The papers presented in this volume range from introductory overviews of biodiversity in agriculture at the habitat, species and genetic levels to reviews of the current situation in regard to mammals, ground beetle populations, invasive weeds, and farmland birds. Each considers the threats attributable to farming practices and, in particular, to the transformation of natural habitats to intensively managed arable or grassland systems.
What solutions are advocated to enhance the biodiversity of agroecosystems? A geneneral theme which emerged from several papers related to the importance of retaining landscape features, especially hedgerows. Varied cropping patterns, untreated field margins, conservation headlands and alternatives to pesticide use (e.g. organic fanning) are advocated.