Assessing the potential impacts of bioenergy cropping on a population of the ground-breeding bird Alauda arvensis: a case study from southern Germany

Transition from conventional energy into a system based on renewable energies was decided in Germany in 2002. Its implementation was accompanied by a controversial discussion about food safety, biodiversity, and landscape change. This study assesses potential changes in skylark occurrence caused by a spatial expansion of bioenergy crops in the administrative district of Schwäbisch Hall, Germany, using a Generalised Linear Habitat Model approach combined with remotely sensed land use information. Predictions for the occurrence of skylarks were developed for the land use distribution in 2011, and a close to reality bioenergy scenario with reduced crops. Prediction of skylark territories based on the land use classification of 2011 resulted in 46 269 territories. Skylark territories for the bioenergy scenario resulted in 36 472 territories, which as 8797 fewer skylark territories, represents a decline of nearly 20%. Our study helps elucidate and quantify the effects of spatial extension of bioenergy crops on skylark.