Multi-taxa benefits of a targeted single-species agri-environment option

<p>Agri-environment schemes such as the Environmental Stewardship in England provide a range of options, including some targeted at single species, which may benefit a wide range of other species or taxa. To ascertain whether trials of an agri-environment measure designed for a single species had wider biodiversity benefits, we describe monitoring of pollinators (bumblebees and butterflies) on plots of a novel seed mix aimed at providing a source of seed food throughout the breeding season for the rapidly declining European Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur. We compare pollinator abundance on these turtle dove plots to that on six control habitat types: fallow, grass margins, meadow, nectar flower mixture, wild bird cover and floristically enhanced margins. The abundance of foraging bumblebees and butterflies was higher on turtle dove plots than in fallow and wild bird cover habitats. Surprisingly, foraging bumblebee abundance was higher, and foraging butterfly abundance marginally higher on turtle dove plots than on nectar flower mixture. Whilst the specific mix described here is to be altered to increase access to foraging turtle doves, we suggest that the modified mix, to be rolled out through Higher Level Stewardship, is also likely to provide valuable resources for pollinators, adding to the growing body of literature demonstrating multi-taxa benefits of agri-environment options designed to benefit one species.</p>