Vegetation structure of farmland ditches and its role in promoting bird diversity

Agricultural intensification has simplified farmland landscapes, resulting in reduced bird diversity. Ditches, as linear features in farmland, play a crucial role in biodiversity conservation. However, little research has explored how vegetation characteristics of different ditch types affect farmland bird diversity. In this study, we analyzed the effects of ditch vegetation types on bird diversity by quantifying the proportions of trees, reeds, and herbs in ditches across intensively managed cropland in the North China Plain. Our results revealed that the proportion of reeds had a highly significant effect on bird abundance, while the proportion of trees and herbs showed a significant effect. Furthermore, bird community composition varied significantly across habitat types, with wheat habitats exhibiting lower diversity than others, and tree-dominated habitats supporting higher bird diversity. These findings suggest that optimizing ditch vegetation structure, particularly by increasing the proportion of trees and reeds, can enhance farmland bird abundance. We recommend maintaining habitat heterogeneity in farmland management to promote bird community conservation and restore biodiversity.