@misc{BucherBataryBaudryetal., author = {Bucher, Roman and Batary, Peter and Baudry, Julia and Beaumelle, Lea and Cerevkova, Andrea and Garcia de la Riva, Enrique and Djoudi, El Aziz and Dirilgen, Tara and Galle, Robert and Kesse-Guyot, Emmanuelle and O´Reilly, Alison and Rembialkowska, Ewa and Rusch, Adrien and Smith, Henrik G. and Stanley, Dara A. and Roberts, Stuart P.M. and Ulrich, Werner and Birkhofer, Klaus}, title = {Land-use impacts on crop yield : direct and indirect roles of arthropods and associated ecosystem services in European farmland}, series = {Landscape ecology}, volume = {40}, journal = {Landscape ecology}, number = {97}, publisher = {Springer Science + Business Media B.V}, issn = {1572-9761}, doi = {10.1007/s10980-025-02117-w}, pages = {1 -- 19}, abstract = {Context Land-use intensification to increase yields is often detrimental to biodiversity undermining the provision of ecosystem services. However, it is questionable if ecosystem service providers contribute to ecological intensification by achieving the same or higher yields than conventional high-intensity agriculture. Objectives In this study, we aimed to disentangle the effects of local and landscape-scale land-use intensification on arthropod communities and their contribution to ecosystem services and crop yield. A set of meta-analytic structural equation models allowed us to assess direct and indirect relationships in the cascade from land use to yield. Methods We selected 37 datasets containing information on land use, community composition, levels of pollination and natural pest control services, and crop yield. We quantified functional diversity of communities by collecting trait information for three exemplary groups of service-providers: bees, ground beetles, and spiders. Results Local land-use intensification reduced the abundance of all arthropod groups. Spiders were the only group whose species richness was negatively related to a higher percentage of arable land in the landscape. High abundance of bees related positively to oilseed rape pollination and crop yields. In the models for the two predator groups, crop yield was strongly determined by land use, independent of the pest control services provided by natural enemies. Conclusions Our results suggest a potential for ecological intensification mediated by land-use change in crops where pollination benefits yield, but suggest more nuanced effects for pest control. Our study also calls for experiments on multiple taxonomic groups and ecosystem services that apply comparable methods at similar scales.}, language = {en} } @misc{BirkhoferEkroosMaderetal., author = {Birkhofer, Klaus and Ekroos, Johan and Mader, Viktoria and Tschumi, Matthias and Wu, Ai-ping and Smith, Henrik G.}, title = {Taxonomy, habitat and conservation status explain the diet composition of insectivorous birds in Europe}, series = {Biological conservation}, volume = {313}, journal = {Biological conservation}, publisher = {Elsevier BV}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {0006-3207}, doi = {10.1016/j.biocon.2025.111566}, pages = {1 -- 11}, abstract = {Populations of European birds and insects are declining, with consequences for trophic interactions. Insectivorous birds are particularly vulnerable to losses of arthropods, yet the factors shaping their diet composition remain insufficiently understood. We conducted a quantitative review of the arthropod diets of 94 European insectivorous bird species and assessed how diet richness and composition relate to taxonomy, developmental stage, climate, conservation status, habitat, migration status, sampling intensity, and methodological approach. Taxonomy, habitat and conservation status (both population trend over time and current status) were the primary predictors of diet richness and composition. Species of population concern in Europe relied more on Coleoptera and Orthoptera prey, while species with declining population trends and species in agricultural, artificial and semi-natural habitats showed strong dependence on Coleoptera prey. Species in forests and of global population concern had a higher percentage of Arachnida prey, while birds in inland water habitats relied on Diptera prey. Anthropogenic activities such as the use of insecticides and changes in land use in agricultural and forest habitats negatively impact the abundance and diversity of arthropods, including Coleoptera and Arachnida. These declines will cascade up the food chain, ultimately diminishing both common and threatened bird species by limiting their prey. Species of global conservation concern may be particularly at risk, as they exhibit the lowest prey taxonomic richness. It is therefore crucial that future legislation and policy interventions consider these indirect impacts on bird diets, as these vulnerable species are at high risk of further losses in arthropod prey.}, language = {en} }