Capsule Habitats in lowland South Iceland sustain bird populations of international importance, w... more Capsule Habitats in lowland South Iceland sustain bird populations of international importance, with highest densities in wet habitats. Aims In areas important for biodiversity there is an urgent need to assess large-scale variation in the biodiversity value of habitats to inform management. We carried out a large-scale survey to assess the conservation value of sub-arctic, Icelandic bird habitats. Methods Bird counts were carried out on 200 transects in the five most common vegetated habitat types in South Iceland. Based on these counts, breeding bird density and diversity were compared between habitats and total population sizes of common species in these habitats were calculated. Results Overall, eight species (seven waders and Meadow Pipit) composed over 95% of all birds counted. The combined density of those species exceeded 275 birds/km2 in all habitats. The two wettest habitat types had the highest density of birds. Conclusion Wet habitats in lowland South Iceland held particularly high densities of breeding birds, notably waders, which constitute populations of international importance. Wet habitat types are generally of higher value for more species, than dryer ones.
The development and expansion of agriculture throughout the world has been a major driver of biod... more The development and expansion of agriculture throughout the world has been a major driver of biodiversity loss in recent decades. Icelandic agriculture is currently not as intense and widespread as in many other western countries, and the effects of agriculture on biodiversity in Iceland and similar farming systems are largely unknown. Iceland supports big populations of several wader species of international importance and the aim of this thesis is to explore the links between agriculture and breeding wader populations. This was done by surveying waders in agricultural landscapes across Iceland and by carrying out a questionnaire survey among farmers. Surveys of wader density in areas of varying agricultural management intensity throughout lowland Iceland revealed high densities of breeding waders in all three management categories. However densities are generally lower on more intensely managed land, suggesting possible negative effects of future expansion of agriculture, given th...
Capsule Habitats in lowland South Iceland sustain bird populations of international importance, w... more Capsule Habitats in lowland South Iceland sustain bird populations of international importance, with highest densities in wet habitats. Aims In areas important for biodiversity there is an urgent need to assess large-scale variation in the biodiversity value of habitats to inform management. We carried out a large-scale survey to assess the conservation value of sub-arctic, Icelandic bird habitats. Methods Bird counts were carried out on 200 transects in the five most common vegetated habitat types in South Iceland. Based on these counts, breeding bird density and diversity were compared between habitats and total population sizes of common species in these habitats were calculated. Results Overall, eight species (seven waders and Meadow Pipit) composed over 95% of all birds counted. The combined density of those species exceeded 275 birds/km2 in all habitats. The two wettest habitat types had the highest density of birds. Conclusion Wet habitats in lowland South Iceland held particularly high densities of breeding birds, notably waders, which constitute populations of international importance. Wet habitat types are generally of higher value for more species, than dryer ones.
The development and expansion of agriculture throughout the world has been a major driver of biod... more The development and expansion of agriculture throughout the world has been a major driver of biodiversity loss in recent decades. Icelandic agriculture is currently not as intense and widespread as in many other western countries, and the effects of agriculture on biodiversity in Iceland and similar farming systems are largely unknown. Iceland supports big populations of several wader species of international importance and the aim of this thesis is to explore the links between agriculture and breeding wader populations. This was done by surveying waders in agricultural landscapes across Iceland and by carrying out a questionnaire survey among farmers. Surveys of wader density in areas of varying agricultural management intensity throughout lowland Iceland revealed high densities of breeding waders in all three management categories. However densities are generally lower on more intensely managed land, suggesting possible negative effects of future expansion of agriculture, given th...
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Papers by Lilja Johannesdottir