Local Effects of Nest-Boxes for Avian Predators over Common Vole Abundance during a Mid-Density Outbreak
At the end of the 20th century, the common vole ( Microtus arvalis ) colonized the practical totality of agricultural ecosystems in the northern sub-plateau of the Iberian Peninsula. To prevent crop damage, chemical control campaigns using anticoagulant rodenticides have been employed. This approach...
Published in: | Life |
---|---|
Main Authors: | , , |
Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
Published: |
MDPI AG
2023
|
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.3390/life13101963 https://doaj.org/article/6d215d10f19f477e9e6c9fb593b4c225 |
id |
ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:6d215d10f19f477e9e6c9fb593b4c225 |
---|---|
record_format |
openpolar |
spelling |
ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:6d215d10f19f477e9e6c9fb593b4c225 2023-11-12T04:15:57+01:00 Local Effects of Nest-Boxes for Avian Predators over Common Vole Abundance during a Mid-Density Outbreak Daniel Jareño Alfonso Paz Luna Javier Viñuela 2023-09-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.3390/life13101963 https://doaj.org/article/6d215d10f19f477e9e6c9fb593b4c225 EN eng MDPI AG https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/13/10/1963 https://doaj.org/toc/2075-1729 doi:10.3390/life13101963 2075-1729 https://doaj.org/article/6d215d10f19f477e9e6c9fb593b4c225 Life, Vol 13, Iss 1963, p 1963 (2023) biological pest control rodent outbreak agro-environments predation pressure prey abundance Science Q article 2023 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.3390/life13101963 2023-10-29T00:36:14Z At the end of the 20th century, the common vole ( Microtus arvalis ) colonized the practical totality of agricultural ecosystems in the northern sub-plateau of the Iberian Peninsula. To prevent crop damage, chemical control campaigns using anticoagulant rodenticides have been employed. This approach has a high environmental impact, and it has been banned in most countries in the European Union, including Spain. It is therefore essential to analyze alternative methods with lower environmental impacts. Here we explored the efficacy of biological control by avian predators to reduce vole abundance by providing nest-boxes in croplands. We used an indirect index based on the presence/absence of vole activity signs to measure the effect of nest-boxes on common vole abundance. We found that vole abundance was significantly lower near occupied nest-boxes at distances less than 180 m, where vole abundance increases progressively with increasing distance to the nearest nest-box. We also observed that the predatory pressure negatively affects the vole abundance at the end of the breeding period, considering the total number of fledglings. However, the effect of nest-boxes was highly variable depending on the study area and more limited in alfalfa fields, the optimal habitat for voles in agrarian ecosystems. Thus, nest-box supplementation would be a feasible measure for the biological control of the common vole in Mediterranean ecosystems, but it needs improvements for vole control in alfalfa fields within an integrated pest control program. We provide several recommendations to improve the performance of biological control in alfalfa fields. Article in Journal/Newspaper Common vole Microtus arvalis Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Life 13 10 1963 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
biological pest control rodent outbreak agro-environments predation pressure prey abundance Science Q |
spellingShingle |
biological pest control rodent outbreak agro-environments predation pressure prey abundance Science Q Daniel Jareño Alfonso Paz Luna Javier Viñuela Local Effects of Nest-Boxes for Avian Predators over Common Vole Abundance during a Mid-Density Outbreak |
topic_facet |
biological pest control rodent outbreak agro-environments predation pressure prey abundance Science Q |
description |
At the end of the 20th century, the common vole ( Microtus arvalis ) colonized the practical totality of agricultural ecosystems in the northern sub-plateau of the Iberian Peninsula. To prevent crop damage, chemical control campaigns using anticoagulant rodenticides have been employed. This approach has a high environmental impact, and it has been banned in most countries in the European Union, including Spain. It is therefore essential to analyze alternative methods with lower environmental impacts. Here we explored the efficacy of biological control by avian predators to reduce vole abundance by providing nest-boxes in croplands. We used an indirect index based on the presence/absence of vole activity signs to measure the effect of nest-boxes on common vole abundance. We found that vole abundance was significantly lower near occupied nest-boxes at distances less than 180 m, where vole abundance increases progressively with increasing distance to the nearest nest-box. We also observed that the predatory pressure negatively affects the vole abundance at the end of the breeding period, considering the total number of fledglings. However, the effect of nest-boxes was highly variable depending on the study area and more limited in alfalfa fields, the optimal habitat for voles in agrarian ecosystems. Thus, nest-box supplementation would be a feasible measure for the biological control of the common vole in Mediterranean ecosystems, but it needs improvements for vole control in alfalfa fields within an integrated pest control program. We provide several recommendations to improve the performance of biological control in alfalfa fields. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Daniel Jareño Alfonso Paz Luna Javier Viñuela |
author_facet |
Daniel Jareño Alfonso Paz Luna Javier Viñuela |
author_sort |
Daniel Jareño |
title |
Local Effects of Nest-Boxes for Avian Predators over Common Vole Abundance during a Mid-Density Outbreak |
title_short |
Local Effects of Nest-Boxes for Avian Predators over Common Vole Abundance during a Mid-Density Outbreak |
title_full |
Local Effects of Nest-Boxes for Avian Predators over Common Vole Abundance during a Mid-Density Outbreak |
title_fullStr |
Local Effects of Nest-Boxes for Avian Predators over Common Vole Abundance during a Mid-Density Outbreak |
title_full_unstemmed |
Local Effects of Nest-Boxes for Avian Predators over Common Vole Abundance during a Mid-Density Outbreak |
title_sort |
local effects of nest-boxes for avian predators over common vole abundance during a mid-density outbreak |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
publishDate |
2023 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.3390/life13101963 https://doaj.org/article/6d215d10f19f477e9e6c9fb593b4c225 |
genre |
Common vole Microtus arvalis |
genre_facet |
Common vole Microtus arvalis |
op_source |
Life, Vol 13, Iss 1963, p 1963 (2023) |
op_relation |
https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/13/10/1963 https://doaj.org/toc/2075-1729 doi:10.3390/life13101963 2075-1729 https://doaj.org/article/6d215d10f19f477e9e6c9fb593b4c225 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.3390/life13101963 |
container_title |
Life |
container_volume |
13 |
container_issue |
10 |
container_start_page |
1963 |
_version_ |
1782333187163160576 |