Retain unmown field margins

Overall effectiveness category Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence)
Number of studies: 1
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How is the evidence assessed?

Effectiveness

0%
Certainty

10%
Harms

0%

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Background information and definitions

Field margins can provide foraging habitat for bats. Leaving field margins unmown and allowing them to regenerate naturally can increase the abundance and diversity of plants and invertebrate prey. Unmown field margins are likely to be particularly beneficial when close to other bat habitats, such as woodland or tall field boundaries with trees (McHugh et al. 2019).

See also ‘Plant field margins with a diverse mix of plant species’. For studies that may carry out this intervention alongside other interventions to benefit bats on farmland, see ‘Pay farmers to cover the costs of conservation measures (e.g. agri-environment schemes)’.

McHugh N.M., Bown B.L., Hemsley J.A. & Holland J.M. (2019) Relationships between agri-environment scheme habitat characteristics and insectivorous bats on arable farmland. Basic and Applied Ecology, 40, 55–66.

Study locations

Key messages

One study evaluated the effects of retaining unmown field margins on bats populations. The study was in the UK.

COMMUNITY RESPONSE (0 STUDIES)

POPULATION RESPONSE (1 STUDY)

Abundance (1 study): One replicated, paired sites study in the UKfound that pipistrelle activity (relative abundance) did not differ between unmown field margins managed for wildlife on agri-environment scheme farms and field margins on conventional farms.

BEHAVIOUR (0 STUDIES)

About key messages

Key messages provide a descriptive index to studies we have found that test this intervention.

Studies are not directly comparable or of equal value. When making decisions based on this evidence, you should consider factors such as study size, study design, reported metrics and relevance of the study to your situation, rather than simply counting the number of studies that support a particular interpretation.

Supporting evidence from individual studies

A replicated, paired sites study in 2008 on 15 pairs of farms in Scotland, UK (Fuentes-Montemayor et al 2011) found that unmown field margins on agri-environment scheme farms had similar activity of Pipistrellus species as field margins on conventional farms. The activity of common pipistrelles Pipistrellus pipistrellus and soprano pipistrelles Pipistrellus pygmaeus was similar along unmown and conventionally managed field margins (data reported as statistical model results). On agri-environment scheme farms, field margins were planted with a mix of grass seeds and had restrictions on fertiliser, pesticides and grazing. Each of 15 field margins on agri-environment scheme farms was paired with 15 field margins on conventional farms with similar farming activities and surrounding habitats. Field margins (measured on five pairs of farms) were wider and had taller vegetation on agri-environment scheme farms (average 6 m wide, 2.4 m tall) than conventional farms (average 2 m wide, 2 m tall). Each of 15 pairs of farms was sampled once on the same night in June–September 2008. Bat activity was recorded along transects (2.5–3.7 km long) from 45 minutes after sunset using bat detectors.
Study and other actions tested
Referenced paper
Fuentes-Montemayor E., Goulson D. & Park K. (2011) Pipistrelle bats and their prey do not benefit from four widely applied agri-environment management prescriptions. Biological Conservation, 144, 2233-2246.

Please cite as:

Berthinussen, A., Richardson O.C. and Altringham J.D. (2021) Bat Conservation: Global Evidence for the Effects of Interventions. Conservation Evidence Series Synopses. University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.

Where has this evidence come from?

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This Action forms part of the Action Synopsis:

Bat Conservation

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