Transcript Document

AGRICULTURE AND BIODIVERSITY
Ch. Künast, BASF SE & M. Riffel, RIFCON GmbH
 Agricultural landscapes
and ecosystem dynamics
 Birds in agricultural
landscapes
 Options for private
initiatives
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Agricultural Landscape in Germany
(Oberpfalz)
Aus: A. Ringler (1987)
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Agricultural Landscape in Germany
(Oberpfalz, some years earlier)
Aus: A. Ringler (1987) 3
Agricultural Landscape in Germany
(“Einsamer Baum” (“Lonely Tree”) about 1820)
C. D. Friedrich
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What do these Pictures tell?

Any agriculture has per se a deep impact
on ecosystems and thus on biodiversity.

Farming practices and agricultural ecosystems
and herewith biodiversity in agricultural
landscapes is highly dynamic.
Changes can be fast and will continue.

Driving forces should be seen in a social and
economic context.
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Dynamics will Continue
Global human
population growth
Global
climate change
and new farming practices, and innovative inventions,
and land use for biofuel...
Development of
global markets
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What is “Biodiversity”?
Biodiversity is the variability among living
organisms from all sources, including
terrestrial, marine, and other aquatic
ecosystems and the ecological complexes
of which they are part: this includes
diversity within species, between species
and ecosystems.
Source: United Nations Conference on Environment and
Development, Rio de Janeiro, June 3 to June 14, 1992
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How to Quantify Biodiversity?
Known animal species numbers
Taxon
Sponges (Porifera)
Cnidarians (Cnidaria)
Flatworms (Plathelminthes)
Molluscs (Mollusca)
Annelids (Annelida)
Arthropods (Arthropoda)
Arachnids
Crustaceans
Insects
Chordates (Chordata)
Fish (incl Cyclostomes)
Amphibians
Reptiles
Birds
Mammals
Sum (appr.):
Worldwide
In Germany
5 000
10 000
16 100
130 000
17 000
1 000 000
30 000
20 000
760 000
48 600
20 600
2 500
6 300
8 600
3 700
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130
1 100
500
1 900
32 500
2 300
900
28 900
500
130
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12
238
93
1,4 Millions
45 000
: Flindt, 1995
Source
There are by far more. Counting all is not a solution.
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Why Focus on Birds?
Birds are widely used as indicator organisms, since …
… life-histories and biology are well understood
… they are taxonomically well-described and stable
… they occupy a wide range of habitats
… they are responsive to environmental changes…
The indicator relevance has limitations, since …
… birds may adapt to environmental changes
… there are many species specific parameters
… responses may be “multifactorial” and difficult to
interpret…
Birds should be seen as protection goals, since …
… birds are important parts of several relevant documents, such as
Red Lists, Bird Protection Guidelines etc.
… bird protection is core for nature conservation.
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Trends of Farmland Bird Populations in
Europe - Species with Declining Numbers
Skylark (Alauda arvensis)
Grey partridge (Perdix perdix)
Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus)
Source: European Bird Census Council (EBCC)
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Trends of Farmland Bird Populations in
Europe - Species with Increasing or Relatively
Stable Numbers
Red-backed shrike
(Lanius collurio)
Whitestork
(Ciconia ciconia)
Cirl bunting
(Emberiza cirlus)
Source: European Bird Census Council (EBCC)
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Overall Development Trends of 33
Farmland Bird Species in EU
300
250
150
100
50
0
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Population Index [%]
200
Year
Source: European Bird Census Council (EBCC)
White stork
Thekla lark
Spotless starling
Hoopoe
Rock sparrow
Rook
Cirl bunting
Whitethroat
Black-eared wheatear
Calandra lark
Barn swallow
Ortolan bunting
Kestrel
Short-toed lark
Stonechat
Red-backed shrike
Yellow wagtail
Black-tailed godwit
Yellowhammer
Woodchat shrike
Serin
Tree sparrow
Skylark
Common starling
Lapwing
Linnet
Whinchat
Meadow pipit
Tawny pipit
Corn bunting
Turtle dove
Grey partridge
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Crested lark
Birds may Successfully Utilize open
Agricultural Landscapes as Resting Habitats,
for Overwintering, Foraging etc.
Development of Wintering Geese and Swan Numbers Between 1980 and 2005 in Parts of Germany
Close collaboration of farmers, hunters,
conservationists, landowners are key success factors 13
Management Programs have been
Developed for a Multitude of Birds
Successful implementation depend clearly on private initiatives
Political framework and support is needed
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Contribution of the Plant Protection
Industry
Exposure
ETE = Estimated Theoretical Exposure (mg/kg b.w./d) = daily dose =
FIR/bw * (AR * C0 ) / (Load) * DF * MAF * f twa * PT * PD * AV
- FIR / b.w. = food intake/ body weight
- AR = application rate
- C0 = initial residue concentration
• Birds
- DF = deposition factor
- MAF = multiple application factor
- ftwa = time-weighted average factor
- PT = proportion diet in treated area (1)
- PD = proportion of feed items (1)
- AV = avoidance factor
 Sophisticated risk assessments combine exposure data with the ecology of
relevant bird species.
The compatibility of bird protection and PPP use is confirmed on field stations.
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Concluding Remarks
Birds may find their own way. Many bird species successfully
inhabit current farmland biotopes.
“Yes, we can!” A wealth of management measures for protected, rare
or declining birds is available. Implementation requires close cooperation
with “The Private Sector”.
The only constant is change. Macroecological parameters
(like climate change) and macroecomic parameters (like such depending
on human population growth or consumption changes) will further drive
changes in agricultural practices.
How much change is acceptable, how much conservation
is needed ?
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THANK YOU
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In Agricultural Landscapes, Farming and
Biodiversity are Inevitably Linked since …
… crops and livestock
are part of biodiversity
… farming needs
biodiversity
(“ecological services”)
…farming influences
biodiversity
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Trends of biodiversity
Number of species
Is biodiversity really decreasing ?
Great flamingo
Egyptian goose
Bullfrog
Topmouth gudgeon
Ruddy shelduck
Black swan
Pheasant
Fallow deer
Norwegian rat
Bluegill
Channel catfish
Mudminnow
Swan goose
etc.
Raccoon
Musk rat
Coypu
Sikadeer
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etc.
Mandarin duck
Rose-ringed parakeet
Sibirian chipmunk
etc.
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3
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12
6
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before 1500
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1500-1800
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1801-1900
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1901-1950
1951-1975
1976-1995
Period
Permanent residents
Extinct species
Natural immigrants
Feral species
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There are New Birds around the
Farms
“Neozoans” may originate from birds which escaped from captivity,
some establish stable populations, other may come “by themselves”
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