Researchers from the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Leipzig have created a computational method to study the impact of high energy crop cultivation on birds living in the farmland.
A computer design was developed by Mr. Jan Engel and his team to analyze the habitat requirements of the bird, Skylark, in different bioenergy cultivation conditions. They observed that the population of Skylark will not be affected due to the extension of bioenergy crops, if the size of the field is less, several types of crops are grown and further, the Integrated Biodiversity Areas, which are small natural areas, are included in the cultivation area.
According to Engel, the bird is an indicator species for agricultural regions, since it is present throughout the countryside across the world and is a ground breeding bird that feeds on insects. By enhancing the living environment of Skylark, the conservation of ground breeding farmland bird species, insects and natural vegetation can be improved.
He added that the occurrence and abundance of specific species can indicate the scenario of that particular ecosystem, which is also a broadly accepted ecological idea. Nevertheless, the team was able to show that bioenergy cultivation can complement the conservation of Skylark by adapting regional cultivation practices for the landscape.
In recent times, Skylark population has declined, which indicates that farmland ecosystems are endangered.
The study has been published in the journal Global Change Biology Bioenergy.