grass leys is the primary source of N to organic farming systems in northern countries. This work aimed to quantify SNF in organically managed red clover (Trifolium pratense L.)-grass leys and to relate SNF to explanatory variables. The study was carried out on 27 farms located in the coastal regions of Finland and included 117 ley crops subjected to regular organic farming practices. SNF was calculated from clover herbage dry-matter yield with an empirical model. In the accumulated first and second cuts of one- and two-year-old red clover-grass leys, SNF averaged 185.4 kg N ha-1 yr-1 (SD ± 90.0 kg N ha-1 yr-1); fixation in the aftermath added 62.1 kg N ha-1 yr-1 (SD ± 49.8 kg N ha-1 yr-1). Due to the poor persistence of red clover, SNF declined with ley age. Between- and within-field coefficients of variation of SNF in one- and two-year-old leys averaged 51.1 and 51.8%, respectively. SNF was positively related to soil fertility parameters, mainly to soil structure. It is concluded that the preceding crop value of legume-grass leys needs to be assessed individually. The spatial heterogeneity of soil properties can be reduced through site-specific amelioration and regular applications of animal manure

Variability of herbage production in mixed leys as related to ley age and environmental factors: a farm survey

Influences of ley age, soil properties, and geographical location on the herbage production of red clover-grass leys were determined under practical conditions on 27 organic farms located in the southern and in the northwestern coastal regions of Finland. Averaged over one-, two-, and three-year-old leys the accumulated first and second cuts produced 7.12 t dry matter herbage ha-1 year-1, with a clover proportion of 34.8%. Herbage production declined with increasing ley age. The average proportion of clover increased from 26.4% in the first to 43.7% in the second cut but decreased with ley age. Within- and between-field variations of clover proportions markedly decreased from the first to the second cut and strongly increased with ley age, while changes in the variations of herbage production were less pronounced. Within-field variations of clover proportions in the first and in the second cuts were higher at lower proportions of clover. Herbage production was positively related with clover proportion. Soil properties had a major impact on clover proportion and herbage production, largely explaining also regional differences in ley growth. Amelioration of fields and, not at least, of less fertile sites within the same field seems to be a crucial requirement for higher and more even clover proportions and herbage yields

Farmland bird communities in the Baltic region: impact of agricultural intensification and farmers’ attitudes

Intensification of agricultural land-use was shown to be the key reason behind declines in wildlifespecies associated with farmland. I looked at scenarios of agricultural development across the Baltic states ofEstonia, Latvia and Lithuania, and the ways they are seen to affect farmed environments as a habitat offarmland bird species. Community richness and abundance of many farmland bird species were positivelyrelated to the number of non-cropped elements within farmland, the local mixture of annual crop and grassfields, and the variety of field types. The above positive associations were strongest in open landscapes.There was a clear indication that the more intensively farmed areas across the region provided habitat forfewer bird species and individuals. The difference could partly be explained by the more heterogeneouslandscape and field areas in the latter. Within homogenous arable fields intensification of field managementwas reflected in a tangible decrease in farmland bird abundance, especially in species in need of edgestructures.Based on the interviews in Estonia and Finland I explored farmers’ interest in and knowledge offarmland wildlife, their understanding of the concept of biodiversity, and awareness of the potential causesbehind declines of farmland birds. Many farmers viewed biodiversity from a narrow perspective oftenexcluding species directly related to farming. In Finland farmers expressed concern about the decline incommon farmland species, but Estonian farmers did not, which might be related to the fact that these speciesare still very common. In both countries farmers rated intensification of agriculture as the major drivingforce behind farmland bird declines. The expressed interest in wildlife positively correlated with willingnessto undertake wildlife-friendly measures. Only farmers with agri-environment contracts targeted specificallyat biodiversity enhancement were more knowledgeable about practical on-farm activities favouring wildlife,and were more willing to employ them that the rest.The results suggest that, by contributing to simplification of the farmland structure, homogenisationof crops, and increase in intensity of field use EU agricultural policies will have a detrimental effect onfarmland bird populations in Eastern Europe. Farmers are on the whole positive to the idea of supportingwildlife in the fields, and are concerned about its decline, but they require payments to offset their incomeloss and extra work. Biodiversity conservation should be better integrated into the agri-environmentprogrammes if it to serve as awareness tool for farmers. I argue that with a foreseen tripling of cereal yieldsacross the region, the EU Council’s Göteborg target of slowing biodiversity decline by 2010 may not berealistic unless considerable improvements are made into the EU agricultural policy for the region

Biodiversity in intensive grasslands: is a compromise possible?

Peer reviewe

Organic animal farms increase farmland bird abundance in the Boreal region

Agriculture is a primary driver of biodiversity loss worldwide, and several expensive schemes have been designed to make modern farming landscapes more hospitable for wildlife. One such market-based mechanisms is the agri-environment-climate schemes (AES) in the European Union (EU). AES compensate farmers for reducing land-use intensity and maintaining or introducing biodiversity-rich habitats. Despite their high costs, impacts of AES vary by measure, region and taxonomic group considered, and have rarely been studied over large areas covering an entire country. Here we assess the country-wide impact of several AES measures on bird abundance using citizen science data on birds and detailed information on AES take up from across Finland. We report a positive impact of organic animal farming on abundance of all farmland associated birds. This effect was particularly strong for insectivorous species, species that are associated to farmyards and long-distance species. None of the other AES measures considered for study did show any relationship with bird abundance. Overall, these findings highlight the potential positive impact that some compensatory measures, such as organic animal farming, may have on wildlife. Traditional animal husbandry is based on grazing of animals and restriction on external inputs, similarly to what is stipulated under organic production contract. As such, traditional animal husbandry may represent an effective landscape management tool for restoring or maintaining threatened species and ecosystems in rural areas of the EU. Ultimately, the apparent lack of a measurable effect of the other AES considered here supports the current move towards evidence-based regional targeting of compensatory measures, so as to concentrate scarce resources to where they can yield the highest ecological benefits.Peer reviewe

Linking pollinator occurrence in field margins to pollinator visitation to a mass-flowering crop

Uncultivated field margins are important refugia for pollinating insects in agricultural landscapes. However, the spill-over of pollination services from field margins to adjacent crops is poorly understood. This study (i) examined the effects of landscape heterogeneity on pollinator occurrence in permanent field margins and pollinator visitation to adjacent mass-flowering turnip rape (Brassica rapa ssp. oleifera) in boreal agricultural landscapes, and (ii) tested whether pollinator abundance and species richness in field margins predict abundance and species richness of crop visitors. Pollinators visiting the crop were more affected by landscape heterogeneity than pollinators in adjacent margins. Species richness, total abundance, and the abundance of syrphid flies visiting the crop increased with increasing landscape heterogeneity, whereas, in field margins, landscape heterogeneity had little effect on pollinators. In field-dominated homogeneous landscapes, wild pollinators rarely visited the crop even if they occurred in adjacent margins, whereas in heterogeneous landscapes, differences between the two habitats were smaller. Total pollinator abundance and species richness in field margins were poor predictors of pollinator visitation to adjacent crop. However, high abundances of honeybees and bumblebees in margins were related to high numbers of crop visitors from these taxa. Our results suggest that, while uncultivated field margins help pollinators persist in boreal agricultural landscapes, they do not always result in enhanced pollinator visitation to the adjacent crop. More studies quantifying pollination service delivery from semi-natural habitats to crops in different landscape settings will help develop management approaches to support crop pollination.Peer reviewe

Contribution of High Nature Value farming areas to sustainable livestock production: a pilot case in Finland

Peer reviewe

Semi-natural habitats in the European boreal region : Caught in the socio-ecological extinction vortex?

We propose to consider semi-natural habitats-hotspots for biodiversity-being caught in a socio-ecological extinction vortex, similar to the phenomenon described for species threatened with extinction. These habitats are essentially socioecological systems, in which socioeconomic drivers are interlinked with ecological processes. We identify four highly interlinked and mutually reinforcing socio-economic processes, pertaining to the importance of semi-natural habitats for (i) agricultural production, (ii) policy, research and development; (iii) vocational education in the fields of agricultural sciences and (iv) public's experiences with semi-natural habitats. Evidence from six countries in the boreal region demonstrates that recent slowing down or even reversal of two processes are insufficient to stop the extinction vortex phenomenon. We suggest research directions to ascertain the phenomenon, monitor its development and develop proactive actions to weaken the vortex. It is highly plausible that interventions directed at most, if not all, of the key vortex processes are needed to reverse the overall deteriorating trends of a socio-ecological system.Peer reviewe

Semi-natural habitats in boreal Europe: a rise of a social-ecological research agenda.

The European continent contains substantial areas of semi-natural habitats, mostly grasslands, which are among the most endangered habitats in Europe. Their continued existence depends on some form of human activity, for either production or conservation purposes, or both. We examined the share of semi-natural grasslands within the general grassland areas in boreal Europe. We reviewed research literature across the region to compile evidence on semi-natural grasslands and other semi-natural habitats, such as wooded pastures, in respect to a range of topics such as ecology, land-use change, socioeconomics, and production. We also explored drivers of the research agenda and outlined future research needs. Challenges are faced when defining and quantifying semi-natural habitats even across a restricted region. Agricultural development and other policies clearly impact the research agenda in various countries. There are recent signs of a shift from classical ecological studies toward more multidisciplinary and integrated research. To sufficiently address the threats faced by semi-natural habitats, political and research frameworks in the European Union should pay more attention to the social-ecological complexity inherent in their management and should support the engagement of various actors into participatory governance processes. This is in line with a full-farm approach implicit in high nature value farming systems.Peer reviewe