Some effects of cereal pesticides on gamebirds and other farmland fauna.

Abstract

A field experiment is described which tests whether cereal pesticides affect partridge chick production and other associated farmland fauna.  It is shown that insect abundance and mean partridge brood size can be significantly increased, without reducing cereal yields, where six-metre strips around the edge of cereal fields are left unsprayed.  This research may form the basis of a management technique that is beneficial to a wide range of wildlife present on arable farmland.