Abstract
Biodiversity loss is higher now than at any other time in recorded history. At the same time food security and environmentally friendly farming are at the forefront of the global political agenda. Scientists and policy makers have embraced the notion of Ecosystem Services (ESs) as a way to unite these concepts. Small-scale studies suggest that birds provide an ES via regulating important crop pest populations through the consumption of weed seeds and invertebrates. However, evidence of the extent of the role of birds as crop pest regulators on larger scales and on crop yields is lacking. We propose to update knowledge on farmland bird diet via systematic review and then use a novel approach to correlate bird survey data and crop yields (whilst controlling for key confounding variables) from a range of different regions (n = 24) in Sweden and the UK . Birds are charismatic and bird watching is a major pastime for millions; thus birds also provide a Cultural ES. We will also use existing bird survey data in Swedish farmland to guide land management for regulating services, cultural services or both. The applicant will benefit by: extending his network [via Whittingham´s group and interdisciplinary collaborators at Newcastle University; in situ training at BTO]; acquiring new technical and management skills; ensuring his work leads to policy impacts (through key science/policy contacts).
Sweden