The effect of 'mosaic management' on the demography of black-tailed godwit Limosa limosa on farmland

Published source details Schekkerman H., Teunissen W. & Oosterveld E. (2008) The effect of 'mosaic management' on the demography of black-tailed godwit Limosa limosa on farmland. Journal of Applied Ecology, 45, 1067-1075.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Use ‘mosaic management’ Action Link
	Implement 'mosaic management', a Dutch agri-environment option Action Link

Use ‘mosaic management’

A replicated paired sites comparison in 2004-5 on six wet grassland sites in the Netherlands (Schekkerman et al. 2008) found that the reproductive productivity of black-tailed godwits Limosa limosa was significantly higher on sites managed under a ‘mosaic management’ agri-environment scheme, compared to on non-scheme sites (average of 0.28 chicks fledged/breeding pair for scheme sites vs. 0.16 chicks/pair on non-scheme sites). Differences were due to higher nest survival on mosaic management sites (50% vs. 33%), as there were no differences in the number of chicks hatching in successful nests (3.4 chicks/successful nest vs. 3.2 chicks/successful nest), or the fledging rate of chicks (11% fledging success on all sites). Nests were equally likely to be predated on scheme and non-scheme sites (32% predated vs. 37%), but were more likely to be trampled or destroyed by mowing on non-scheme sites (6% vs. 29%). Most fields in five scheme sites and about 50% in the sixth, had nests marked (to reduce losses due to farming activities); at non-scheme sites almost 100% of nest were marked in three, some in two, and none in one. The number of nests on different sites was not provided.
Implement 'mosaic management', a Dutch agri-environment option

A replicated, paired sites comparison in 2004–2005 on six wet grassland sites in the Netherlands (Schekkermen et al. 2008) found that the reproductive productivity of blacktailed godwit Limosa limosa was significantly higher on sites managed under a ‘mosaic management’ agri-environment scheme, compared to non-scheme sites (average of 0.28 chicks fledged/breeding pair for scheme sites vs 0.16 chicks/pair on non-scheme sites). Differences were due to higher nest survival on mosaic management sites (50% vs 33%), as there were no differences in the number of chicks hatching in successful nests (3.4 chicks/successful nest vs 3.2), or the fledging rate of chicks (11% fledging success on all sites). Nests were equally likely to be predated on scheme and non-scheme sites (32% predated vs 37%), but were more likely to be trampled or destroyed by mowing on nonscheme sites (6% vs 29%). Most fields in five scheme sites and about 50% in the sixth, had nests marked (to reduce losses due to farming activities), at nonscheme sites almost 100% of nests were marked in three, some in two, and none in one. The number of nests on different sites was not provided.