Distance to edges, edge contrast and landscape fragmentation: Interactions affecting farmland birds around forest plantations

摘要: Abstract Afforestation often causes direct habitat losses for farmland birds of conservation concern, but it is uncertain whether negative effects also extend significantly into adjacent open land. Information thus required on how these species react to wooded edges, and their responses are affected by edge landscape characteristics. These issues were examined in Mediterranean arable farmland, using bird counts at 0, 100, 200, 300 >300 m from oak, pine eucalyptus embedded landscapes with variable amounts spatial configurations forest plantations. Bird diversity declined away including that woodland, ground-nesting birds. Positive found overall woodland abundances, five the nine most widespread abundant (Galerida larks, stonechat, linnet, goldfinch corn bunting). Strong only recorded steppe birds, reduced abundances near edges calandra larks short-toed not little bustards tawny pipits. Edge contrast magnitude effects, a tendency stronger old tall plantations (hard edges) than young short oak (soft edges). There species-specific interactions between fragmentation positive tending be strongest less fragmented landscapes, whereas tended increase faster reach highest richness large patches. Results suggest may abundance expenses concern. Clustering few patches reducing density landscape-scale might reduce such impacts.