Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Foraging ecology and reproductive biology of the Stonechat Saxicola torquata: comparison between a revitalized, intensively cultivated and a historical, traditionally cultivated agro-ecosystem

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Journal of Ornithology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

An effective strategy to reintegrate biodiversity within otherwise intensively cultivated agroecosystems is to create set-aside and wildflower areas. It remains largely unknown, however, whether the ecological performance of an agroecosystem revitalized in this manner is comparable—from a species’ population biology perspective—to traditionally exploited farmland. To address this question we compared, during two successive years, the trophic ecology and breeding performance of an insectivorous, indicator passerine (the Stonechat Saxicola torquata) in a revitalized intensively cultivated farmland (RIC) and a traditional, extensively cultivated farmland (TEC) in southern Switzerland. The chicks' diet and prey abundance did not differ between the RIC and TEC, with orthopterans, caterpillars (Lepidoptera) and coleopterans predominating (approx. 80% of diet biomass). Although Stonechat pairs initiated more broods in TEC than in the RIC, reproductive success (number of fledglings/territory × year) did not differ significantly between the TEC and RIC. The chicks’ condition (body mass) was slightly better in TEC than in RIC, while no such effect could be shown for chick constitution (tarsus length) in either year. The inter-site (RIC vs. TEC) variation fell well within the inter-annual variation of breeding parameters, indicating that environmental stochasticity could be a greater determinant of reproductive output and young quality than agroecosystem type. Although in need of replication, these results suggest that incentives for setting aside farmland and creating wildflower areas within agroecosystems may not only enhance plant and invertebrate diversity, as has been demonstrated earlier, but can also support functioning populations of vertebrates situated at higher trophic levels along the food chain.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Andreasen C, Stryhn H, Streibig JC (1996) Decline of the flora in Danish arable fields. J Appl Ecol 33:619–626

    Google Scholar 

  • Aschwanden J, Holzgang O, Jenni L (2007) Importance of ecological compensation areas for small mammals in intensively farmed areas. Wildl Biol 13(2):150–158

    Google Scholar 

  • Bauer H-G, Berthold P (1996) Die Brutvögel Mitteleuropas. Bestand und Gefährdung. Aula Verlag, Wiesbaden

    Google Scholar 

  • Benton TG, Bryant DM, Cole L, Crick HQP (2002) Linking agricultural practice to insect and bird populations: a historical study over three decades. J Appl Ecol 39:673–687

    Google Scholar 

  • Biber O (1984) Bestandesaufnahmen von elf gefährdeten Vogelarten in der Schweiz. Ornithol Beob 81:1–28

    Google Scholar 

  • Bignal EM (1998) Using an ecological understanding of farmland to reconcile nature conservation requirements, EU agriculture policy and world trade agreements. J Appl Ecol 35:949–954

    Google Scholar 

  • Bignal EM, McCraken DI (1996) Low-intensity farming systems in the conservation of the countryside. J Appl Ecol 33:413–424

    Google Scholar 

  • Birrer S, Spiess M, Herzog F, Jenny M, Kohli L, Lugrin B (2007) The Swiss agri-environment scheme promotes farmland birds: but only moderately. J Ornithol 148(Suppl 2):S295–S303

    Google Scholar 

  • Böhning-Gaese K, Bauer HG (1996) Changes in species abundance, distribution, and diversity in a Central European bird community. Conserv Biol 10:175–187

    Google Scholar 

  • Brickle NW, Harper DGC, Aebischer NJ, Cockayne SH (2000) Effects of agricultural intensification on the breeding success of corn buntings Miliaria calandra. J Appl Ecol 37:742–755

    Google Scholar 

  • Chamberlain DE, Fuller RJ (2001) Contrasting patterns of change in the distribution of farmland birds in relation to farming system in lowland Britain. Glob Ecol Biogeogr 10:399–409

    Google Scholar 

  • Chamberlain DE, Wilson JD, Fuller RJ (1999) A comparison of bird populations on organic and conventional farm systems in southern Britain. Biol Conserv 88:307–320

    Google Scholar 

  • Chamberlain DE, Fuller RJ, Bunce RGH, Duckworth JC, Shrubb M (2000) Changes in the abundance of farmland birds in relation to the timing of agricultural intensification in England and Wales. J Appl Ecol 37:771–788

    Google Scholar 

  • Cummins S, O’Halloran J (2002) An assessment of the diet of nestling Stonechats Saxicola torquata using compositional analysis. Bird Study 49:139–145

    Google Scholar 

  • De Snoo GR (1999) Unsprayed field margins: effects on environment, biodiversity and agricultural practice. Landsc Urban Plan 46:151–160

    Google Scholar 

  • Dennis P, Thomas MB, Sotherton NW (1994) Structural features of field boundaries which influence the overwintering densities of beneficial arthropod predators. J Appl Ecol 31:361–370

    Google Scholar 

  • Di Giulio M, Edwards PJ, Meister E (2001) Enhancing insect diversity in agricultural grasslands: the roles of management and landscape structure. J Appl Ecol 38:310–319

    Google Scholar 

  • Donald PF, Vickery JA (2000) The importance of cereals fields to breeding and wintering skylarks Alauda arvensis in the UK. In: Aebischer AJ, Evans AD, Grice PV, Vickery JA (eds) Ecology and conservation of lowland farmland birds. British Ornithologists’ Union, Tring, pp 140–150

    Google Scholar 

  • Donald PF, Green RE, Heath MF (2001) Agricultural intensification and the collapse of Europe’s farmland bird populations. Proc R Soc Lond B 268:25–29

    Google Scholar 

  • Fewster RM, Buckland ST, Siriwardena GM, Baillie SR, Wilson JD (2000) Analysis of population trends for farmland birds using generalized additive models. Ecology 81:1970–1984

    Google Scholar 

  • Flinks H, Pfeifer F (1987) Nahrung adulter und nestjunger Schwarzkehlchen Saxicola torquata rubicola einer westfälischen Brutpopulation. Die Vogelwelt 108(2):41–57

    Google Scholar 

  • Flinks H, Pfeifer F (1988) Einfluss des Nestlingsalters auf die Nahrungszusammensetzung nestjunger Schwarzkehlchen Saxicola torquata. J Ornithol 129:317–324

    Google Scholar 

  • Flinks H, Pfeifer F (1993) Vergleich der Habitatstrukturen ehemaliger und aktueller Schwarzkehlchen—(Saxicola torquata)—Brutplätze in einer agrarisch genutzen Landschaft. Ökol Vögel (Ecol Birds) 15:85–97

    Google Scholar 

  • Freemark KE, Kirk DA (2001) Birds on organic and conventional farms in Ontario: partitioning effects of habitat and practices on species composition and abundance. Biol Conserv 101:337–350

    Google Scholar 

  • Fuller RJ, Gregory RD, Gibbons DW, Marchant JH, Wilson JD, Baillie SR, Carter N (1995) Population declines and range contractions among lowland farmland birds in Britain. Conserv Biol 9:1425–1441

    Google Scholar 

  • Gillings S, Fuller RJ (1998) Changes in bird populations on sample lowland English farms in relation to loss of hedgerows and other non-crop habitats. Oecologia 116:120–127

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Greig-Smith PW (1983) Use of perches as vantage points during foraging by male and female Stonechats Saxicola torquata. Behaviour 86:215–235

    Google Scholar 

  • Greig-Smith PW (1985) Weight differences, brood reduction, and sibling competition among nestling Stonechats Saxicola torquata. J Zool Lond 205:453–465

    Google Scholar 

  • Greig-Smith PW, Quicke DLJ (1983) The diet of nestling Stonechats. Bird Study 30:47–50

    Google Scholar 

  • Günter M, Schläpfer F, Walter T, Herzog F (2002) Direct payments for biodiversity provided to Swiss farmers: an economic interpretation of direct democratic decision. OECD report, Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • Hailman JP (1986) The heritability concept applied to wild birds. Curr Ornithol 4:71–95

    Google Scholar 

  • Henderson IG, Evans AD (2000) Responses of farmland birds to set-aside and its management. In: Aebischer AJ, Evans AD, Grice PV, Vickery JA (eds) Ecology and conservation of lowland farmland birds. British Ornithologists’ Union, Tring, pp 69–76

    Google Scholar 

  • Henderson IG, Cooper J, Fuller RJ, Vickery J (2000) The relative abundance of birds on set-aside and neighbouring fields in summer. J Appl Ecol 37:335–347

    Google Scholar 

  • Hofer G, Herzog F, Spiess M, Birrer S (2002) Vegetation und Brutvögel als Öko-Indikatoren im Mittelland. Agrarforschung 9:152–157

    Google Scholar 

  • Jackson DL, Jackson LL (2002) The farm as natural habitat: reconnecting food systems with ecosystems. Island Press, Washington D.C.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jeanneret Ph, Schüpbach B, Pfiffner L, Herzog F, Walter T (2003) The Swiss agri-environmental programme and its effects on selected biodiversity indicators. J Nat Conserv 11:213–220

    Google Scholar 

  • Jenny M, Weibel U, Lugrin B, Josephy B, Regamey JL, Zbinden N (2002) Perdrix grise: Rapport final 1991–2000. Cahier de l’environnement 335. Office fédéral de l’environnement, des forêts et du paysage and Station ornithologique suisse de Sempach, Bern

  • Kleijn D, Sutherland WJ (2003) How effective are European agri-environment schemes in conserving and promoting biodiversity? J Appl Ecol 40:947–969

    Google Scholar 

  • Kluijver HN (1933) Bijdrage tot de biologie en de ecologie van den Spreeuw (Sturnus vulgaris vulgaris) gedurende zijn Voortplantingstijd. Versl Meded Plantenziektenk Dienst 69:1–145

    Google Scholar 

  • Koller N, Charollais M, Pearson S, Kuchen S, Schiess-Bühler C, Schüpbach H, Stäheli B (2004) Compensation écologique dans l’exploitation agricole. Landwirtschaftliche Beratungzentrale LBL & Service romand de vulgarisation agricole SRVA, Lindau & Lausanne

    Google Scholar 

  • Lambelet-Haueter C (1995) Etude de la végétation des friches spontanées dans le canton de Genève. Candollea 50:329–349

    Google Scholar 

  • Lugrin B (1999) Habitat, densité et évolution de la population de Tarier pâtre Saxicola torquata du canton de Genève. Nos Oiseaux 46:219–228

    Google Scholar 

  • Magee JD (1965) The breeding distribution of the Stonechat in Britain and the causes of its decline. Bird Study 12:83–89

    Google Scholar 

  • Moreno J (1984) Search strategy of Wheatears Oenanthe oenanthe and Stonechats Saxicola torquata: adaptative variation in perch height, search time, sally distance and inter-perch move length. J Anim Ecol 53:147–159

    Google Scholar 

  • Ormerod SJ, Marshall EJP, Kerby G, Rushton SP (2003) Meeting the ecological challenges of agricultural change: editor’s introduction. J Appl Ecol 40:939–946

    Google Scholar 

  • Peter B, Walter T (2001) Heuschrecken brauchen ökologische Ausgleichflächen. Agrarforschung 8:452–457

    Google Scholar 

  • Pfeifer G (2000) Vorkommen und Ausbreitung des Schwarzkehlchens Saxicola torquata in Schleswig-Holstein unter Einbeziehung der Bestandsentwicklung in den Nachbarländern. Corax 18:109–141

    Google Scholar 

  • Pfiffner L, Luka H, Jeanneret Ph, Schüpbach B (2000) Effekte ökologischer Ausgleichsflächen auf die Laufkäferfauna. Agrarforschung 7:212–217

    Google Scholar 

  • Posse B, Lardelli R, Lugrin B (1998) Tarier pâtre. In: Schmid H, Luder R, Naef-Daenzer B, Graf R, Zbinden N. Atlas des oiseaux nicheurs de Suisse. Distribution des oiseaux nicheurs en Suisse et au Liechtenstein en 1993–1996. Station Ornithologique Suisse, Sempach

  • Robinson RA, Sutherland WJ (2002) Post-war changes in arable farming and biodiversity in Great Britain. J Appl Ecol 39:157–176

    Google Scholar 

  • Siriwardena GM, Baillie SR, Buckland ST, Fewster RM, Marchant JH, Wilson JD (1998) Trends in the abundance of farmland birds: a quantitative comparison of smoothed Common Birds Census indices. J Appl Ecol 35:24–43

    Google Scholar 

  • Siriwardena GM, Baillie SR, Crick HQP, Wilson JD (2000) The importance of variation in the breeding performance of seed-eating birds in determining their population trends on farmland. J Appl Ecol 37:128–148

    Google Scholar 

  • Smart SM, Firbank LG, Bunce RGH, Watkins JW (2000) Quantifying changes in abundance of food plants for butterfly and farmland birds. J Appl Ecol 37:398–414

    Google Scholar 

  • Sotherton NW (1998) Land use changes and the decline of farmland wildlife: an appraisal of the set-aside approach. Biol Conserv 83:259–268

    Google Scholar 

  • Sotherton NW, Self MJ (2000) Changes in plant and arthropod biodiversity on lowland farmland: an overview. In: Aebischer AJ, Evans AD, Grice PV, Vickery JA (eds) Ecology and conservation of lowland farmland birds. British Ornithologists’ Union, Tring, pp 26–35

    Google Scholar 

  • Spiess M, Marfurt C, Birrer S (2002) Evaluation der Ökomassnahmen mit Hilfe von Brutvögeln. Agrarforschung 9:158–163

    Google Scholar 

  • Stephens PA, Freckleton RP, Watkinson AR, Sutherland WJ (2003) Predicting the response of farmland bird populations to changing food supplies. J Appl Ecol 40:970–983

    Google Scholar 

  • Tucker GM, Heath MF (1994) Birds in Europe: their conservation status. BirdLife International, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Vickery JA, Tallowin JR, Feber RE, Asteraki EJ, Atkinson PW, Fuller RJ, Brown VK (2001) The management of lowland neutral grasslands in Britain: effects of agricultural practices on birds and their food resources. J Appl Ecol 38:647–664

    Google Scholar 

  • Weibel U (1998) Habitat use of foraging Skylarks Alauda arvensis in an arable landscape with wild flower strips. Bull Geobot Inst ETH 64:37–45

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilson JD, Fuller RJ (1992) Set-aside: potential and management for wildlife conservation. ECOS 13:24–29

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilson JD, Evans J, Browne SJ, King JR (1997) Territory distribution and breeding success of skylarks Alauda arvensis on organic and intensive farmland in southern England. J Appl Ecol 34:1462–1478

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilson JD, Morris AJ, Arroyo BE, Clark SC, Bradbury RB (1999) A review of the abundance and diversity of invertebrates and plant foods of granivorous birds in northern Europe in relation to agricultural change. Agric Ecosyst Environ 75:13–30

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We thank all the persons who contributed to this work: Adrian Aebischer (University of Bern), Louis-Felix Bersier (University of Fribourg), Gilles Carron (Insecta Consultants), Bernard Lugrin, Bertrand Posse (Swiss Ornithological Institute), Veronique Revaz-Fellay, Ruth and Hans Siegenthaler, Florian Steiner, Niklaus Zbinden (Swiss Ornithological Institute). Myles Menz corrected the English. This study was partly supported by grants from the "Conseil de la Culture de l’Etat du Valais" and the "Fondation Dr Ignace Mariétan".

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Swiss Ornithological Institute, Valais Field Station, Nature Centre, 3970, Salgesch, Switzerland

    Emmanuel Revaz & Raphaël Arlettaz

  2. Swiss Ornithological Institute, 6204, Sempach, Switzerland

    Michael Schaub

  3. Zoological Institute, Conservation Biology, University of Bern, Baltzerstrasse 6, 3012, Bern, Switzerland

    Michael Schaub & Raphaël Arlettaz

  4. Ecology Centre, University of Queensland, Brisbane, 4072, Australia

    Raphaël Arlettaz

Authors
  1. Emmanuel Revaz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Michael Schaub
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Raphaël Arlettaz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Raphaël Arlettaz.

Additional information

Communicated by F. Bairlein.

Appendices

Appendix 1

Table 3 Abundance of prey (mean item frequency and mean biomass of 40 invertebrate categories) in the home ranges of Stonechat pairs in TEC (Valais, n = 4) and RIC (Geneva, n = 5) as estimated by two sampling techniques (hand-netting for grass-dwelling prey; pitfall trapping for ground-dwelling prey)
Full size table

Appendix 2

Table 4 Summary statistics for breeding parameters (mean, SD, sample size and range) with respect to study site and year
Full size table

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Revaz, E., Schaub, M. & Arlettaz, R. Foraging ecology and reproductive biology of the Stonechat Saxicola torquata: comparison between a revitalized, intensively cultivated and a historical, traditionally cultivated agro-ecosystem. J Ornithol 149, 301–312 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-007-0269-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-007-0269-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation