Semi-natural habitats are key for farmland biodiversity but their quality is often low due to high exposure to fertilizers 🌾🧪 A new study shows that more frequent cutting can create diverse vegetation even in highly productive habitats ✂️🌏 🔗 doi.org/10.1111/1365...

🌿🪶 New Review in #BAAE: Abandonment & intensification impact biodiversity in marginal grasslands. Across 174 European studies, both pathways reduced diversity — while restoration & extensive management help recover ecological value. 🌾 DOI: doi.org/10.1016/j.ba... @gfoesoc.bsky.social

Fall ❤️

Intensifying grassland management leads to massive loss of arthropod species. However, total arthropod numbers remain more or less stable. Many losers, few winners. doi.org/10.1016/j.bi...

Mixed plant and arthropod biodiversity responses to solar park establishment on former agricultural lands 🦋 Suggests that, while biodiversity can increase in solar parks post-conversion compared to previous land use, not all taxonomic groups benefit from this change 🌏🧪 doi.org/10.1111/1365...

A welcome research comparing the results of pollinator monitoring obtained by humans (so-called 'pollination ecologists') and concurrent time-lapse videos (so-called 'the future for lazy' 😜). Take a quick glance at this figure from the paper and judge for yourself doi.org/10.1002/aps3...

Politics is complicated Business is complicated Finance is complicated So why do they all expect ecologists to come up with simple actions & metrics for nature recovery Could they be spinning us a line?

Higher cutting frequency can restore habitat quality on farmland. doi.org/10.1111/1365...

Dutch solar parks approach pollinator & plant biodiversity levels of extensive grasslands, but only on the surface not covered by panels. Soil-emergent arthropods and butterflies lack behind. Proud of Timea for leading besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/... @jappliedecology.bsky.social

Using total abundance as a proxy for wild bee species richness: A practical tool for non-experts 🐝🌏 Proposes that employing an effective proxy for non-experts could enhance the evaluation of many local and regional conservation initiatives 📑🧪 🔗 doi.org/10.1111/1365...

Veel meer natuur nodig om nuttige insecten voor de landbouw te behouden

We need much more semi-natural habitat (6-37%, depending on species group) in agricultural landscapes to effectively conserve pollinators. Large collaborative synthesis study looking at 59 studies in 1250 landscapes from 19 countries now published in Science www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

Just because it is so beautiful. Megachile laechella. Rare in the Netherlands, but locally abundant in the dunes of Terschelling. The Dutch name 'zilveren fluitje' means silver whistle, after the high tone it makes while flying and the colour of.., well just look at it.

Bees and beers. The typical use of fridges by pollinator ecologists during field season.

In another project restpoll.bsky.social we investigate whether flower plantings can improve pollen dispersal between subpopulations. Scientists in action.

What are the consequences of pollinator decline for wild plants? Here we try to find out in @valor-project.eu. Interesting observations. I never see Centaurea jacea flowers with pollen. But keep the pollinators away and the flowers are dusted white. Very popular species.

Excited to be presenting results from the SHOWCASE project and Agroforestry Group this month! Our farm trials across England have shown cover crops can increase earthworms by 65% in the following cash crops! AND agroforestry promotes worms too, especially in drought years 😎 Hope to see you there!🌾

... (reserve-equivalent) enhancement initiatives, supported by one-to-one advice, within or close to existing reserves." Here's an example of this working for waders in eastern England, spear-headed by the much-missed Mark Smart: wadertales.wordpress.com/2019/06/14/m... #ConservationScience🌍

The geveltuin (“facade garden”) policy is found in most Dutch municipalities, as here in Delft. Provided they meet a set of requirements, including preserving footpath width, residents are encouraged to remove paving stones in front of their property and replace them with greenery. No permit needed.

Doing science biodiversity is great, but the impact is usually not very tangible. Together with citizen cooperative Land van Ons (@landvanons.bsky.social) we planted 300 meter of native hedgerow last December, and installed nest boxes. Today, I jumped of joy because the kestrel box is occupied!

Our field site for the pollination study in the Horizon Europe VALOR project. A bit jealous of the PhD student who gets to spend a couple of months there 🤨

LOL. Protect the insects with Unilux screendoors. Almost sorry I don't need them