Sowing enriched pastures for extensive livestock enhances the abundance of birds and arthropods in Mediterranean grasslands

摘要: A great number of farmland wildlife species has shown a sharp population decline in European countries, mainly caused by changes agricultural practices leading to habitat alterations. Within this scenario, the identification providing economic benefits farmers and, at same time, favoring higher biodiversity levels is key challenge. This especially interesting Mediterranean livestock farming environments where bird numbers decrease due intensification. Aiming assessing benefit biological diversity certain types management grasslands, we experimentally planted enriched pastures. Through monitoring program and arthropod communities performed Extremadura (W Spain) during 2 years (2016–2018), compared relative richness birds, abundance, density values birds arthropods between treatment (three plots with pastures) control areas (six natural grasslands). We found that pastures had abundance respect grasslands provided greater variability availability trophic resources birds. Habitat use not only depended on type but also season, study area, presence vegetation height. Sowing constitutes proactive measure stimulating extensive farms beneficial socioeconomic level. Therefore, co-financing within framework subsidies from Common Agricultural Policy Union, as well its inclusion future operational programs approved authorities, are essential.