Habitat associations and breeding success of yellowhammers on lowland farmland

1.  Yellowhammers began to decline on British lowland farmland in the late 1980s and losses are presently 10% per year. This study examined variation in the habitat selection and breeding success of yellowhammers, allowing an evaluation of whether Britain's yellowhammer decline might have been caused by recent changes in agriculture.
2.  Yellowhammer territories were associated with hedgerows, vegetated ditches and wide uncultivated grassy margins around fields. Pasture and silage leys were avoided. Nests were built among herbaceous vegetation in ditches or in the shrubby vegetation of hedgerows.
3.  Breeding started slightly earlier on organic farms than on intensively managed farms, but no measure of breeding success differed between farm types. Predation was the cause of most (64%) nest failures. A maximum of three breeding attempts (two successful) was observed per pair, with a mean clutch size of 3·3, a Mayfield nest success rate of 0·46, and 2·6 nestlings fledged per successful brood. These data, together with published estimates of adult yellowhammer survival and of post-fledging survival among other passerines, suggest that breeding productivity is too low to maintain a stable population.
4.  The removal of hedgerows or abandonment of hedge management, filling or clearing of ditches, intensification of grassland management and cropping or grazing right up to the field edge, are all likely to have adversely affected yellowhammers on lowland farmland in southern England. Policy reforms that redirect subsidy support to environmentally beneficial management of field margin habitats and retention of winter-feeding sites such as stubbles should assist in restoring populations of breeding yellowhammers on lowland farmland.
5.  Our data expand further the array of farmland bird species for which interactions between agricultural change and population change are increasingly understood.     

Functional response of plant assemblages to management practices in road–field boundaries

Questions

Management practices implemented on road verges are partly established to preserve biodiversity in agricultural landscapes. Their evaluation was primarily based on the analysis of the taxonomic structure and composition of communities. What is the relationship between management practices and the functional characteristics of road–field plants within elements?

Location

West‐central France.

Methods

We sampled the berm, the embankment and the field margin of 40 road–field boundaries located in west‐central France, an area where delayed mowing of some berms has been practised since 2009 for biodiversity reasons. We characterized management practices implemented on the different elements, i.e., the frequency and timing of mowing (early summer or late summer), the frequency of herbicide treatment in field margins and the N input rate. We retrieved from databases seven functional traits and types known to be influenced by management practices. To identify relationships between traits or types and environmental variables we first performed partial RLQ analyses to remove any potential confounding effect of the landscape context studied. We then computed fourth‐corner statistics to quantify relationships between traits or types, environmental variables and partial RLQ axes.

Results

Late mowing of the berm promoted nitrophilous species within berms and competitive rather than ruderal species within arable field margins. The frequency of herbicide treatment in field margins promoted broad‐leaf species within this element and, to a lesser extent, within embankments. Finally, the functional characteristics of communities of the three elements were not influenced by the level of N input in field margins.

Conclusions

In our environmental context, managing road verges affected the functional structure of plant assemblages both within them and within their adjacent arable field margins. We suggest a single early mowing of berms as a valuable practice for both conservation purposes and weed risk control in adjacent field margins.     

Artificial nest predation in hedgerows and scrub forest in a human-dominated landscape of central Mexico

Hedgerows as well as other narrow corridors could be valuable habitats for birds in regions of intensive agriculture, however, it is still not clear how successful breeding birds are in different types of hedgerows as compared to birds nesting in their natural habitats. We used artificial nests to examine whether hedgerows were sinks (ecological traps) for birds by comparing rates of predation in two types of hedgerows with different vegetation structure (simple and complex), and in a tract of scrub forest in an agricultural landscape of central Mexico. We determined also the types of predators responsible for egg predation. Ground and elevated nests were baited with one Japanese quail Coturnix japonica egg and one plasticine egg and placed alternately along transects. Significantly, greater predation rates were found in scrub forest and complex hedgerows than in simple hedgerows. Higher predation rates in complex habitats seemed to reflect the higher number of predator types found there. The most important predator types were carnivores followed by rodents, birds, and humans. Carnivores and rodents mainly predated ground nests, whereas birds and humans predated elevated nests. Simple hedgerows in this landscape appeared to offer relatively safe nest sites in terms of predation pressure when compared to more complex habitats (complex hedgerows and scrub forest).     

植被边界带对相邻麦田地表步甲和蜘蛛分布及蚜虫发生的影响

通过管理半自然生境提高农田中天敌多样性及农田害虫的生物控制效率是当前生态农业研究的基本问题之一。为探讨不同类型半自然植被边界带对相邻麦田地表天敌的发生以及对小麦蚜虫生物控制潜力的影响,在北京顺义区赵全营镇采用陷阱法调查了不同类型植被边界带（人工林地、人工种植草带、自然演替草带）相邻的小麦田中,距离边界0,15 m和30 m处步甲和蜘蛛两类重要地表天敌的多度分布及小麦田蚜虫发生情况,同时分析了边界带植被群落结构对步甲和蜘蛛群落分布的影响。结果表明：人工林地相邻的小麦田中维持了显著较高的步甲、蜘蛛和蚜虫发生密度;不同类型植被边界带相邻小麦田中步甲和蜘蛛群落组成显著不同,植被边界带宽度以及乔木层盖度是影响相邻麦田步甲和蜘蛛群落分布的主要因子;距离植被边界带不同取样界面处,不同迁移方向的步甲和蜘蛛的活动密度无显著性差异;与林地相邻的麦田中,蜘蛛活动密度从农田边界向农田内部处依次降低,与人工种植草带以及自然演替草带相邻的麦田中,农田边界处蜘蛛的活动密度显著高于农田内部。研究显示,半自然植被边界带与麦田交界处维持了较高的蜘蛛活动密度,并具有向农田内部扩散的趋势,然而,并非高天敌密度就意味着低害虫发生率,深入研究天敌群落与害虫发生关系及其影响因素是未来天敌保护和害虫生物防治的重要方面。同时,因为不同类型植被边界带维持的天敌群落具有高度异质性,未来的研究需要充分考虑不同类型植被边界带对天敌维持的作用,以及不同类型生境界面地表天敌的活动规律。     

Pollinator sharing between mass-flowering oilseed rape and co-flowering wild plants: implications for wild plant pollination

Pollinating insects are not only important in wild plant pollination, but also in the production of a large number of crops. Oilseed rape production is increasing globally due to demands for biofuels which may have impacts on pollinating insects which visit the crop and on the pollination services delivered to co-flowering wild plants. In this study, we tested (1) the degree of pollinator sharing between oilseed rape and native wild plants in field margins and hedgerows and (2) the effects of oilseed rape on the quality of pollination service delivered to these wild plants. We found large overlap between flower visitors of wild plants and oilseed rape, but the composition of species overlap differed with respect to each wild plant species. Nearly all individual visitors caught on both the crop and foraging on wild species carried crop pollen, but more than half the insects also carried pollen from wild plants. However, very little oilseed rape pollen was deposited on wild plant stigmas. This shows that (1) oilseed rape overlaps in pollinator niche with most co-flowering wild plants, and (2) crop pollen deposition on wild plant stigmas is low which may indicate that it is unlikely to cause reductions in seed set of wild plants, although this was not measured here. Furthermore, wild plants in field margins and hedgerows are important sources of alternative forage for pollinating insects even when a crop is mass flowering, and we suggest maintenance and augmentation of field margins and hedgerows to provide alternative forage for pollinator conservation to continue provision of pollination services to both crops and wild plants.     

Small wild bee abundance declines with distance into strawberry crops regardless of field margin habitat

The preservation of pollinator habitat on croplands in the form of hedgerows, wildflower strips, and natural and semi-natural areas can help maintain and enhance wild bee populations in agricultural landscapes. However, there have been few comparisons of the effectiveness of different types of field-margin pollinator habitat in maintaining bee diversity and pollination of the focal crops. We compared wild bee abundance, species richness and community composition between strawberry crops bordered by hedgerows, and those bordered by larger expanses of natural land (forests). Strawberry is an ideal crop in which to investigate pollinator export from field margins as the rows are covered with straw, which reduces habitat for ground-nesting bees within the crop; thus, most wild pollinators need to enter the crop from the margins. We sampled bees in six strawberry fields with hedgerow margins and six strawberry fields with forested margins of at least 200 m in length, using a paired design. We examined strawberry pollen deposition at regular intervals into the fields, and the magnitude of pollinator export from the field margins towards the centre of the crops. We found that bees as a group were no more species-rich or abundant in crops bordered by forests than in crops bordered by hedgerows, although large-bodied bees were more abundant in the former than the latter. Regardless of field-margin type, we found that small wild bee abundance declined significantly from the edge to the centre of the crop, but honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) and large-bodied bee abundance did not. Strawberry pollen deposition also did not decline with distance into the crop. Although previous work indicates that small wild bees are more effective (yield-increasing) pollinators of strawberry on a per-visit basis, their limited foraging ranges suggest they may only pollinate areas near the crop margins, given typical field sizes in our area.     

Is microclimate important for Orthoptera in open landscapes?

Orthoptera were monitored on field edge public footpaths on the east (leeward) and west (windward) side of hedgerows in Chelmsford, UK, in 2006. A total of 6 species were recorded from footpaths on the leeward side of hedgerows probably due to the shelter from the prevailing westerly winds provided by the trees and shrubs. On the windward side of hedgerows species richness and abundance of Orthoptera were reduced (only 4 species were recorded). It is suggested that shelter from the wind and the exposure to early morning sunlight for Orthoptera on the east side of hedgerows are important factors governing their occurrence on farmland. Many replicates had Environmental Stewardship (ES) scheme field margins adjacent but they did not affect Orthoptera species richness or abundance.     

Proximity of restored hedgerows interacts with local floral diversity and species' traits to shape long‐term pollinator metacommunity dynamics

Disconnected habitat fragments are poor at supporting population and community persistence; restoration ecologists, therefore, advocate for the establishment of habitat networks across landscapes. Few empirical studies, however, have considered how networks of restored habitat patches affect metacommunity dynamics. Here, using a 10‐year study on restored hedgerows and unrestored field margins within an intensive agricultural landscape, we integrate occupancy modelling with network theory to examine the interaction between local and landscape characteristics, habitat selection and dispersal in shaping pollinator metacommunity dynamics. We show that surrounding hedgerows and remnant habitat patches interact with the local floral diversity, bee diet breadth and bee body size to influence site occupancy, via colonisation and persistence dynamics. Florally diverse sites and generalist, small‐bodied species are most important for maintaining metacommunity connectivity. By providing the first in‐depth assessment of how a network of restored habitat influences long‐term population dynamics, we confirm the conservation benefit of hedgerows for pollinator populations and demonstrate the importance of restoring and maintaining habitat networks within an inhospitable matrix.     

Population structures and individual performances of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Trillium grandiflorum</Emphasis> in hedgerow and forest habitats

In agricultural landscapes, linear habitats, such as hedgerows at field margins increase structural connectivity among forest patches, potentially providing dispersal corridors for forest herbs. The spatial structure of linear habitats, however, also results in edge effects and perturbations that can influence the individual and population performance of forest plants. This study compares the stage structure and components of growth and reproduction of 14 Trillium grandiflorum populations in hedgerows and forests. Hedgerow Trillium tended to grow faster and, when mature, produced more flowers and more ovules per flowers than forest Trillium, a pattern possibly associated to differences in nutrients and light availability between the two habitats. Seed production and germination rate, however, did not differ between hedgerows and forests. At the population level, seedlings and juveniles were proportionally less abundant in hedgerows than in forests. Although well-established plants can thrive in hedgerows, reduced recruitment may eventually limit the capacity to establish new populations and therefore hamper migration along hedgerow-corridors. Considering the strategies by which plants persist in linear habitats becomes particularly relevant at a time when species are expected to be much in need of dispersal corridors because of climatic stress.     

The influence of pheasant releasing and associated management on farmland hedgerows and birds in England

Hedgerows are an integral part of the farmed landscape and are important habitats for many birds and other wildlife. Game managers recognize the importance of hedgerows for gamebirds, both in the nesting season for wild birds and as dispersal routes from woodland release pens for reared pheasants in late summer. Conservationists are interested in the potential impacts of pheasant releasing on wildlife and habitats. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of gamebird management on hedgerow structure and the density and connectedness of hedgerows at the landscape level by comparing sites with and without gamebird releasing. We surveyed 150 sites in southern and eastern England: 97 were on pheasant shoots while the others were on farms where there had been no pheasant releasing for at least 25 years. Using a combination of field survey, satellite imagery and GIS software, we determined hedgerow abundance and their structural characteristics. We also measured the extent of hedgerow connectedness. We found that the hedgerow structure was similar on farms with and without game shoots. However, hedgebanks were between 17% and 36% wider on game estates. Game estates also had between 10% and 65% more hedgerow per square kilometre than farms with no game shoot. We found no strong evidence that game management influenced bird numbers associated with individual hedgerows. We conclude that structural characteristics of hedgerows on sites with pheasant releasing do not differ from hedgerows on farms where there is no pheasant releasing undertaken. The tendency for wider hedgebanks and greater hedgerow abundance on game estates is likely due to the recognition of game estate managers of the value of hedgerows as habitats for gamebirds. The results of this study need to be considered within the context of other studies which have highlighted the potential negative effects of large pheasant releases on hedgerow vegetation.     

Hedgerows as habitat corridors for forest herbs in central New York, USA

1 Samples from 32 hedgerows ( c.  6 m wide, with full-grown trees) in central New York included 39 forest herb taxa, comprising nearly 70% of the forest herb taxa found in adjacent forest samples.
2 We sampled three types of hedgerow. Two types were attached to forest: remnant hedgerows ( n  = 14), and regenerated hedgerows ( n  =  11 ) that had grown up spontaneously between open fields in the last 50 years. There were no significant differences between remnant and regenerated hedgerows in the richness or abundance of forest herbs, presumably indicating colonization of regenerated hedgerows. Such colonization implies that hedgerows serve a corridor function.
3 The species composition of forest herbs in hedgerows attached to forest stands showed a strong affinity with that of the adjacent stand, both for remnant and regenerated hedgerows.
4 There was a distance effect within hedgerows. Richness of forest herbs and similarity of composition to forest declined with distance along the hedgerow from forest, implying colonization from the adjacent attached stand.
5 The third type of hedgerow sampled, isolated remnants ( n  = 7), was not lower in richness or abundance of forest herbs than hedgerows attached to forest.     

Structure and conservation value of high-diversity hedgerows in southeastern Brazil

We studied the tree component of hedgerows resulting from the natural colonization of land plot boundaries’ ditches. These three-meter wide ditches were dug during the European occupation of southeastern Brazil, and are a prominent feature of the landscape. The hedgerows are connected to forest fragments within a farmland matrix. In two systems of hedgerows, we sampled a total of 2.28 ha (114 plots of 200 m²), where we evaluated the structural and floristic similarity between fragments and hedgerows, the similarities between the hedgerows and the fragments’ edges and interior, and the relationships between distribution of tree species and soil variables. The systems presented similar richness and diversity; hedgerows had greater similarity to the fragments included in the same system than to hedgerows of the other system, indicating possible functional linkages between their components (fragments and hedgerows). Tree species composition in the hedgerows was not more similar to the fragment edges as we expected. The hedgerows exhibited greater density and basal area than the fragments. For either single system, species showed preferences for fragments or hedgerows or for sections of the ditch (edge, wall and bottom of the ditch), but for species common in both systems, those preferences were rarely held. The environmental conditions in the ditches seem to favor the establishment of species from the fragments, even those more common in fragment interior, suggesting that, in spite of their narrow widths, these hedgerows may play an important role in the conservation of flora without negatively impacting agriculturally productive rural areas.     

Habitat preference and mobility of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Polia bombycina</Emphasis>: are non-tailored agri-environment schemes any good for a rare and localised species?

General agri-environment schemes (AES) have been shown to benefit widespread species, but there is little information on the extent to which rare, more localised, species may also benefit. We tested whether AES options aimed at increasing general biodiversity also benefit a highly endangered moth, Polia bombycina, without species-specific tailoring. We assessed effects on its abundance of two AES options, wide field margins and hedgerow trees, using light traps at the landscape-scale and for mark-release-recapture at the farm-scale. We hypothesized that abundance would be highest at wide field margins and at hedgerow trees, and that if hedgerow trees conferred a positive effect, individuals would be more likely to follow hedgerows than crossing exposed fields while on the move. The results showed that significantly more individuals were captured at sites with a hedgerow tree. Numbers were also higher at wide margins, but this was not statistically significant, and no individuals were caught at field centres. Our study suggests that general options within appropriately designed and implemented AES aimed at increasing overall biodiversity in intensive agricultural landscapes have the potential to not only benefit common, widespread habitat generalists, but some rare and more endangered species as well. P. bombycina serves as an example of how general AES options, existing and novel ones alike, might cater for the needs of rare and localised species. As the precise ecological requirements of most invertebrate species remain unknown, we urge scientists and governments to address the challenge to research and design truly general AES, which options should be able to deliver not only for widespread species but also for the less-widespread counterpart of farmland biodiversity.     

Evolutionary History of the Live-Bearing Endemic Allotoca diazi Species Complex (Actinopterygii,Goodeinae): Evidence of Founder Effect Events in the Mexican Pre-Hispanic Period

The evolutionary history of Mexican ichthyofauna has been strongly linked to natural events, and the impact of pre-Hispanic cultures is little known. The live-bearing fish species Allotoca diazi, Allotoca meeki and Allotoca catarinae occur in areas of biological, cultural and economic importance in central Mexico: Pátzcuaro basin, Zirahuén basin, and the Cupatitzio River, respectively. The species are closely related genetically and morphologically, and hypotheses have attempted to explain their systematics and biogeography. Mitochondrial DNA and microsatellite markers were used to investigate the evolutionary history of the complex. The species complex shows minimal genetic differentiation. The separation of A. diazi and A. meeki was dated to 400–7000 years ago, explained by geological and climate events. A bottleneck and reduction of genetic diversity in Allotoca diazi was detected, attributed to recent climate fluctuations and anthropogenic activity. The isolation of A. catarinae occurred ~1900 years ago. No geological events are documented in the area during this period, but the date is contemporary with P’urhépecha culture settlements. This founder effect represents the first evidence of fish species translocation by a pre-Hispanic culture of Mexico. The response of the complex to climate fluctuation, geological changes and human activity in the past and the future according to the ecological niches predictions indicates areas of vulnerability and important information for conservation. The new genetic information showed that the Allotoca diazi complex consist of two genetic groups with an incomplete lineage sorting pattern: Pátzcuaro and Zirahuén lakes, and an introduced population in the Cupatitzio River.     

Arthropods as Bioindicators in Agroecosystems of Jiang Han Plain,Qianjiang City,Hubei China

Using sweeping nets and pitfall traps, arthropods on the soil surface and on vegetation were periodically surveyed in two villages on the Jiang Han Plain from April to September 1994. Statistical analysis of the resulting data delineated groups of bioindicators on vegetation and on the grounds that represent components of formulas for evaluating environmental quality in agroecosystems. These groups are (1) Coccinellidae and Chrysopidae (seasonally migrating predators factor); (2) Braconidae and Chalcidoidea (parasitic insects factor); (3) Araneae and Mantodea on vegetation and Araneae, Carabidae, Opiliones and Nitidulidae on the ground (carnivorous arthropods factor); and (4) Formicidae, Isopoda, and Chilopoda (soil-dwelling arthropods factor). The following resource pools were identified for the different model arthropods: woodlots for Araneae and Mantodea; field margins for Chrysopidae and Coccinellidae; hedgerows for Braconidae and Chalcidoidea; and low-input cropfields on the floodplains for epigeic carnivorous arthropods. Comparison of these insect groups in different rural landscape units demonstrated the importance of a mosaic rural landscape, including woodlots, rationally designed field margins, and cropland, for creating an ecologically favorable agricultural environment.     

植物篱对紫色土区坡耕地水土流失及土壤肥力的影响

植物篱的水土保持效果已得到广泛的认可,并在世界很多地方推广应用,然而,到目前为止,植物篱对坡耕地土壤肥力的影响规律研究却很少。利用长期定位小区试验,研究了植物篱对坡耕地土壤肥力的影响规律,旨在弄清植物篱提高土壤肥力的作用与效果,不断完善植物篱技术。研究发现,坡耕地在建立植物篱后,土壤粘粒在篱前富积,篱下加剧侵蚀,粘粒的富积与侵蚀沿等高线成水平带状分布;土壤有机质、N、P等主要营养元素出现与土壤颗粒相同的分布规律;对K来说,其分布不受植物篱的影响,表现出较为均一分布的特点。从土壤养分的绝对数量来看,P呈高度富积,而有机质和K则是高度耗竭。因此,坡耕地施肥时可以适当减少P的施用量,增加有机物和K的施用量。针对植物篱带对坡耕地肥力影响的特点,即篱前肥力升高,篱下肥力下降,在坡耕地管理上应特别加强篱下土壤带的培肥,以提高坡面整体生产能力。     

Effects of plant hedgerows on soil erosion and soil fertility on sloping farmland in the purple soil area

Effect of using plant hedgerows on controlling soil and water losses has received wide recognition and this technology has been applied in many areas in the world. Yet, studies on the effect of using plant hedgerows on soil fertility on sloping lands are rare. Carrying out an eight-year fixed field experiment, the authors investigated the effect of two different hedgerows against the control treatment on soil fertility. Results showed that clay particles tended to accumulate in front of the plant hedgerows and began to erode downward below the hedgerows along the contour lines across the field. Distribution of soil organic matter and all plant nutrients except potassium (K) showed the same pattern as the clay particles. Potassium, however, was evenly distributed in the field without any noticeable influence from the hedgerows. Since the fixed experiment started, soil phosphorus (P) kept accumulating, while soil organic matter and K were in depletion. The results accordingly suggested better nutrient management practices on the sloping lands by using properly reduced rates of P and increased rates of farm manure and K. Taking the sloping field as a whole, special attention in nutrient management should be given to the soil strips —the portions below the plant hedgerows suffering from more serious soil erosion.     

Plant diversity in three types of hedgerows adjacent to cropfields

The farming landscape of eastern Canada is dotted with three main types of hedgerows: (1) natural woody, (2) planted woody and (3) herbaceous. The objective of this study was to compare the value of these habitats as a repository of plant biodiversity in agricultural areas of southern Quebec. The overall plant diversity was higher in natural hedgerows and they contained more plant species of conservation values than other hedgerow types. Plant species richness per quadrat was, however, higher in planted woody hedgerows, and together with the species composition, lead to the conclusion that planted hedgerows in their entirety consisted of an ecotone type of vegetation such as is found in field edges which usually support high plant diversity and productivity but where transient plant species predominate. Consequently, this study indicated that natural hedgerows fare better than planted hedgerows in terms of diversity of plants of conservation interest. In spite of that, planted woody hedgerows contained plant (and bird) species of some interest and should be favoured over more desolate herbaceous hedgerows. In areas where hedgerows were removed and are not re-establishing naturally, a mixture of deciduous trees and conifers should be encouraged in further windbreak planting programs so as to conciliate both the conservation and agronomic objectives. Furthermore, management practices should optimise the growth of establishing plants of conservation values.     

The role of various meadow margin types in shaping carabid and staphylinid beetle assemblages (Coleoptera: Carabidae,Staphylinidae) in meadow dominated landscapes

Less intensively managed semi-natural habitats, e.g., field and meadow margins like hedgerows, are thought to be crucial landscape components for maintaining biodiversity in highly disturbed and intensively managed agricultural landscapes. In this study, we focused on the effects of three meadow margin types on activity-density, species richness and species composition of carabid and staphylinid beetles recorded by pitfall traps in Central European landscapes dominated by intensively managed meadows. Carabid activity-density was significantly higher in meadows than in meadow margins and within meadow margins their activity-density increased from grassy meadow margins via shrubby ones to woody meadow margins. We found that recorded species richness of both carabid and staphylinid beetles was not significantly affected by habitat identity (meadow margin or neighbouring meadow) and meadow margin type. Recorded species composition of both investigated taxa was significantly affected by habitat identity and interaction between habitat identity and meadow margin type (i.e. it differed between particular meadow margin types). Assemblages inhabiting various meadow margin types were more dissimilar between each other than assemblages from neighbouring meadows. Meadow margins within grassland dominated landscapes maintain local species richness by hosting different species from those living in surrounding meadows. Dissimilarity of carabid and staphylinid assemblages from meadows neighbouring both sides of particular meadow margin did not differ between meadow margin types. Our results indicate that semi-natural habitats play an important role in maintaining biodiversity not only in agricultural landscapes dominated by arable fields, but also in those dominated by meadows.     

Hedges and Green Lanes: Vegetation Composition and Structure

In this paper the vegetation of 20 green lanes, defined as tracks bounded by hedgerows, is examined in terms of composition and structure and compared with that of 20 matched single hedgerows. For analysis the vegetation of the lanes was separated into three areas; central track, verges inside of hedgerows and verges outside of hedgerows. The vegetation of these areas was found to differ in species richness, community structure, plant strategies and environmental traits. When compared with verges of the matched single hedgerows, the inside verges and central track were greatly different whereas the outside verge appeared broadly similar. Green lanes contained significantly more plant species than matched single hedgerows, differences being most pronounced when compared as landscape units, rather than as a mean of the constituent parts. The potential effect of surrounding land use on green lane floral diversity is discussed as well as the importance of maintaining the structural diversity of green lanes for farmland biodiversity.