Terrestrial Mammal Conservation
| , , ,10. Threat: Pollution
Texte intégral
10.1. Reduce pesticide or fertilizer use
1https://www.conservationevidence.com/actions/2539
2• Three studies evaluated the effects on mammals of reducing pesticide, herbicide or fertilizer use. Two studies were in the UK1, one was in Italy2 and one was in Argentina3.
3COMMUNITY RESPONSE (1 STUDY)
4• Richness/diversity (1 study): A replicated, site comparison study in Argentina3 found that farming without pesticides or fertilizers did not increase small mammal species richness in field margins.
5POPULATION RESPONSE (2 STUDIES)
6• Abundance (2 studies): One of two site comparison studies, in the UK1 and Italy2, found that reducing pesticide or fertilizer use, by farming organically, increased wood mouse abundance1. The other study found that it did not increase European hare abundance2.
7BEHAVIOUR (1 STUDY)
8• Use (1 study): A replicated, site comparison study in Argentina3 found that farming without pesticides or fertilizers did not increase small mammal use of field margins.
Background
Pesticides (including insecticides, herbicides and fungicides) and fertilizers, used especially in agriculture, but also in horticulture, amenity grassland, gardens and other situations, may have a negative effect on wildlife. Through reducing plant and insect diversity, or through direct toxicity, they may also natively impact mammals. Organic farming, an agricultural system that excludes the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides and relies on techniques such as crop rotation, compost and biological pest control, is included within this intervention.
- 1 Macdonald D.W., Tattersall F.H., Service K.M., Firbank L.G. & Feber R.E. (2007) Mammals, agri-envir (...)
9Asite comparison study in1994–1996 onarableland in Gloucestershire, UK1 found that reducing pesticide, herbicide or fertilizer use by farming organically was associated with higher numbers of wood mice Apodemus sylvaticus. More wood mice were caught on an organic farm (monthly averages of 19–24 individuals) than on a conventional farm (8–17 individuals). This result was not tested for statistical significance, though there were significantly more juvenile mice on the organic farm compared to the conventional farm and female mice on the organic farm were significantly heavier in two out of three years (data not presented). On one organic farm and one conventional farm, wood mice were surveyed using 56 Longworth live traps in each of two fields, at each farm, each year, in 1994–1996.
- 2 Santilli F. & Galardi L. (2016) Effect of habitat structure and type of farming on European hare (L (...)
10A replicated, site comparison study in 2011 on 26 mainly arable farms in Tuscany, Italy2 found that reducing pesticide, herbicide or fertilizer use, by farming organically, did not increase abundances of European hares Lepus europaeus. The density of hares on organic farms (14 hares/ km2) was lower than on conventional farms (24 hares/km2). Higher hare density appeared, instead, to be more strongly positively related to increased habitat diversity, including crop diversity. Half of the 26 study farms, average size 6.1 km2, were organic and half were non-organic farms. Organic farms complied with European Union organic farming requirements. Hare density was estimated using spotlight counts from a car, two or three times at each farm, in early March 2011.
- 3 Coda J., Gomez D., Steinmann A.R. & Priotto J. (2015) Small mammals in farmlands of Argentina: Resp (...)
11A replicated, site comparison study in 2011–2013 of three arable farms in Córdoba, Argentina3 found that farming without herbicides, fertilizers, or fungicides did not increase small mammal use of field margins or small mammal species richness in margins. Average annual small mammal capture rates on margins not treated with pesticides or fertilizers (2.5–2.9 individuals/20 traps) did not significantly differ from those on conventionally farmed margins (2.4–3.2 individuals/20 traps). Average annual small mammal species richness without pesticides and fertilizers (1.1–1.2 species/20 traps) did not differ from that with conventional farming (1.1–1.2 species/20 traps). Organic fields were managed without herbicides, fertilizers or fungicides for 10–19 years. A range of these chemicals was used on conventionally farmed fields. Small mammals were live-trapped, using lines of 20 traps in 1.5–2.5-m-wide vegetated field margin strips on three farms. Trapping was carried out over four consecutive nights, once each in spring, summer and autumn, from November 2011 to June 2013. There were 106–116 trap lines/ sampling period (proportion in each margin management type not stated).
10.2. Leave headlands in fields unsprayed
12https://www.conservationevidence.com/actions/2540
13• Two studies evaluated the effects on mammals of leaving headlands in fields unsprayed. One study was in the UK1 and one was in the Netherlands2.
14COMMUNITY RESPONSE (0 STUDIES)
15POPULATION RESPONSE (0 STUDIES)
16BEHAVIOUR (2 STUDIES)
17• Use (2 studies): Two replicated studies (one also controlled) in the UK1 and the Netherlands2, found that crop edge headlands that were not sprayed with pesticides were used more by mice than were sprayed crop edges1,2.
Background
Conservation headland management may involve restricting fertiliser, herbicide and insecticide spraying along a strip through a sown arable crop. Typically, as under agri-environment schemes practiced in Europe, this may be a 6-m-wide strip with selected herbicide applications permitted to control certain weeds or invasive species.
- 4 Tew T.E., Macdonald D.W. & Rands M.R.W. (1992) Herbicide application affects microhabitat use by ar (...)
18A replicated study in 1986–1987 in an arable field, in Oxfordshire, UK4 found that not spraying herbicide on headlands of crop at the field edge was associated with higher use of those areas by wood mice Apodemus sylvaticus. The proportion of location fixes obtained for mice in unsprayed or sprayed plots indicated greater selection of unsprayed plots relative to their availability within home ranges (data presented as preference indices). Plots extended 10 m into a winter wheat field and were 20 m long. Plots were either sprayed or not sprayed with a range of agricultural herbicides. Application of other chemicals (insecticides, fungicides, growth regulators and fertilizers) were the same across all plots. Wood mouse movements were monitored by radio-tracking 15 mice, between June and August in each of 1986 and 1987.
- 5 de Snoo G.R. (1999) Unsprayed field margins: effects on environment, biodiversity and agricultural (...)
19A replicated, controlled study in 1990–1993 of six arable farms in the Netherlands5 found that unsprayed crop edge headlands were used more by field mice Apodemus spp. than were crop edges sprayed with herbicides and insecticides. Results were not tested for statistical significance. More field mice were caught in unsprayed crop edges (38 mice caught) than in sprayed edges (27 mice caught). Strips 3–6 m wide, 100–450 m long, along the edges of crops, were left unsprayed by herbicides and insecticides and were compared to sprayed crop edges in the same field. Small mammals were surveyed using pitfall traps during 13 weeks in 1990 and 12 weeks in 1991 (all in May–July). The number of strips on which small mammals were surveyed is unclear.
10.3. Establish riparian buffers
20https://www.conservationevidence.com/actions/2541
21• We found no studies that evaluated the effects on mammals of establishing riparian buffers.
‘We found no studies’ means that we have not yet found any studies that have directly evaluated this intervention during our systematic journal and report searches. Therefore, we have no evidence to indicate whether or not the intervention has any desirable or harmful effects.
Background
Uncultivated strips of vegetation at the edge of waterways are often used to help reduce pollution entering the water within agricultural and forestry systems. These buffer strips may, therefore, help to enhance environmental quality for aquatic and semi-aquatic mammal species.
See also: Biological resource use — Retain riparian buffer strips during timber harvest.
10.4. Translocate mammals away from site contaminated by oil spill
22https://www.conservationevidence.com/actions/2542
23• One study evaluated the effects of translocating mammals away from a site contaminated by oil spill. This study was in the USA1.
24COMMUNITY RESPONSE (0 STUDIES)
25POPULATION RESPONSE (1 STUDY)
26• Survival (1 study): A study in the USA1 found that after being translocated in a trial of responses to a hypothetical pollution incident, most sea-otters survived for the duration of monitoring.
27BEHAVIOUR (1 STUDY)
28• Behaviour change (1 study): A study in the USA1 found that after being translocated in a trial of responses to a hypothetical pollution incident, most sea-otters did not return to their capture location.
Background
Where there is a large pollution event that has potential to affect wild mammals, one intervention option may be to translocate these mammals to another site. In such event, the translocation would be an emergency action, carried out with minimal planning. It would only be likely to be considered where the survival chances of mammals would be very low otherwise.
- 6 Ralls K., Doroff A. & Mercure A. (1992) Movements of sea otters relocated along the California coas (...)
29A study in 1988–1989 in coastal waters of California, USA6 found that after being translocated in a trial of responses to a hypothetical pollution incident, most sea-otters Enhydra lutris survived for the duration of monitoring and did not return to their capture location. Seventeen of 19 translocated sea otters survived for at least 16–87 days after release. Two died at the release site, after 21 and 28 days after release. Five of 19 translocated sea otters were recorded back at their capture location during the monitoring period. Twelve were last recorded at a site 27 km from the release site. Nineteen sea otters were caught between May 1988 and May 1989 and were released 291 km further north. Nine were released immediately on arrival and 10 were held for 48 hours in floating pens before release. Sea otters were radio-tracked from the ground or air for 16–87 days after release.
Notes
1 Macdonald D.W., Tattersall F.H., Service K.M., Firbank L.G. & Feber R.E. (2007) Mammals, agri-environment schemes and set-aside — what are the putative benefits? Mammal Review, 37, 259–277, https://doi.orgdoi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2907.2007.00100.x
2 Santilli F. & Galardi L. (2016) Effect of habitat structure and type of farming on European hare (Lepus europaeus) abundance. Hystrix, the Italian Journal of Mammalogy, 27 (2).
3 Coda J., Gomez D., Steinmann A.R. & Priotto J. (2015) Small mammals in farmlands of Argentina: Responses to organic and conventional farming. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 211, 17–23, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2015.05.007
4 Tew T.E., Macdonald D.W. & Rands M.R.W. (1992) Herbicide application affects microhabitat use by arable wood mice (Apodemus sylvaticus). Journal of Applied Ecology, 29, 532–539.
5 de Snoo G.R. (1999) Unsprayed field margins: effects on environment, biodiversity and agricultural practice. Landscape and Urban Planning, 46, 151–160.
6 Ralls K., Doroff A. & Mercure A. (1992) Movements of sea otters relocated along the California coast. Marine Mammal Science, 8, 178–184.
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