A multi-scale analysis on the importance of patch-surroundings for farmland birds

Agricultural intensification has profoundly changed agricultural landscapes with important biodiversity impacts. There is increasing knowledge on the general effects of landscape structure and management practices plant animal species but understanding role surrounding for patch-scale more complex. While it can be reasonably assumed, that adjacent habitats are than distant ones, importance often been tested at scale rarely smaller scales such as patch-surroundings. We assessed influence interdependences composition configuration (LCC) land use/land cover (LULC) bird richness abundance through a multi-scale analysis specific focus patches. In two regions in Switzerland, we collected point data birds 36 transects (500 m) combined them detailed spatial LULC. Bird were correlated to sets metrics proxies LCC computed transect-scale well patch surroundings. analysed LULC most patch-surrounding using generalized linear mixed models. The results illustrate predictor abundance. Woody structures increase richness, followed by extensive scale. On semi-natural heterogeneous LCCs beneficial effect only small interacts Birds grassland benefit from fallows surroundings, while cropland they tend respond positively grassland. Our highlight considering surroundings help improve patch-based assessments, which will then better predict consequences farmland make outcome applicable practice.