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Der Zilpzalp verwendet zum Beuteerwerb verschiedene Fangtechniken, die in ihrer relativen Häufigkeit variieren. Die Haupttechniken waren Picken, Schwirrflug, Pickflug und Fangflug. Mit der bevorzugten Anwendung einzelner Techniken waren spezifische Bewegungsmuster verbunden. Als ursächliche Faktoren für die Variabilität der Verhaltensstrategien beim Nahrungserwerb werden die Vegetationsdichte und –struktur, das Nahrungsangebot und der Brutstatus diskutiert. In hoher Vegetationsdichte sowie bei der Jagd nach sehr kleinen Beutetieren, die in hoher Dichte vorkamen, war Picken aus dem Stand die häufigste Beutefangtechnik. In geringer Vegetationsdichte bevorzugten die Zilpzalpe Techniken, die mit einem Flugmanöver verbunden sind. Im Schwirrflug wurden unübersichtliche Vegetationsbereiche abgesammelt, der Pickflug wurde bevorzugt in großblättrigen Baumarten angewandt. Am Jahresanfang war die Variabilität der Strategien besonders groß. Dies kann mit dem noch knappen Nahrungsangebot begründet werden, welches die Vögel zur Ausnutzung ihres gesamten Potenzials an Verhaltensstrategien zwingt. Während der Brutzeit benutzten Futter tragende Vögel im Vergleich zu nicht Futter tragenden Männchen bei der Nahrungssuche in den gleichen Pflanzenarten einen höheren Anteil von Pick- und Schwirrflug. Gemäß optimal foraging- Theorien ist anzunehmen, dass diese Techniken zwar energieaufwändiger, bei passendem Nahrungsangebot aber effizienter sind als einfaches Picken. Im Vergleich mit anderen Untersuchungen an Insekten fressenden Vogelarten erscheint der Zilpzalp sehr variabel in Bezug auf sein Verhalten beim Nahrungserwerb.
The intensification of agricultural practices has led to a severe decrease in grassland biodiversity. Although there is strong evidence that organic farming can reduce the negative impacts of land use, knowledge regarding the most beneficial management system for species richness on organic grasslands is still scarce. This study examines differences in the biodiversity of plants and butterflies on rotationally and continuously grazed pastures as well as on meadows cut twice per year on two large organic suckler cow farms in NE Germany. Vegetation and flower abundance, as factors likely to influence butterfly abundance and diversity, were compared and used to explain the differences. The data attained by vegetation assessments and monthly transect inspections from May to August were analyzed using descriptive statistics and nonparametric methods. The abiotic site conditions of the studied plots had more influence on plant species numbers than the management method. Dry and nutrient-poor areas (mainly poor types of Cynosurion) and undrained wet fens (Calthion) were important for phytodiversity, measured by the absolute number of species, indicator species for ecologically valuable grasslands and the Shannon Index. Meadows tended to have more indicator species than pastures, where small-scale special sites such as wet depressions were crucial for plant diversity. Butterfly diversity was very low, and 90% of the recorded butterflies were individuals of the generalist species Pieris napi. Butterfly abundance depended mainly on occurrence of specific habitat types and specific larval host plants. Supply of flowers was crucial only in certain time periods. Differences in butterfly abundance between the management systems could be explained by the site conditions of the studied grasslands. We conclude that meadows are more favorable to support ecologically valuable plant species; however, their extension is contradictory to the organic farming method of suckler cows maintained outside of stables. Rotationally grazed pastures could be a compromise that would enhance the temporal heterogeneity of flower abundance and vegetation structure. The plant diversity on pastures should be improved by less intensive grazing on special sites and plant species enrichment by means of hay transfer. For enhancing butterfly diversity we suggest to reduce land use intensity especially on poor soils. Considering the economic perspective of the farms, small parts of the agricultural area could be sufficient if connectivity to other suitable habitats is assured. Flower abundance and diversity of larval host plants could be promoted by high diversity of farming practices as well as pre-serving small uncut strips of meadows.