Evaluating the conservation effects of 'Skylark Plots' on threatened farmland birds in SE SloveniaDenac, Mitja (Avtor) Trontelj, Peter (Mentor) Scridel, Davide (Komentor) Skylark plotsSkylarkCrested Larkcamera trapsremote sensingKrško-Brežiško poljefarmlandconservationmanagementSkylark plots (SPs) are a targeted agri-environmental measure established in small-grain cereal fields to mitigate the long-term decline of the Eurasian Skylark (Alauda arvensis) across Europe. Their effects on other farmland species and the influence of habitat characteristics on their conservation potential remain poorly understood. We conducted a multiscale study in the Krško–Brežiško polje, SE Slovenia, between March and June 2025, using point-count surveys and camera traps to assess the effects of SPs on farmland birds. Fifty-one survey points (30 treatment, 21 control) were visited four times, and 29 SPs were monitored for 891,293 minutes with camera traps (one capture per minute). Our results indicate that SPs have potentially beneficial effects across all farmland biodiversity. Skylark abundance showed a positive correlation with the number of SPs within a 100 m radius, and individuals preferentially occupied plots with lower vegetation. Nevertheless, Skylark use of SPs largely reflected existing population distributions, suggesting that SPs alone may not compensate for landscape-scale habitat constraints. No population-level effects were detected for the Crested Lark (Galerida cristata), though frequent camera detections highlight the species’ potential to benefit from SPs with minimal vegetation cover. Additionally, SPs were associated with high activity of the Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla flava) and Brown Hare (Lepus europaeus), both of which favour sparse vegetation for foraging. SPs can represent an important conservation tool on arable fields, but protection of grasslands is likely more important for reversing the Skylark’s declining trend. Our results indicate that within-plot vegetation should be kept at minimum to boost their conservation potential, but further research is required to identify the best management solution.[M. Denac]20252025-12-24 07:16:22Magistrsko delo/naloga177548sl