Study of the effect of agricultural practices in apple orchards on different components of bird ecology using acoustic tools
Dates: from October 2023 to October 2026
In Europe, agriculture is identified as one of the main drivers of bird population declines. Despite these changes, agricultural landscapes still host significant biodiversity, particularly regarding birds. Throughout the year, different species use these habitats: for breeding in spring, during autumn migrations, or to search for resources in winter, a particularly critical period.
In certain regions of southern France, apple orchards are a major component of the agricultural landscape and support numerous bird species. However, these crops are particularly exposed to high levels of intensification. The presence of numerous pests, combined with commercial requirements favoring visually perfect fruits, encourages the use of intensive agricultural practices that may have negative effects on bird communities.
In this context, it is essential to better understand how practices implemented in these agroecosystems influence bird populations. To this end, this study employs innovative survey methods based on the use of autonomous acoustic recorders. The sounds captured within the orchards allow extraction of various information: the species present, their activity periods, and more.
Within this framework, the thesis is structured around three main components:
I) Evaluation of the usability of acoustic methods to study the effect of agricultural practices in apple orchards on breeding bird communities and populations in spring
II) Study of the orchards capacity to support birds during the post-breeding migratory passage in autumn, with a focus on the European Pied Flycatcher
III) Study of the effect of agricultural practices on the timing of birds vocal activity throughout the day.
This PhD research is funded by Tersys.
