Ecological contrasts drive responses of wintering farmland birds to conservation management

摘要: In the past decades, large-scale conservation programs have been implemented to halt decline of farmland species. The mechanisms explaining effectiveness these remain poorly understood. Here we test recent hypothesis that effects management are determined by ecological contrasts in limiting resources they create relative baseline situation. We examine responses wintering seed-eating birds experimental establishment winter food plots areas with contrasting availability. found bird abundance and species richness were strongly positively related seed availability, regardless compositional differences between agricultural landscapes. line contrast hypothesis, increased increasing induced a key resource. Both negatively but absolute density was unrelated This indicates both need be considered properly evaluate management.