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Widespread local house-sparrow extinctions.

David G Hole1, Mark J Whittingham, Richard B Bradbury

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|August 29, 2002
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Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Declining house-sparrow populations in Western Europe are likely due to reduced winter food from agricultural intensification. This study identifies reduced food supply as the main driver of rural house-sparrow extinctions.

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Area of Science:

  • Ecology
  • Conservation Biology
  • Ornithology

Background:

  • House-sparrow populations have experienced significant declines across Western Europe.
  • The precise causes of these population declines remain largely unidentified, despite public concern.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the primary drivers behind the widespread local extinctions of rural house-sparrow populations in southern England.
  • To determine the role of agricultural intensification and food availability in house-sparrow population dynamics.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized a multi-faceted approach combining field experimentation.
  • Incorporated genetic analysis to understand population structure.
  • Analyzed demographic data to assess population viability.

Main Results:

  • Agricultural intensification has led to a reduction in winter food supply for house sparrows.
  • This reduced food availability is identified as the principal cause of local extinctions in rural southern England.
  • Farmland house-sparrow populations exhibit fine-scale genetic structuring, with distinct source and sink populations identified.

Conclusions:

  • Reduced winter food supply due to agricultural intensification is the most probable explanation for rural house-sparrow population collapses.
  • Understanding population structure (source-sink dynamics) is crucial for effective conservation strategies.
  • Further research into agricultural impacts on avian populations is warranted.