Modelling the Impacts of Habitat Changes on the Population Density of Eurasian Skylark (Alauda arvensis) Based on Its Landscape Preferences

The dramatic decline of the abundance farmland bird species can be related to level land-use intensity or land-cover heterogeneity rural landscapes. Our study area in central Europe (Hungary) included 3049 skylark observation points and their 600 m buffer zones. We used a very detailed map (20 × 20 minimum mapping unit), Hungarian Ecosystem Basemap, as dataset for calculation three landscape indices: mean patch size (MPS), fractal dimension (MFRACT), Shannon diversity index (SDI) describe structure areas. Generalized linear models were analyze effect types patterns on Eurasian (Alauda arvensis). According our findings, proportions arable land, open sand steppes, closed grassland patches, shape complexity characteristics these land cover patches have positive abundance, while SDI was negatively associated with population. On basis statistical model, density (individuals/km*) skylarks could estimated 37.77% absolute percentage error 2.12 error. predicted population inside Natura 2000 Special Protected Area Hungary which is 0–6 individuals/km* 23746 ± 8968 skylarks. results implemented management landscapes, method are adaptable estimation other protected areas should increase proportion, average salt steppes meadows, patches.