Olive grove intensification negatively affects wintering bird communities in central Spain

Agricultural intensification is a persistent and growing threat to biodiversity worldwide. Olive groves cover extensive areas in the Mediterranean basin play fundamental role as refuge wintering quarters for many bird species, but effects of their current on communities remain unclear. This study aims evaluate response birds management olive with different degrees (traditional, intensive super-intensive management) central Spain. Based two censuses conducted 25 early late winter, we examined influence habitat structure composition at spatial scales species richness abundance entire farmland community, diet-based functional groups. Total tended decrease grove management, probably due reduced heterogeneity, whereas total did not, indicating capacity sustain large numbers birds. The negative effect was particularly evident frugivore richness, while positively (but marginally) associated fruit availability. Granivorous were lower vegetation cover, insectivorous not respond gradients. Species (total by groups) also decreased from which may be harvest, an extreme cold event. Overall, our findings show how practices result significant changes scales, thus affecting communities.