Bigger, better hedgerows - assessing hedge structure and landscape context for pollinating insects

生物多样性正在下降，包括蝴蝶和其他传粉昆虫等关键昆虫类群。植物篱是农业景观中重要的半自然栖息地，为动植物提供资源和避难所，并支持包括授粉在内的生态系统服务。《25年环境计划》承认树篱在加强生物多样性方面的作用。政府提议大幅增加植物篱的范围，以减轻生物多样性的丧失和增加碳的固存，但我们不知道种植这些植物篱的最佳地点，以最大限度地发挥它们的效益。此外，树篱条件对许多分类群很重要，包括蝴蝶和其他传粉媒介。不到50%的树篱在其大小和间隙方面处于良好状态，这表明目前的树篱可能错过了有效支持生物多样性的机会。该项目将解决理解位置、栖息地质量、树篱范围和树龄对传粉媒介和蝴蝶的相对重要性的挑战，为改善英国树篱网络和提供生物多样性效益的管理和政策提供信息。研究目标：1)利用国家公民科学数据集，测量包括蝴蝶在内的传粉昆虫对树篱大小和范围的反应，以及周围景观环境如何改变这种反应。2)收集新的野外数据，检验当地生境质量（树篱结构条件、木本物种组成）对传粉昆虫的影响是否比周围景观中树篱的大小更重要。3)评估树龄如何影响流动昆虫对其的利用，以及树篱种植后多长时间成为有用的生物多样性栖息地。

Biodiversity is in decline, including key insect taxa such as butterflies and other pollinators. Hedgerows are important semi-natural habitats in agricultural landscapes, providing resources and refuges for animals and plants, and supporting ecosystem services including pollination. The role of hedges in enhancing biodiversity is recognised in the 25-year Environment Plan. A substantial increase in hedgerow extent has been proposed by government, to mitigate biodiversity loss and increase carbon sequestration but we do not know the best places to plant these hedgerows to maximise the benefits they can deliver. In addition, hedgerow condition is important for many taxa, including butterflies and other pollinators. Less than 50% of hedges are in good condition in terms of their size and gappiness8, suggesting a potential missed opportunity for current hedges to effectively support biodiversity.This project will address the challenge of understanding the relative importance of location, habitat quality, extent and age of hedgerows for pollinators and butterflies, to inform management and policy for improving the UK hedgerow network and delivery of biodiversity benefits. Research objectives:1) Using national Citizen Science datasets, measure how pollinating insects including butterflies respond to hedgerow size and extent, and how this is modified by surrounding landscape context. 2) Collect new field data to test whether local habitat quality (hedgerow structural condition, woody species composition) is more important than hedgerow extent in the surrounding landscape for pollinating insects.3) Assess how hedgerow age affects their utilisation by mobile insects, and how long after planting hedges become a useful biodiversity habitat.