Study

The importance of viticultural landscape features and ecosystem service enhancement for native butterflies in New Zealand vineyards

  • Published source details Gillespie M. & Wratten S.D. (2012) The importance of viticultural landscape features and ecosystem service enhancement for native butterflies in New Zealand vineyards. Journal of Insect Conservation, 16, 13-23.

Actions

This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

Action Category

Replant native vegetation

Action Link
Butterfly and Moth Conservation

Increase or maintain the proportion of natural or semi‐natural habitat in the farmed landscape

Action Link
Butterfly and Moth Conservation
  1. Replant native vegetation

    A replicated, site comparison study in 2008–2009 in six vineyards in Canterbury Province, New Zealand (Gillespie & Wratten 2012) found that planted native vegetation had a similar abundance and species richness of butterflies to amongst the vines or on pasture, but all were lower than in remnant native habitat patches. In planted native vegetation, the abundance (3 individuals/section) and species richness (0.5 species) of butterflies was similar to amongst the grape vines (abundance: 8 individuals/section; richness: 0.3 species) and on pasture fields (abundance: 7 individuals/section; richness: 0.5 species), but lower than in remnant native habitat patches (abundance: 14 individuals/section; richness: 0.7 species). See paper for individual species results. Six vineyards, each containing small (100–200 m2) areas of planted native shrubs and grasses and areas of remnant native vegetation (typically stands of matagouri Discaria toumatou and New Zealand bindweed Calystegia tuguriorum), alongside grape vines and grazed pasture, were selected. From October 2008–April 2009, butterflies were surveyed 13 times (once/fortnight) along a fixed transect through the different habitat patches on each vineyard. Transects were split into 9–14 sections based on habitat type for analysis.

    (Summarised by: Andrew Bladon)

  2. Increase or maintain the proportion of natural or semi‐natural habitat in the farmed landscape

    A replicated, site comparison study in 2008–2009 in six vineyards in Canterbury Province, New Zealand (Gillespie & Wratten 2012) found that remnant native habitat patches had a higher abundance and species richness of butterflies than amongst the vines, on pasture or in planted native vegetation. In remnant habitat patches, the abundance (14 individuals/section) and species richness (0.7 species) of butterflies was higher than amongst the grape vines (abundance: 8 individuals/section; richness: 0.3 species), on pasture fields (abundance: 7 individuals/section; richness: 0.5 species), or in planted native vegetation (abundance: 3 individuals/section; richness: 0.5 species). See paper for individual species results. Six vineyards, each containing areas of remnant native vegetation (typically stands of matagouri Discaria toumatou and New Zealand bindweed Calystegia tuguriorum) and small (100–200 m2) areas of planted native shrubs and grasses, alongside grape vines and grazed pasture, were selected. From October 2008–April 2009, butterflies were surveyed 13 times (once/fortnight) along a fixed transect through the different habitat patches on each vineyard. Transects were split into 9–14 sections based on habitat type for analysis.

    (Summarised by: Andrew Bladon)

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