A territory scale analysis of habitat preferences of the declining Ortolan Bunting Emberiza hortulana. Issue 1 (2nd January 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Brambilla, Mattia; Gustin, Marco; Vitulano, Severino; Negri, Irene; Celada, Claudio
• Is Part Of: Bird study. Volume 63:Issue 1(2016)
• Page Start: 52
• Page End: 57
• Publication Date: 2016-01-02
• Subjects: Birds -- Ecology -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; Birds -- Conservation -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; Birds -- Ecology -- Periodicals; Birds -- Conservation -- Periodicals; Birds -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; Birds -- Geographical distribution -- Periodicals; Birds -- Counting -- Periodicals; 598.170941
• DOI: 10.1080/00063657.2015.1126219
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0006-3657

Abstract

Abstract : Capsule Ortolan Bunting occurrence is associated with bare ground, Lucerne, shrub cover and hedgerows/tree rows. Aims To assess the habitat features selected by Ortolan Buntings at the territory level in semi-open landscapes, in the northern Apennines of Italy. Methods We mapped territories in ten different plots and built a habitat selection model comparing 52 occupied cells with 52 unoccupied ones (cell size: 1 ha). We built multivariate adaptive regression splines models based on ground-measured variables. Results The model revealed an association with intermediate Lucerne cover (50% of the cell), high shrub cover, bare ground (≥5%) and hedgerows/tree rows (≥25 m/ha). The most important driver of occurrence was bare ground (optimum at 5–20%). Conclusion The maintenance of the mosaic and low-intensity farmed landscape, the promotion of Lucerne and the conservation/restoration of hedgerows/tree rows, may be promoted through the Rural Development Programme. The conservation of bare soil, grassland and shrubs at optimum amount at fine-scale could be the object of an agri-environment scheme targeted specifically at the Ortolan Bunting.