Landscape heterogeneity is regarded as a key factor for maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem
function in production landscapes. We investigated whether grassland sites at
close vicinity to forested areas are more frequently used by bats. Considering that bats are
important consumers of herbivorous insects, including agricultural pest, this is important for
sustainable land management. Bat activity and species richness were assessed using
repeated monitoring from May to September in 2010 with acoustic monitoring surveys on
50 grassland sites in the Biosphere Reserve Schorfheide-Chorin (North-East Germany).
Using spatial analysis (GIS), we measured the closest distance of each grassland site to
potentially connecting landscape elements (e.g., trees, linear vegetation, groves, running
and standing water). In addition, we assessed the distance to and the percent land cover of
forest remnants and urban areas in a 200 m buffer around the recording sites to address differences
in the local landscape setting. Species richness and bat activity increased significantly
with higher forest land cover in the 200 m buffer and at smaller distance to forested
areas. Moreover, species richness increased in proximity to tree groves. Larger amount of
forest land cover and smaller distance to forest also resulted in a higher activity of bats on
grassland sites in the beginning of the year during May, June and July. Landscape elements
near grassland sites also influenced species composition of bats and species richness of
functional groups (open, edge and narrow space foragers). Our results highlight the importance
of forested areas, and suggest that agricultural grasslands that are closer to forest
remnants might be better buffered against outbreaks of agricultural pest insects due to
higher species richness and higher bat activity. Furthermore, our data reveals that even for
highly mobile species such as bats, a very dense network of connecting elements within the
landscape is beneficial to promote activity in open areas and thus assure vital ecosystem
function in agricultural landscapes.
Landscape heterogeneity is regarded as a key factor for maintaining biodiversity and ecosystemfunction in production landscapes. We investigated whether grassland sites atclose vicinity to forested areas are more frequently used by bats. Considering that bats areimportant consumers of herbivorous insects, including agricultural pest, this is important forsustainable land management. Bat activity and species richness were assessed usingrepeated monitoring from May to September in 2010 with acoustic monitoring surveys on50 grassland sites in the Biosphere Reserve Schorfheide-Chorin (North-East Germany).Using spatial analysis (GIS), we measured the closest distance of each grassland site topotentially connecting landscape elements (e.g., trees, linear vegetation, groves, runningand standing water). In addition, we assessed the distance to and the percent land cover offorest remnants and urban areas in a 200 m buffer around the recording sites to address differencesin the local landscape setting. Species richness and bat activity increased significantlywith higher forest land cover in the 200 m buffer and at smaller distance to forestedareas. Moreover, species richness increased in proximity to tree groves. Larger amount offorest land cover and smaller distance to forest also resulted in a higher activity of bats ongrassland sites in the beginning of the year during May, June and July. Landscape elementsnear grassland sites also influenced species composition of bats and species richness offunctional groups (open, edge and narrow space foragers). Our results highlight the importanceof forested areas, and suggest that agricultural grasslands that are closer to forestremnants might be better buffered against outbreaks of agricultural pest insects due tohigher species richness and higher bat activity. Furthermore, our data reveals that even forhighly mobile species such as bats, a very dense network of connecting elements within thelandscape is beneficial to promote activity in open areas and thus assure vital ecosystemfunction in agricultural landscapes.
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