Manage vegetation using livestock grazing

Overall effectiveness category Awaiting assessment
Number of studies: 2
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Background information and definitions

Using grazing to manage vegetation can limit succession that would otherwise lead to an increase in woody plant species and may create microhabitat diversity through trampling. This may help to increase the abundance of reptile species that depend on early-succession and diverse habitats.

Here we present studies that use grazing to target both native and non-native species.

For studies discussing the impacts of different grazing regimes in agricultural environments, see Threat: Agriculture – manage grazing regime: Wetlands and Forest, open woodland & savanna and Threat: agriculture – cease livestock grazing.

For studies discussing the effects of managing vegetation by cutting, using herbicide or by hand, see Manage vegetation by cutting or mowing; Manage vegetation using herbicides and Manage vegetation by hand (selective weeding).

Study locations

Key messages

Two studies evaluated the effects of managing vegetation using livestock grazing on reptile populations. One study was in France and one was in the USA.

COMMUNITY RESPONSE (0 STUDIES)

POPULATION RESPONSE (2 STUDIES)

Abundance (1 study): One site comparison study in France found that one reptile species was more abundant in areas grazed by sheep than in areas managed by burning, whereas the abundance of five other species was similar in all areas.
Reproductive success (1 study): One before-and-after study in the USA found that after grazing cattle to restore bog turtle habitat, along with providing artificial nest covers, more bog turtle eggs were laid and hatching success was higher than before.

BEHAVIOUR (1 STUDY)

Use (1 study): One before-and-after study in the USA found that bog turtle nests were laid only in areas that had been grazed in the current or previous growing season.

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 site comparison study in 2016 in an area of heathland in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France (Pernat et al. 2017) found that one of six reptile species was more abundant in a site grazed by sheep than in sites that were burned 5–12 years previously, whereas the other five species were similarly abundant across all sites. More western green lizards Lacerta bilineata were found in the grazed area (1.5 lizards/site) than in any of the burned areas (0.1 lizards/site for all burned sites), whereas no difference was found between grazed or burned areas in the number of wall lizards Podarcis muralis (0–4 lizards/site) or the number of four snakes species (green whip snake Hierophis viridiflavus, viperine snake Natrix maura, grass snake Natrix natrix and European asp Vipera aspis; data not presented). An area of heathland (135 ha) was managed by annual sheep grazing or prescribed burning. One grazed site and three burned sites (all sites 8–10 ha) were selected (one each burned 5, 10 or 12 years ago). In 2016, a total of 96 cover boards (corrugated roofing tiles) were split between the four areas (24 boards/area), and 10 surveys were conducted in April–June. Reptiles found on or under cover boards were counted.
Study and other actions tested
Referenced paper
Pernat A., Sellier Y., Préau C. & Beaune D. (2017) Effect of grazing on the western green lizard (Lacerta bilineata Daudin, 1802) (Squamata: Lacertidae) in the middle of moors. Bulletin de la Societe Herpetologique de France, 161, 57-66.
A before-and-after study in 2009–2016 in wet meadow and marsh in New York State, USA (Travis et al. 2018) found that after grazing cattle to restore bog turtle Glyptemys muhlenbergii habitat along with using artificial nest covers, more eggs were laid in more nests, hatching rates increased and more juveniles were observed. Results were not statistically tested. More bog turtle eggs were laid after grazing commenced and artificial nest covers were used (2012–2016: 15–47 eggs in 3–12 nests/year) compared to before (2009–2010: 7–8 eggs in 2–3 nests/year). After grazing started, all nests were found in areas that had been grazed in the current or previous growing season. Overall hatching success was 52% (58 of 112 eggs hatched) compared to 27% when nests were not protected and there was no grazing (4 of 15 eggs hatched). More juveniles were observed at the end of the grazing program (2016: 6 juveniles/year) compared to at the start (2012: 1 juvenile/year). In 2012–2014 and 2016, one or both of two adjacent fenced paddocks (3.6 ha total area, 1.6 ha of bog turtle habitat) were grazed by 0.6–1.4 cattle/ha for 5–21 weeks in April-October (see original paper for details) and bog turtle nests were protected by mesh-cloth artificial nest covers (12 x 12 x 12 cm). In 2009–2010, there was no grazing and bog turtle nests were not protected. Nests were located by surveying on foot in 2009–2016 (2014 data were excluded). Turtles were monitored by radio tracking and on foot observations in 2012–2016.
Study and other actions tested
Referenced paper
Travis K.B., Kiviat E., Tesauro J., Stickle L., Fadden M., Steckler V. & Lukas L. (2018) Grazing for bog turtle (Glyptemys muhlenbergii) habitat management: case study of a New York fen. Herpetological Conservation and Biology, 13, 726-742.

Please cite as:

Sainsbury K.A., Morgan W.H., Watson M., Rotem G., Bouskila A., Smith R.K. & Sutherland W.J. (2021) Reptile Conservation: Global Evidence for the Effects of Interventions for reptiles. Conservation Evidence Series Synopsis. University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.

Where has this evidence come from?

List of journals searched by synopsis

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This Action forms part of the Action Synopsis:

Reptile Conservation

Related Actions

Actions	Effectiveness	Studies	Category
Manage vegetation by hand (selective weeding) Action Link	Awaiting assessment	4	Synopsis Link
Plant native species Action Link	Awaiting assessment	2	Synopsis Link
Release animals that modify landscapes (e.g. ecological engineers) Action Link	No evidence found (no assessment)	0	Synopsis Link