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Dr. Duncan Westbury
School of Science & the Environment, University of Worcester, Henwick Grove Worcester , WR2 6AJ

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0 Biodiversity
0 Carbon Capture
0 Ecosystem Management
0 Ecosystem Services
0 Restoration Ecology

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Biodiversity
Pollination services
Ecosystem Services
Pest regulation
conservation biological control
Natural enemies, pollinators

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Research article
Published: 17 June 2021 in Journal of Applied Ecology
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1. Pollinators experience large spatio-temporal fluctuations in resource availability when mass-flowering crops are rotated with resource-poor cereal crops. Yet, few studies have considered the effect this has on pollinator population stability, nor how this might be mitigated to maintain consistent crop pollination services. 2. We assess the potential of boundary features (standard narrow 1m grassy margins, hedgerows and wide 4m agri-environment margins) to support and stabilise pollinator populations and pollination service in agricultural landscapes under crop rotation. Assuming a six-year rotation, we use a process-based pollinator model to predict yearly pollinator population size and in-crop visitation rates to oilseed rape and field bean across 117 study landscapes in England with varying amounts of boundary features. We model both ground-nesting bumblebees and solitary bees and compare the predictions including and excluding boundary features from the landscapes. 3. Ground-nesting bumblebee populations, whose longer-lifetime colonies benefit from continuity of resources, were larger and more stable (relative to the no-features scenario) in landscapes with more boundary features. Ground-nesting solitary bee populations were also larger but not significantly more stable, except with the introduction of wide permanent agri-environment margins, due to their shorter lifetimes and shorter foraging/dispersal ranges. 4. Crop visitation by ground-nesting bumblebees was greater and more stable in landscapes with more boundary features, partly due to increased colony growth prior to crop flowering. Time-averaged crop visitation by ground-nesting solitary bees was slightly lower, due to females dividing their foraging time between boundary features and the crop, but the more stable delivery compensated for this by nonetheless increasing the minimum pollination service delivered in any given year. 5. Synthesis and applications. Field boundary features have an important role in stabilising pollinator populations and pollination service in rotational systems, although maintenance of larger semi-natural habitat patches may be more effective for stabilising less mobile solitary bee populations. We recommend using combinations of boundary features, accounting for pollinator range when spacing features/rotating crops, and synchronising boundary feature management with crop rotation to maximise their stabilising benefits.

ACS Style

Emma Gardner; Tom D. Breeze; Yann Clough; Henrik G. Smith; Katherine C. R. Baldock; Alistair Campbell; Michael P. D. Garratt; Mark A. K. Gillespie; William E. Kunin; Megan McKerchar; Simon G. Potts; Deepa Senapathi; Graham N. Stone; Felix Wäckers; Duncan B. Westbury; Andrew Wilby; Tom H. Oliver. Field boundary features can stabilise bee populations and the pollination of mass‐flowering crops in rotational systems. Journal of Applied Ecology 2021, 1 .

AMA Style

Emma Gardner, Tom D. Breeze, Yann Clough, Henrik G. Smith, Katherine C. R. Baldock, Alistair Campbell, Michael P. D. Garratt, Mark A. K. Gillespie, William E. Kunin, Megan McKerchar, Simon G. Potts, Deepa Senapathi, Graham N. Stone, Felix Wäckers, Duncan B. Westbury, Andrew Wilby, Tom H. Oliver. Field boundary features can stabilise bee populations and the pollination of mass‐flowering crops in rotational systems. Journal of Applied Ecology. 2021; ():1.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Emma Gardner; Tom D. Breeze; Yann Clough; Henrik G. Smith; Katherine C. R. Baldock; Alistair Campbell; Michael P. D. Garratt; Mark A. K. Gillespie; William E. Kunin; Megan McKerchar; Simon G. Potts; Deepa Senapathi; Graham N. Stone; Felix Wäckers; Duncan B. Westbury; Andrew Wilby; Tom H. Oliver. 2021. "Field boundary features can stabilise bee populations and the pollination of mass‐flowering crops in rotational systems." Journal of Applied Ecology , no. : 1.

Journal article
Published: 14 May 2021 in Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment
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To protect sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) against pests in commercial orchards, pesticides are frequently used, but some have adverse environmental impacts. Natural enemies can deliver protection against pests but compared to the surrounding non-crop habitat their abundance is usually low in intensively managed agricultural systems. Wildflower interventions established for Conservation Biological Control as part of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) can reinstate habitat for natural enemies within cropped areas and enhance natural pest control. Over a three-year period, this more sustainable approach to crop protection was investigated in eight sweet cherry orchards protected under polytunnels in the West Midlands (UK). Wildflower strips were established in alleyways between rows of cherry trees and managed under two cutting regimes, Standard Wildflower Strips (SWS) (a single cut in late September) and Actively Managed Wildflower Strips (AMWS) (regularly cut to a height of 20 cm throughout the growing season). These were compared to unsown Control Strips (CS) (original vegetation dominated by grass species). To investigate natural enemy populations and pest regulation services, direct search, Vortis suction sampling, beat sampling, and aphid bait cards were used. Araneae (40.0% of records) and parasitoid wasps (22.7%) were the most frequent natural enemies recorded in alleyways, whilst Anystidae (51.8%) and Araneae (20.8%) were most abundant on cherry trees. Wildflower treatments almost doubled the abundance of natural enemies in alleyways, and increased abundance in cherry trees by ~15% compared to the CS. Wildflower strips increased predation of aphids (bait cards) in cherry trees by 25%. No difference in natural enemy abundance, richness or pest control was recorded between the two wildflower management regimes. Differences in natural enemy abundance and predation rates were detected despite the continued use of pesticides by growers (an average of 5.4 (± 0.4) applications per orchard per year). This study demonstrates that creating wildflower habitat in commercial sweet cherry orchards under polytunnels can boost natural enemies and the associated pest regulation services. Relative to CS, the novel grower-friendly approach of maintaining wildflower strips at a height of 20 cm with regular cutting increased flower resource availability and pest regulation services, demonstrating the potential for growers to adopt this approach as part of a robust IPM strategy.

ACS Style

Zeus Mateos-Fierro; Michelle T. Fountain; Michael P.D. Garratt; Kate Ashbrook; Duncan B. Westbury. Active management of wildflower strips in commercial sweet cherry orchards enhances natural enemies and pest regulation services. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 2021, 317, 107485 .

AMA Style

Zeus Mateos-Fierro, Michelle T. Fountain, Michael P.D. Garratt, Kate Ashbrook, Duncan B. Westbury. Active management of wildflower strips in commercial sweet cherry orchards enhances natural enemies and pest regulation services. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment. 2021; 317 ():107485.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Zeus Mateos-Fierro; Michelle T. Fountain; Michael P.D. Garratt; Kate Ashbrook; Duncan B. Westbury. 2021. "Active management of wildflower strips in commercial sweet cherry orchards enhances natural enemies and pest regulation services." Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 317, no. : 107485.

Conference paper
Published: 17 March 2021 in Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
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While an increasing number of studies indicate that the range, diversity and abundance of many wild pollinators has declined, the global area of pollinator-dependent crops has significantly increased over the last few decades. Crop pollination studies to date have mainly focused on either identifying different guilds pollinating various crops, or on factors driving spatial changes and turnover observed in these communities. The mechanisms driving temporal stability for ecosystem functioning and services, however, remain poorly understood. Our study quantifies temporal variability observed in crop pollinators in 21 different crops across multiple years at a global scale. Using data from 43 studies from six continents, we show that (i) higher pollinator diversity confers greater inter-annual stability in pollinator communities, (ii) temporal variation observed in pollinator abundance is primarily driven by the three-most dominant species, and (iii) crops in tropical regions demonstrate higher inter-annual variability in pollinator species richness than crops in temperate regions. We highlight the importance of recognizing wild pollinator diversity in agricultural landscapes to stabilize pollinator persistence across years to protect both biodiversity and crop pollination services. Short-term agricultural management practices aimed at dominant species for stabilizing pollination services need to be considered alongside longer term conservation goals focussed on maintaining and facilitating biodiversity to confer ecological stability.

ACS Style

Deepa Senapathi; Jochen Fründ; Matthias Albrecht; Michael P. D. Garratt; David Kleijn; Brian J. Pickles; Simon G. Potts; Jiandong An; Georg K. S. Andersson; Svenja Bänsch; Parthiba Basu; Faye Benjamin; Antonio Diego M. Bezerra; Ritam Bhattacharya; Jacobus C. Biesmeijer; Brett Blaauw; Eleanor J. Blitzer; Claire A. Brittain; Luísa G. Carvalheiro; Daniel P. Cariveau; Pushan Chakraborty; Arnob Chatterjee; Soumik Chatterjee; Sarah Cusser; Bryan N. Danforth; Erika Degani; Breno M. Freitas; Lucas A. Garibaldi; Benoit Geslin; G. Arjen de Groot; Tina Harrison; Brad Howlett; Rufus Isaacs; Shalene Jha; Björn Kristian Klatt; Kristin Krewenka; Samuel Leigh; Sandra A. M. Lindström; Yael Mandelik; Megan McKerchar; Mia Park; Gideon Pisanty; Romina Rader; Menno Reemer; Maj Rundlöf; Barbara Smith; Henrik G. Smith; Patrícia Nunes Silva; Ingolf Steffan-Dewenter; Teja Tscharntke; Sean Webber; Duncan B. Westbury; Catrin Westphal; Jennifer B. Wickens; Victoria J. Wickens; Rachael Winfree; Hong Zhang; Alexandra-Maria Klein. Wild insect diversity increases inter-annual stability in global crop pollinator communities. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 2021, 288, 20210212 .

AMA Style

Deepa Senapathi, Jochen Fründ, Matthias Albrecht, Michael P. D. Garratt, David Kleijn, Brian J. Pickles, Simon G. Potts, Jiandong An, Georg K. S. Andersson, Svenja Bänsch, Parthiba Basu, Faye Benjamin, Antonio Diego M. Bezerra, Ritam Bhattacharya, Jacobus C. Biesmeijer, Brett Blaauw, Eleanor J. Blitzer, Claire A. Brittain, Luísa G. Carvalheiro, Daniel P. Cariveau, Pushan Chakraborty, Arnob Chatterjee, Soumik Chatterjee, Sarah Cusser, Bryan N. Danforth, Erika Degani, Breno M. Freitas, Lucas A. Garibaldi, Benoit Geslin, G. Arjen de Groot, Tina Harrison, Brad Howlett, Rufus Isaacs, Shalene Jha, Björn Kristian Klatt, Kristin Krewenka, Samuel Leigh, Sandra A. M. Lindström, Yael Mandelik, Megan McKerchar, Mia Park, Gideon Pisanty, Romina Rader, Menno Reemer, Maj Rundlöf, Barbara Smith, Henrik G. Smith, Patrícia Nunes Silva, Ingolf Steffan-Dewenter, Teja Tscharntke, Sean Webber, Duncan B. Westbury, Catrin Westphal, Jennifer B. Wickens, Victoria J. Wickens, Rachael Winfree, Hong Zhang, Alexandra-Maria Klein. Wild insect diversity increases inter-annual stability in global crop pollinator communities. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. 2021; 288 (1947):20210212.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Deepa Senapathi; Jochen Fründ; Matthias Albrecht; Michael P. D. Garratt; David Kleijn; Brian J. Pickles; Simon G. Potts; Jiandong An; Georg K. S. Andersson; Svenja Bänsch; Parthiba Basu; Faye Benjamin; Antonio Diego M. Bezerra; Ritam Bhattacharya; Jacobus C. Biesmeijer; Brett Blaauw; Eleanor J. Blitzer; Claire A. Brittain; Luísa G. Carvalheiro; Daniel P. Cariveau; Pushan Chakraborty; Arnob Chatterjee; Soumik Chatterjee; Sarah Cusser; Bryan N. Danforth; Erika Degani; Breno M. Freitas; Lucas A. Garibaldi; Benoit Geslin; G. Arjen de Groot; Tina Harrison; Brad Howlett; Rufus Isaacs; Shalene Jha; Björn Kristian Klatt; Kristin Krewenka; Samuel Leigh; Sandra A. M. Lindström; Yael Mandelik; Megan McKerchar; Mia Park; Gideon Pisanty; Romina Rader; Menno Reemer; Maj Rundlöf; Barbara Smith; Henrik G. Smith; Patrícia Nunes Silva; Ingolf Steffan-Dewenter; Teja Tscharntke; Sean Webber; Duncan B. Westbury; Catrin Westphal; Jennifer B. Wickens; Victoria J. Wickens; Rachael Winfree; Hong Zhang; Alexandra-Maria Klein. 2021. "Wild insect diversity increases inter-annual stability in global crop pollinator communities." Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 288, no. 1947: 20210212.

Research article
Published: 07 September 2020 in Methods in Ecology and Evolution
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Pollination is a key ecosystem service for global agriculture but evidence of pollinator population declines is growing. Reliable spatial modelling of pollinator abundance is essential if we are to identify areas at risk of pollination service deficit and effectively target resources to support pollinator populations. Many models exist which predict pollinator abundance but few have been calibrated against observational data from multiple habitats to ensure their predictions are accurate. We selected the most advanced process‐based pollinator abundance model available and calibrated it for bumblebees and solitary bees using survey data collected at 239 sites across Great Britain. We compared three versions of the model: one parameterised using estimates based on expert opinion, one where the parameters are calibrated using a purely data‐driven approach and one where we allow the expert opinion estimates to inform the calibration process. All three model versions showed significant agreement with the survey data, demonstrating this model's potential to reliably map pollinator abundance. However, there were significant differences between the nesting/floral attractiveness scores obtained by the two calibration methods and from the original expert opinion scores. Our results highlight a key universal challenge of calibrating spatially explicit, process‐based ecological models. Notably, the desire to reliably represent complex ecological processes in finely mapped landscapes necessarily generates a large number of parameters, which are challenging to calibrate with ecological and geographical data that are often noisy, biased, asynchronous and sometimes inaccurate. Purely data‐driven calibration can therefore result in unrealistic parameter values, despite appearing to improve model‐data agreement over initial expert opinion estimates. We therefore advocate a combined approach where data‐driven calibration and expert opinion are integrated into an iterative Delphi‐like process, which simultaneously combines model calibration and credibility assessment. This may provide the best opportunity to obtain realistic parameter estimates and reliable model predictions for ecological systems with expert knowledge gaps and patchy ecological data.

ACS Style

Emma Gardner; Tom D. Breeze; Yann Clough; Henrik G. Smith; Katherine C. R. Baldock; Alistair Campbell; Michael P. D. Garratt; Mark A. K. Gillespie; William E. Kunin; Megan McKerchar; Jane Memmott; Simon G. Potts; Deepa Senapathi; Graham N. Stone; Felix Wäckers; Duncan B. Westbury; Andrew Wilby; Tom H. Oliver. Reliably predicting pollinator abundance: Challenges of calibrating process‐based ecological models. Methods in Ecology and Evolution 2020, 11, 1673 -1689.

AMA Style

Emma Gardner, Tom D. Breeze, Yann Clough, Henrik G. Smith, Katherine C. R. Baldock, Alistair Campbell, Michael P. D. Garratt, Mark A. K. Gillespie, William E. Kunin, Megan McKerchar, Jane Memmott, Simon G. Potts, Deepa Senapathi, Graham N. Stone, Felix Wäckers, Duncan B. Westbury, Andrew Wilby, Tom H. Oliver. Reliably predicting pollinator abundance: Challenges of calibrating process‐based ecological models. Methods in Ecology and Evolution. 2020; 11 (12):1673-1689.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Emma Gardner; Tom D. Breeze; Yann Clough; Henrik G. Smith; Katherine C. R. Baldock; Alistair Campbell; Michael P. D. Garratt; Mark A. K. Gillespie; William E. Kunin; Megan McKerchar; Jane Memmott; Simon G. Potts; Deepa Senapathi; Graham N. Stone; Felix Wäckers; Duncan B. Westbury; Andrew Wilby; Tom H. Oliver. 2020. "Reliably predicting pollinator abundance: Challenges of calibrating process‐based ecological models." Methods in Ecology and Evolution 11, no. 12: 1673-1689.

Letters
Published: 18 August 2020 in Ecology Letters
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Floral plantings are promoted to foster ecological intensification of agriculture through provisioning of ecosystem services. However, a comprehensive assessment of the effectiveness of different floral plantings, their characteristics and consequences for crop yield is lacking. Here we quantified the impacts of flower strips and hedgerows on pest control (18 studies) and pollination services (17 studies) in adjacent crops in North America, Europe and New Zealand. Flower strips, but not hedgerows, enhanced pest control services in adjacent fields by 16% on average. However, effects on crop pollination and yield were more variable. Our synthesis identifies several important drivers of variability in effectiveness of plantings: pollination services declined exponentially with distance from plantings, and perennial and older flower strips with higher flowering plant diversity enhanced pollination more effectively. These findings provide promising pathways to optimise floral plantings to more effectively contribute to ecosystem service delivery and ecological intensification of agriculture in the future.

ACS Style

Matthias Albrecht; David Kleijn; Neal M. Williams; Matthias Tschumi; Brett R. Blaauw; Riccardo Bommarco; Alistair Campbell; Matteo Dainese; Francis A. Drummond; Martin H. Entling; Dominik Ganser; G. Arjen de Groot; Dave Goulson; Heather Grab; Hannah Hamilton; Felix Herzog; Rufus Isaacs; Katja Jacot; Philippe Jeanneret; Mattias Jonsson; Eva Knop; Claire Kremen; Douglas A. Landis; Gregory M. Loeb; Lorenzo Marini; Megan McKerchar; Lora Morandin; Sonja C. Pfister; Simon G. Potts; Maj Rundlöf; Hillary Sardiñas; Amber Sciligo; Carsten Thies; Teja Tscharntke; Eric Venturini; Eve Veromann; Ines M.G. Vollhardt; Felix Wäckers; Kimiora Ward; Duncan B. Westbury; Andrew Wilby; Megan Woltz; Steve Wratten; Louis Sutter. The effectiveness of flower strips and hedgerows on pest control, pollination services and crop yield: a quantitative synthesis. Ecology Letters 2020, 23, 1488 -1498.

AMA Style

Matthias Albrecht, David Kleijn, Neal M. Williams, Matthias Tschumi, Brett R. Blaauw, Riccardo Bommarco, Alistair Campbell, Matteo Dainese, Francis A. Drummond, Martin H. Entling, Dominik Ganser, G. Arjen de Groot, Dave Goulson, Heather Grab, Hannah Hamilton, Felix Herzog, Rufus Isaacs, Katja Jacot, Philippe Jeanneret, Mattias Jonsson, Eva Knop, Claire Kremen, Douglas A. Landis, Gregory M. Loeb, Lorenzo Marini, Megan McKerchar, Lora Morandin, Sonja C. Pfister, Simon G. Potts, Maj Rundlöf, Hillary Sardiñas, Amber Sciligo, Carsten Thies, Teja Tscharntke, Eric Venturini, Eve Veromann, Ines M.G. Vollhardt, Felix Wäckers, Kimiora Ward, Duncan B. Westbury, Andrew Wilby, Megan Woltz, Steve Wratten, Louis Sutter. The effectiveness of flower strips and hedgerows on pest control, pollination services and crop yield: a quantitative synthesis. Ecology Letters. 2020; 23 (10):1488-1498.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Matthias Albrecht; David Kleijn; Neal M. Williams; Matthias Tschumi; Brett R. Blaauw; Riccardo Bommarco; Alistair Campbell; Matteo Dainese; Francis A. Drummond; Martin H. Entling; Dominik Ganser; G. Arjen de Groot; Dave Goulson; Heather Grab; Hannah Hamilton; Felix Herzog; Rufus Isaacs; Katja Jacot; Philippe Jeanneret; Mattias Jonsson; Eva Knop; Claire Kremen; Douglas A. Landis; Gregory M. Loeb; Lorenzo Marini; Megan McKerchar; Lora Morandin; Sonja C. Pfister; Simon G. Potts; Maj Rundlöf; Hillary Sardiñas; Amber Sciligo; Carsten Thies; Teja Tscharntke; Eric Venturini; Eve Veromann; Ines M.G. Vollhardt; Felix Wäckers; Kimiora Ward; Duncan B. Westbury; Andrew Wilby; Megan Woltz; Steve Wratten; Louis Sutter. 2020. "The effectiveness of flower strips and hedgerows on pest control, pollination services and crop yield: a quantitative synthesis." Ecology Letters 23, no. 10: 1488-1498.

Journal article
Published: 04 June 2020 in Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment
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Modern fruit production has successfully increased yields and fruit quality to meet market demands mainly through intensification and the use of Plant Protection Products (PPPs). Due to the associated environmental impacts and consumers increasingly demanding food produced more sustainably, the tree fruit sector is seeking to reduce its reliance on PPPs. Despite intensification, apple production is still highly dependent on ecosystem services, including pest regulation and pollination. The aim of this study was to investigate the response of natural enemies and pollinators in commercial apple orchards to the provision of a wildflower habitat. It was hypothesised that the abundance and diversity of beneficial invertebrate species would be enhanced leading to an increased control of apple pests and enhanced pollination of apple blossom. We also investigated the effect of orchard pesticide toxicity on natural enemies and pest regulation services and how responses varied between apple cultivars (Jazz and Braeburn). The study was carried out in five orchards of each apple variety across Kent (UK), using a split-plot experimental design. At each site, a one-hectare orchard plot was established with wildflower strips in alleyways between rows of trees and compared with a one-hectare control plot where alleyways were managed conventionally with regular cutting. Responses of natural enemies and pollinators were recorded over a period of three and four years, respectively. The presence of wildflower strips did not contribute significantly towards the delivery of natural pest regulation or pollination services. However, hoverfly diversity and species richness were greater in orchards with wildflower strips, and whilst this was not associated with increased rates of pest regulation, such a response could potentially provide more resilient pest regulation and pollination services. Braeburn orchards had higher bee abundance, and pest predation rates, which were associated with a greater abundance of earwigs, compared to Jazz orchards. Of key significance for growers is that high values of cumulative pesticide toxicity negatively affected natural enemy populations, especially earwigs. If growers want to support natural enemies and wild pollinators in modern apple orchards following the principles of ecological intensification, they need to consider both the types and frequency of pesticide sprays used, in conjunction with interventions aimed at promoting beneficial invertebrates.

ACS Style

M. McKerchar; S.G. Potts; M.T. Fountain; M.P.D. Garratt; D.B. Westbury. The potential for wildflower interventions to enhance natural enemies and pollinators in commercial apple orchards is limited by other management practices. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 2020, 301, 107034 .

AMA Style

M. McKerchar, S.G. Potts, M.T. Fountain, M.P.D. Garratt, D.B. Westbury. The potential for wildflower interventions to enhance natural enemies and pollinators in commercial apple orchards is limited by other management practices. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment. 2020; 301 ():107034.

Chicago/Turabian Style

M. McKerchar; S.G. Potts; M.T. Fountain; M.P.D. Garratt; D.B. Westbury. 2020. "The potential for wildflower interventions to enhance natural enemies and pollinators in commercial apple orchards is limited by other management practices." Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 301, no. : 107034.

Plant insect interactions
Published: 01 January 2018 in Journal of Plant Interactions
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Plant species dependent on highly specific interactions with pollinators are vulnerable to environmental change. Conservation strategies therefore require a detailed understanding of pollination ecology. This two-year study examined the interactions between the sexually deceptive orchid, Orchis galilaea, and its pollinator Lasioglossum marginatum. Relationships were investigated across three different habitats known to support O. galilaea (garrigue, oak woodland, and mixed oak/pine woodland) in Lebanon. Visitation rates to flowers were extremely low and restricted to male bees. The reproductive success of O. galilaea under ambient conditions was 29.3% (±2.4), compared to 89.0% (±2.1) in plants receiving cross-pollination by hand. No difference in reproductive success was found between habitat types, but values of reproductive success were positively correlated to the abundance of male bees. Pollination limitation can have negative impacts on the population growth of orchids, and this study provides clear evidence for more holistic approaches to habitat conservation to support specific interactions.

ACS Style

Nisrine Machaka-Houri; Ahmad Houri; Khouzama M. Knio; Duncan B. Westbury. Ecological interactions of the sexually deceptive orchid Orchis galilaea. Journal of Plant Interactions 2018, 13, 315 -320.

AMA Style

Nisrine Machaka-Houri, Ahmad Houri, Khouzama M. Knio, Duncan B. Westbury. Ecological interactions of the sexually deceptive orchid Orchis galilaea. Journal of Plant Interactions. 2018; 13 (1):315-320.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Nisrine Machaka-Houri; Ahmad Houri; Khouzama M. Knio; Duncan B. Westbury. 2018. "Ecological interactions of the sexually deceptive orchid Orchis galilaea." Journal of Plant Interactions 13, no. 1: 315-320.

Journal article
Published: 01 March 2017 in Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment
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To address the decline in farmland birds across agricultural landscapes a key approach under agri-environment schemes has been the widespread creation of perennial grass-only buffer strips along field boundaries. However, despite a high dependency on these strips to enhance biodiversity in agricultural landscapes, it appears that benefits for farmland birds during the breeding season have been limited. We investigated the provision of plant and invertebrate resources for farmland birds in buffer strips that were established with three different seed mixes, including the standard grass-only habitat. We hypothesised that resource provision would differ between seed mix types due to differences in original composition. We also investigated three different types of management aimed at influencing sward composition and habitat structure, namely cutting, scarification and the application of graminicide. These approaches were used to influence the accessibility of structurally complex swards to farmland birds. We hypothesised that the abundance of plant and invertebrate resources and access to these resources would be directly related to management type. The abundance of plant resources and sward structure were determined using quadrats and the drop disc method respectively, whilst the invertebrates were assessed using suction sampling. The study demonstrated the value of including forbs (herbaceous plant species) in seed mixes used to establish buffer strips by increasing plant resources for farmland birds, although this was not coupled with an increase in beetle abundance and mass. However, grass-only buffer strips managed with annual cutting were shown to provide similar levels of invertebrate resources to farmland birds as with the more complex seed mixes, but it is likely that access to these resources was restricted by tall homogenous swards and a limited amount of bare ground. The study demonstrated that novel buffer strip management techniques can strongly influence both the resource abundance and resource access by farmland birds. Scarification in particular was shown to be highly effective at opening up the sward to increase access by farmland birds, but was associated with a reduction in plant resources. Given the financial barriers for the use of seed mixes that contain forbs to establish buffer strips, importantly the study has shown that the value of existing grass-only buffer strips for farmland birds can be enhanced through the use of scarification. Consequently, as an alternative to annual cutting, we recommend that scarification is periodically applied to narrow (1–3 m) strips next to the crop edge to enhance the value of grass-only buffer strips for farmland birds.

ACS Style

D.B. Westbury; B.A. Woodcock; S.J. Harris; V.K. Brown; S.G. Potts. Buffer strip management to deliver plant and invertebrate resources for farmland birds in agricultural landscapes. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 2017, 240, 215 -223.

AMA Style

D.B. Westbury, B.A. Woodcock, S.J. Harris, V.K. Brown, S.G. Potts. Buffer strip management to deliver plant and invertebrate resources for farmland birds in agricultural landscapes. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment. 2017; 240 ():215-223.

Chicago/Turabian Style

D.B. Westbury; B.A. Woodcock; S.J. Harris; V.K. Brown; S.G. Potts. 2017. "Buffer strip management to deliver plant and invertebrate resources for farmland birds in agricultural landscapes." Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 240, no. : 215-223.

Research article
Published: 24 June 2016 in PLoS ONE
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Planted meadows are increasingly used to improve the biodiversity and aesthetic amenity value of urban areas. Although many ‘pollinator-friendly’ seed mixes are available, the floral resources these provide to flower-visiting insects, and how these change through time, are largely unknown. Such data are necessary to compare the resources provided by alternative meadow seed mixes to each other and to other flowering habitats. We used quantitative surveys of over 2 million flowers to estimate the nectar and pollen resources offered by two exemplar commercial seed mixes (one annual, one perennial) and associated weeds grown as 300m2 meadows across four UK cities, sampled at six time points between May and September 2013. Nectar sugar and pollen rewards per flower varied widely across 65 species surveyed, with native British weed species (including dandelion, Taraxacum agg.) contributing the top five nectar producers and two of the top ten pollen producers. Seed mix species yielding the highest rewards per flower included Leontodon hispidus, Centaurea cyanus and C. nigra for nectar, and Papaver rhoeas, Eschscholzia californica and Malva moschata for pollen. Perennial meadows produced up to 20x more nectar and up to 6x more pollen than annual meadows, which in turn produced far more than amenity grassland controls. Perennial meadows produced resources earlier in the year than annual meadows, but both seed mixes delivered very low resource levels early in the year and these were provided almost entirely by native weeds. Pollen volume per flower is well predicted statistically by floral morphology, and nectar sugar mass and pollen volume per unit area are correlated with flower counts, raising the possibility that resource levels can be estimated for species or habitats where they cannot be measured directly. Our approach does not incorporate resource quality information (for example, pollen protein or essential amino acid content), but can easily do so when suitable data exist. Our approach should inform the design of new seed mixes to ensure continuity in floral resource availability throughout the year, and to identify suitable species to fill resource gaps in established mixes.

ACS Style

Damien M. Hicks; Pierre Ouvrard; Katherine Baldock; Mathilde Baude; Mark Goddard; William E. Kunin; Nadine Mitschunas; Jane Memmott; Helen Morse; Maria Nikolitsi; Lynne M. Osgathorpe; Simon G. Potts; Kirsty M. Robertson; Anna V. Scott; Frazer Sinclair; Duncan Westbury; Graham N. Stone. Food for Pollinators: Quantifying the Nectar and Pollen Resources of Urban Flower Meadows. PLoS ONE 2016, 11, e0158117 .

AMA Style

Damien M. Hicks, Pierre Ouvrard, Katherine Baldock, Mathilde Baude, Mark Goddard, William E. Kunin, Nadine Mitschunas, Jane Memmott, Helen Morse, Maria Nikolitsi, Lynne M. Osgathorpe, Simon G. Potts, Kirsty M. Robertson, Anna V. Scott, Frazer Sinclair, Duncan Westbury, Graham N. Stone. Food for Pollinators: Quantifying the Nectar and Pollen Resources of Urban Flower Meadows. PLoS ONE. 2016; 11 (6):e0158117.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Damien M. Hicks; Pierre Ouvrard; Katherine Baldock; Mathilde Baude; Mark Goddard; William E. Kunin; Nadine Mitschunas; Jane Memmott; Helen Morse; Maria Nikolitsi; Lynne M. Osgathorpe; Simon G. Potts; Kirsty M. Robertson; Anna V. Scott; Frazer Sinclair; Duncan Westbury; Graham N. Stone. 2016. "Food for Pollinators: Quantifying the Nectar and Pollen Resources of Urban Flower Meadows." PLoS ONE 11, no. 6: e0158117.

Journal article
Published: 08 August 2014 in Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment
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Intensive farming focusing on monoculture grass species to maximise forage production has led to a reduction in the extent and diversity of species-rich grasslands. However, plant communities with higher species number (richness) are a potential strategy for more sustainable production and mitigation of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Research has indicated the need to understand opportunities that forage mixtures can offer sustainable ruminant production systems. The objective of the two experiments reported here were to evaluate multiple species forage mixtures in comparison to ryegrass-dominant pasture, when conserved or grazed, on digestion, energy utilisation, N excretion, and methane emissions by growing 10–15 month old heifers. Experiment 1 was a 4 × 4 Latin square design with five week periods. Four forage treatments of: (1) ryegrass (control); permanent pasture with perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne); (2) clover; a ryegrass:red clover (Trifolium pratense) mixture; (3) trefoil; a ryegrass:birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) mixture; and (4) flowers; a ryegrass:wild flower mixture of predominately sorrel (Rumex acetosa), ox-eye daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare), yarrow (Achillea millefolium), knapweed (Centaurea nigra) and ribwort plantain (Plantago lanceolata), were fed as haylages to four dairy heifers. Measurements included digestibility, N excretion, and energy utilisation (including methane emissions measured in respiration chambers). Experiment 2 used 12 different dairy heifers grazing three of the same forage treatments used to make haylage in experiment 1 (ryegrass, clover and flowers) and methane emissions were estimated using the sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) tracer technique. Distribution of ryegrass to other species (dry matter (DM) basis) was approximately 70:30 (clover), 80:20 (trefoil), and 40:60 (flowers) for experiment 1. During the first and second grazing rotations (respectively) in experiment 2, perennial ryegrass accounted for 95 and 98% of DM in ryegrass, and 84 and 52% of DM in clover, with red clover accounting for almost all of the remainder. In the flowers mixture, perennial ryegrass was 52% of the DM in the first grazing rotation and only 30% in the second, with a variety of other flower species occupying the remainder. Across both experiments, compared to the forage mixtures (clover, trefoil and flowers), ryegrass had a higher crude protein (CP) content (P < 0.001, 187 vs. 115 g kg −1 DM) and DM intake (P < 0.05, 9.0 vs. 8.1 kg day −1). Heifers in experiment 1 fed ryegrass, compared to the forage mixtures, had greater total tract digestibility (g kg −1) of DM (DMD; P < 0.008, 713 vs. 641) and CP (CPD, P < 0.001, 699 vs. 475), and used more intake energy (%) for body tissue deposition (P < 0.05, 2.6 vs. −4.9). For both experiments, heifers fed flowers differed the most compared to the ryegrass control for a number of measurements. Compared to ryegrass, flowers had 40% lower CP content (P < 0.001, 113 vs. 187 g kg −1), 18% lower DMD (P < 0.01, 585 vs. 713 g kg −1), 42% lower CPD (P < 0.001, 407 vs. 699 g kg −1), and 10% lower methane yield (P < 0.05, 22.6 vs. 25.1 g kg −1 DM intake). This study has shown inclusion of flowers in forage mixtures resulted in a lower CP concentration, digestibility and intake. These differences were due in part to sward management and maturity at harvest. Further research is needed to determine how best to exploit the potential environmental benefits of forage mixtures in sustainable ruminant production systems.

ACS Style

K.J. Hammond; D.J. Humphries; D.B. Westbury; A. Thompson; L.A. Crompton; P. Kirton; C. Green; C.K. Reynolds. The inclusion of forage mixtures in the diet of growing dairy heifers: Impacts on digestion, energy utilisation, and methane emissions. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 2014, 197, 88 -95.

AMA Style

K.J. Hammond, D.J. Humphries, D.B. Westbury, A. Thompson, L.A. Crompton, P. Kirton, C. Green, C.K. Reynolds. The inclusion of forage mixtures in the diet of growing dairy heifers: Impacts on digestion, energy utilisation, and methane emissions. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment. 2014; 197 ():88-95.

Chicago/Turabian Style

K.J. Hammond; D.J. Humphries; D.B. Westbury; A. Thompson; L.A. Crompton; P. Kirton; C. Green; C.K. Reynolds. 2014. "The inclusion of forage mixtures in the diet of growing dairy heifers: Impacts on digestion, energy utilisation, and methane emissions." Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 197, no. : 88-95.

Journal article
Published: 07 November 2012 in Agricultural and Forest Entomology
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1. Grass buffer strips have been widely sown to mitigate against intensive agricultural management practices that have negatively impacted on invertebrate and plant biodiversity in arable farming systems. Typically, such strips are floristically species poor and are dominated by grasses. In the present study, we developed management practices to enhance the floristic and structural diversity of these existing strips for the benefit of spiders, a key provider of natural pest control in crops. 2. Across three UK arable farms, we investigated the benefits of: (i) scarification to create germination niches into which wildflower seeds were sown and (ii) the effect of graminicide applications to suppress grass dominance. Spiders were sampled twice per year (July and September) during 2008 and 2009. 3. The combination of scarification with wildflower seeds, as well as graminicide, resulted in the greatest wildflower cover and lowest grass cover, with a general trend of increased abundance of adult and juvenile spiders. The abundance of Pachygnatha degeeri, Bathyphantes gracilis and juvenile wolf spiders of the genus Pardosa was positively correlated with wildflower cover, probably reflecting increased prey availability. Sward structure was negatively correlated with Erigone atra, Oedothorax fuscus and juvenile Pardosa abundance. 4. Management that utilizes existing commonly adopted agri-environment options, such as grass buffer strips, represents a potentially important conservation tool for increasing the quantity and quality of invertebrate habitats. This can maximize opportunities for the provision of multiple ecosystem services, including pest regulation by predators such as spiders. These management practices have the potential to be incorporated into existing U.K. and European agri-environment schemes

ACS Style

Robin J. Blake; Benjamin Woodcock; Duncan Westbury; Peter Sutton; Simon G. Potts. Novel management to enhance spider biodiversity in existing grass buffer strips. Agricultural and Forest Entomology 2012, 15, 77 -85.

AMA Style

Robin J. Blake, Benjamin Woodcock, Duncan Westbury, Peter Sutton, Simon G. Potts. Novel management to enhance spider biodiversity in existing grass buffer strips. Agricultural and Forest Entomology. 2012; 15 (1):77-85.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Robin J. Blake; Benjamin Woodcock; Duncan Westbury; Peter Sutton; Simon G. Potts. 2012. "Novel management to enhance spider biodiversity in existing grass buffer strips." Agricultural and Forest Entomology 15, no. 1: 77-85.

Journal article
Published: 30 April 2012 in Land Use Policy
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The Agri-Environment Footprint Index (AFI) has been developed as a generic methodology to assess changes in the overall environmental impacts from agriculture at the farm level and to assist in the evaluation of European agri-environmental schemes (AES). The methodology is based on multicriteria analysis (MCA) and involves stakeholder participation to provide a locally customised evaluation based on weighted environmental indicators. The methodology was subjected to a validation and feasibility assessment in a series of case studies across the EU. The AFI approach was able to measure significant differences in environmental impact between farms that participated in an AES and non-participants. Wider environmental concerns, beyond the scheme objectives, were also considered in some case studies and the benefits for identification of unintentional (and often beneficial) impacts of AESs are presented. The participatory approach to AES evaluation proved efficient in different environments and political contexts. The approach proved to be appropriate for environmental evaluation of complex agri-environment systems and is available now to complement any evaluation conducted under the Common Monitoring and Evaluation Framework. The applicability of the AFI in routine monitoring of AES impacts and in providing feedback to improve policy design is discussed.JRC.J.5-Agriculture and Life Sciences in the Econom

ACS Style

Alice Mauchline; Simon R. Mortimer; Julian R. Park; John Finn; Karen Haysom; Duncan Westbury; Gordon Purvis; Geertrui Louwagie; Greg Northey; Jørgen Primdahl; Henrik Vejre; Lone Søderkvist Kristensen; Kasper Vind Teilmann; Jens Peter Vesterager; Karlheinz Knickel; Nadia Kasperczyk; Katalin Balázs; László Podmaniczky; George Vlahos; Stamatios Christopoulos; Laura Kröger; Jyrki Aakkula; Anja Yli-Viikari. Environmental evaluation of agri-environment schemes using participatory approaches: Experiences of testing the Agri-Environmental Footprint Index. Land Use Policy 2012, 29, 317 -328.

AMA Style

Alice Mauchline, Simon R. Mortimer, Julian R. Park, John Finn, Karen Haysom, Duncan Westbury, Gordon Purvis, Geertrui Louwagie, Greg Northey, Jørgen Primdahl, Henrik Vejre, Lone Søderkvist Kristensen, Kasper Vind Teilmann, Jens Peter Vesterager, Karlheinz Knickel, Nadia Kasperczyk, Katalin Balázs, László Podmaniczky, George Vlahos, Stamatios Christopoulos, Laura Kröger, Jyrki Aakkula, Anja Yli-Viikari. Environmental evaluation of agri-environment schemes using participatory approaches: Experiences of testing the Agri-Environmental Footprint Index. Land Use Policy. 2012; 29 (2):317-328.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Alice Mauchline; Simon R. Mortimer; Julian R. Park; John Finn; Karen Haysom; Duncan Westbury; Gordon Purvis; Geertrui Louwagie; Greg Northey; Jørgen Primdahl; Henrik Vejre; Lone Søderkvist Kristensen; Kasper Vind Teilmann; Jens Peter Vesterager; Karlheinz Knickel; Nadia Kasperczyk; Katalin Balázs; László Podmaniczky; George Vlahos; Stamatios Christopoulos; Laura Kröger; Jyrki Aakkula; Anja Yli-Viikari. 2012. "Environmental evaluation of agri-environment schemes using participatory approaches: Experiences of testing the Agri-Environmental Footprint Index." Land Use Policy 29, no. 2: 317-328.

Journal article
Published: 11 October 2011 in Insect Conservation and Diversity
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1. Species‐rich lowland hay meadows are of conservation importance for both plants and invertebrates; however, they have declined in area across Europe as a result of conversion to other land uses and management intensification. The re‐creation of these grasslands on ex‐arable land provides a valuable approach to increasing the extent and conservation value of this threatened habitat.

ACS Style

Benjamin Woodcock; Duncan B. Westbury; Alex J. Brook; Clare S. Lawson; Andrew R. Edwards; Stephanie J. Harris; Matthew S. Heard; Valerie K. Brown; Simon R. Mortimer. Effects of seed addition on beetle assemblages during the re-creation of species-rich lowland hay meadows. Insect Conservation and Diversity 2011, 5, 19 -26.

AMA Style

Benjamin Woodcock, Duncan B. Westbury, Alex J. Brook, Clare S. Lawson, Andrew R. Edwards, Stephanie J. Harris, Matthew S. Heard, Valerie K. Brown, Simon R. Mortimer. Effects of seed addition on beetle assemblages during the re-creation of species-rich lowland hay meadows. Insect Conservation and Diversity. 2011; 5 (1):19-26.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Benjamin Woodcock; Duncan B. Westbury; Alex J. Brook; Clare S. Lawson; Andrew R. Edwards; Stephanie J. Harris; Matthew S. Heard; Valerie K. Brown; Simon R. Mortimer. 2011. "Effects of seed addition on beetle assemblages during the re-creation of species-rich lowland hay meadows." Insect Conservation and Diversity 5, no. 1: 19-26.

Journal article
Published: 03 October 2011 in Pest Management Science
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BACKGROUND: The selective graminicide fluazifop-P-butyl is used for the control of grass weeds in dicotyledonous crops, and commonly applied in amenity areas to reduce grass productivity and promote wildflower establishment. However, evidence suggests that fluazifop-P-butyl might also have phytotoxic effects on some non-target plants. This study investigates the effects of fluazifop-P-butyl on the emergence, phytotoxicity and above-ground biomass of nine perennial wildflower species and two grass species, following pre- and post-emergent applications at half, full and double label rates in a series of glasshouse experiments.ud ud RESULTS: While pre- and post-emergent applications of fluazifop-P-butyl caused reductions in seedling emergence and increased phytotoxicity on native wildflower and grass species, these effects were temporary for the majority of wildflower species tested, and generally only occurred at the double application rate. No differences in biomass were observed at any of the rates, suggesting good selectivity and no long-term effects of fluazifop-P-butyl application on the wildflower species from either pre-emergent or post-emergent applications.ud ud CONCLUSION: These results have direct relevance to the management of amenity areas for biodiversity, as they confirm the suitability of these wildflower species for inclusion in seed mixtures where fluazifop-P-butyl is to be applied to control grass productivity

ACS Style

Robin J Blake; Duncan B Westbury; Ben A Woodcock; Peter Sutton; Simon G Potts. Investigating the phytotoxicity of the graminicide fluazifop-P-butyl against native UK wildflower species. Pest Management Science 2011, 68, 412 -421.

AMA Style

Robin J Blake, Duncan B Westbury, Ben A Woodcock, Peter Sutton, Simon G Potts. Investigating the phytotoxicity of the graminicide fluazifop-P-butyl against native UK wildflower species. Pest Management Science. 2011; 68 (3):412-421.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Robin J Blake; Duncan B Westbury; Ben A Woodcock; Peter Sutton; Simon G Potts. 2011. "Investigating the phytotoxicity of the graminicide fluazifop-P-butyl against native UK wildflower species." Pest Management Science 68, no. 3: 412-421.

Journal article
Published: 31 August 2011 in Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment
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On 16 UK livestock holdings within pastoral landscapes, we investigated the provision of plant and invertebrate resources for farmland birds in spring barley and winter wheat cereal-based whole crop silages as alternatives to maize and grass silages. The benefits of low input barley systems were also investigated; barley fields were subjected to two separate herbicide sub-treatments on a split-field design (high input broad-spectrum or low input narrow spectrum herbicides). The abundance of plant resources and invertebrates was assessed for three growing seasons during summer and winter for each crop type. The study clearly demonstrated the value of spring barley for the provision of plant resources when compared to the other silage cropping systems, whilst invertebrate responses were variable. No differences in plant and invertebrate resources were found between the barley treatments. Throughout the year, forage maize afforded the lowest provision of resources for farmland birds, and because it is likely that maize will continue to be grown in pastoral areas, the value of this habitat needs to be improved if farmland birds are to benefit. To provide plant and invertebrate resources for farmland birds in pastoral landscapes we strongly advocate the growing of spring sown barley whole-crop silage followed by over-wintering stubbles.

ACS Style

D.B. Westbury; S.R. Mortimer; A.J. Brook; S.J. Harris; R. Kessock-Philip; A.R. Edwards; K. Chaney; P. Lewis; S. Dodd; D.L. Buckingham; W.J. Peach. Plant and invertebrate resources for farmland birds in pastoral landscapes. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 2011, 142, 266 -274.

AMA Style

D.B. Westbury, S.R. Mortimer, A.J. Brook, S.J. Harris, R. Kessock-Philip, A.R. Edwards, K. Chaney, P. Lewis, S. Dodd, D.L. Buckingham, W.J. Peach. Plant and invertebrate resources for farmland birds in pastoral landscapes. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment. 2011; 142 (3-4):266-274.

Chicago/Turabian Style

D.B. Westbury; S.R. Mortimer; A.J. Brook; S.J. Harris; R. Kessock-Philip; A.R. Edwards; K. Chaney; P. Lewis; S. Dodd; D.L. Buckingham; W.J. Peach. 2011. "Plant and invertebrate resources for farmland birds in pastoral landscapes." Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 142, no. 3-4: 266-274.

Journal article
Published: 10 March 2011 in Pest Management Science
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Modern farming has caused considerable declines in UK bumblebee populations, and, while options exist for farmers to increase the quantity of bee-friendly habitat, uptake has been low. Robin Blake explains how existing habitats on farms could be enhanced for the benefit of bumblebees

ACS Style

Robin J Blake; Duncan B Westbury; Ben A Woodcock; Peter Sutton; Simon G Potts. Enhancing habitat to help the plight of the bumblebee. Pest Management Science 2011, 67, 377 -379.

AMA Style

Robin J Blake, Duncan B Westbury, Ben A Woodcock, Peter Sutton, Simon G Potts. Enhancing habitat to help the plight of the bumblebee. Pest Management Science. 2011; 67 (4):377-379.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Robin J Blake; Duncan B Westbury; Ben A Woodcock; Peter Sutton; Simon G Potts. 2011. "Enhancing habitat to help the plight of the bumblebee." Pest Management Science 67, no. 4: 377-379.

Journal article
Published: 01 March 2011 in Journal of Environmental Management
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Agri-environment schemes (AESs) have been implemented across EU member states in an attempt to reconcile agricultural production methods with protection of the environment and maintenance of the countryside. To determine the extent to which such policy objectives are being fulfilled, participating countries are obliged to monitor and evaluate the environmental, agricultural and socio-economic impacts of their AESs. However, few evaluations measure precise environmental outcomes and critically,there are no agreed methodologies to evaluate the benefits of particular agri-environmental measures, or\ud to track the environmental consequences of changing agricultural practices. In response to these issues,\ud the Agri-Environmental Footprint project developed a common methodology for assessing the environmental impact of European AES. The Agri-Environmental Footprint Index (AFI) is a farm-level, adaptable methodology that aggregates measurements of agri-environmental indicators based on Multi-Criteria Analysis (MCA) techniques. The method was developed specifically to allow assessment of differences in the environmental performance of farms according to participation in agri-environment schemes. The AFI methodology is constructed so that high values represent good environmental performance. This paper explores the use of the AFI methodology in combination with Farm Business\ud Survey data collected in England for the Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN), to test whether its use could be extended for the routine surveillance of environmental performance of farming systems using established data sources. Overall, the aim was to measure the environmental impact of three different types of agriculture (arable, lowland livestock and upland livestock) in England and to identify differences in AFI due to participation in agri-environment schemes. However, because farm size, farmer age,\ud level of education and region are also likely to influence the environmental performance of a holding, these factors were also considered. Application of the methodology revealed that only arable holdings participating in agri-environment schemes had a greater environmental performance, although responses differed between regions. Of the other explanatory variables explored, the key factors determining the environmental performance for lowland livestock holdings were farm size, farmer age and\ud level of education. In contrast, the AFI value of upland livestock holdings differed only between regions.\ud The paper demonstrates that the AFI methodology can be used readily with English FADN data and therefore has the potential to be applied more widely to similar data sources routinely collected across the EU-27 in a standardised manner

ACS Style

D.B. Westbury; J.R. Park; Alice Mauchline; R.T. Crane; S.R. Mortimer. Assessing the environmental performance of English arable and livestock holdings using data from the Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN). Journal of Environmental Management 2011, 92, 902 -909.

AMA Style

D.B. Westbury, J.R. Park, Alice Mauchline, R.T. Crane, S.R. Mortimer. Assessing the environmental performance of English arable and livestock holdings using data from the Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN). Journal of Environmental Management. 2011; 92 (3):902-909.

Chicago/Turabian Style

D.B. Westbury; J.R. Park; Alice Mauchline; R.T. Crane; S.R. Mortimer. 2011. "Assessing the environmental performance of English arable and livestock holdings using data from the Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN)." Journal of Environmental Management 92, no. 3: 902-909.

Journal article
Published: 28 February 2011 in Biological Conservation
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Will J. Peach; Steve Dodd; Duncan B. Westbury; Simon R. Mortimer; Paul Lewis; Alex J. Brook; Stephanie J. Harris; Rebecca Kessock-Philip; Dave L. Buckingham; Keith Chaney. Cereal-based wholecrop silages: A potential conservation measure for farmland birds in pastoral landscapes. Biological Conservation 2011, 144, 836 -850.

AMA Style

Will J. Peach, Steve Dodd, Duncan B. Westbury, Simon R. Mortimer, Paul Lewis, Alex J. Brook, Stephanie J. Harris, Rebecca Kessock-Philip, Dave L. Buckingham, Keith Chaney. Cereal-based wholecrop silages: A potential conservation measure for farmland birds in pastoral landscapes. Biological Conservation. 2011; 144 (2):836-850.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Will J. Peach; Steve Dodd; Duncan B. Westbury; Simon R. Mortimer; Paul Lewis; Alex J. Brook; Stephanie J. Harris; Rebecca Kessock-Philip; Dave L. Buckingham; Keith Chaney. 2011. "Cereal-based wholecrop silages: A potential conservation measure for farmland birds in pastoral landscapes." Biological Conservation 144, no. 2: 836-850.

Journal article
Published: 17 September 2010 in Journal of Insect Conservation
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There are approximately 29,000 ha of grass buffer strips in the UK under Agri-Environment Schemes; however, typically they are floristically poor and as such are of limited biodiversity value. Introducing a sown wildflower component has the potential to increase dramatically the value of these buffer strips for a suite of native species, including butterflies. This study investigates management practices aiming to promote the establishment and maintenance of wildflowers in existing buffer strips. The effectiveness of two methods used to increase the establishment of wildflowers for the benefit of native butterfly species were tested, both individually and in combination. The management practices were: (1) the application of a selective graminicide (fluazifop-P-butyl) which reduces the dominance of competitive grasses; and (2) scarification of the soil which creates germination niches for sown wildflower seeds. A wildflower seed mix consisting of nine species was sown in conjunction with the scarification treatment. Responses of wildflowers and butterflies were monitored for two years after establishment. Results indicate that the combined scarification and graminicide treatment produced the greatest cover and species richness of sown wildflowers. Butterfly abundance, species richness and diversity were positively correlated with sown wildflower species richness, with the highest values in the combined scarification and graminicide treatment. These findings have confirmed the importance of both scarification as a means of introducing wildflower seed into existing buffer strips, and subsequent management using graminicides, for the benefit of butterflies. Application of this approach could provide tools to help butterfly conservation on farmland in the future.

ACS Style

Robin J. Blake; Benjamin Woodcock; Duncan Westbury; Peter Sutton; Simon G. Potts. New tools to boost butterfly habitat quality in existing grass buffer strips. Journal of Insect Conservation 2010, 15, 221 -232.

AMA Style

Robin J. Blake, Benjamin Woodcock, Duncan Westbury, Peter Sutton, Simon G. Potts. New tools to boost butterfly habitat quality in existing grass buffer strips. Journal of Insect Conservation. 2010; 15 (1-2):221-232.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Robin J. Blake; Benjamin Woodcock; Duncan Westbury; Peter Sutton; Simon G. Potts. 2010. "New tools to boost butterfly habitat quality in existing grass buffer strips." Journal of Insect Conservation 15, no. 1-2: 221-232.

Journal article
Published: 01 September 2010 in Restoration Ecology
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This study focuses on the restoration of chalk grasslands over a six-year period and tests the efficacy of two management practices, hay spreading and soil disturbance, in promoting this process for phytophagous beetles. Restoration success for the beetles, measured as similarity to target species-rich chalk grassland, was not found to be influenced by either management practice. In contrast, restoration success for the plants did increase in response to hay spreading management. While the presence of suitable host plants was considered to dictate the earliest point at which phytophagous beetles could successfully colonise, few beetle species colonised as soon as their host plants became established. Morphological characteristics and feeding habits of 27 phytophagous beetle species were therefore tested to identify factors that limited their colonisation and persistence. The lag time between host plant establishment and colonisation was greatest for flightless beetles. Beetles with foliage-feeding larvae both colonised at slower rates than seed-, stem- or root-feeding species, and persisted within the swards for shorter periods. While the use of hay spreading may benefit plant communities during chalk grassland restoration it did not directly benefit phytophagous beetles. Without techniques for overcoming colonisation limitation for invertebrate taxa short-term success of restoration may be limited to the plants only

ACS Style

Ben A. Woodcock; Andrew R. Edwards; Clare S. Lawson; Duncan B. Westbury; Alex J. Brook; Stephanie J. Harris; Greg Masters; Roger Booth; Valerie K. Brown; Simon R. Mortimer; Benjamin Woodcock. The Restoration of Phytophagous Beetles in Species-Rich Chalk Grasslands. Restoration Ecology 2010, 18, 638 -644.

AMA Style

Ben A. Woodcock, Andrew R. Edwards, Clare S. Lawson, Duncan B. Westbury, Alex J. Brook, Stephanie J. Harris, Greg Masters, Roger Booth, Valerie K. Brown, Simon R. Mortimer, Benjamin Woodcock. The Restoration of Phytophagous Beetles in Species-Rich Chalk Grasslands. Restoration Ecology. 2010; 18 (5):638-644.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Ben A. Woodcock; Andrew R. Edwards; Clare S. Lawson; Duncan B. Westbury; Alex J. Brook; Stephanie J. Harris; Greg Masters; Roger Booth; Valerie K. Brown; Simon R. Mortimer; Benjamin Woodcock. 2010. "The Restoration of Phytophagous Beetles in Species-Rich Chalk Grasslands." Restoration Ecology 18, no. 5: 638-644.