Grass management intensity affects butterfly and orthopteran diversity on rice field banks
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Published source details
Giuliano D., Cardarelli E. & Bogliani G. (2018) Grass management intensity affects butterfly and orthopteran diversity on rice field banks. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 267, 147-155.
Published source details Giuliano D., Cardarelli E. & Bogliani G. (2018) Grass management intensity affects butterfly and orthopteran diversity on rice field banks. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 267, 147-155.
Actions
This study is summarised as evidence for the following.
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Manage rice field banks to benefit butterflies and moths Action Link |
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Restrict certain pesticides or other agricultural chemicals Action Link |
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Manage rice field banks to benefit butterflies and moths
A replicated, site comparison study in 2016 on three rice farms in Pavia province, Italy (Giuliano et al 2018) found that unmown, herbicide-free rice field banks had a higher abundance and species richness of butterflies than banks which were mown or sprayed with herbicide. On unmanaged banks, the abundance (1.2–12.2 individuals/100 m) and species richness (0.7–2.6 species/100 m) of butterflies was higher than on mown (abundance: 0.5–6.1 individuals/100 m; richness: 0.4–2.0 species/100 m) or sprayed banks (abundance: 0.1–2.3 individuals/100 m; richness: 0.1–1.1 species/100 m). Endangered large copper Lycaena dispar butterflies were present on more unmanaged banks (48 individuals) than on sprayed banks (10 individuals). See paper for other species results. Banks (1–2 m wide) between paddy fields on three farms were managed in one of three ways: sprayed with herbicide (Glyphosate) in April, mown 1–3 times between late April and August, or left unmanaged with permanent herbaceous cover. From April–September 2016, butterflies were surveyed monthly on 160–440-m-long transects on 30 field banks (13 sprayed, 13 mown, four unmanaged).
(Summarised by: Andrew Bladon)
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Restrict certain pesticides or other agricultural chemicals
A replicated, site comparison study in 2016 on three rice farms in Pavia province, Italy (Giuliano et al 2018) found that herbicide-free rice field banks had a higher abundance and species richness of butterflies than banks which were sprayed with herbicide. On unsprayed banks, the abundance (1.2–12.2 individuals/100 m) and species richness (0.7–2.6 species/100 m) of butterflies was higher than on banks sprayed with herbicide once/year (abundance: 0.1–2.3 individuals/100 m; richness: 0.1–1.1 species/100 m). Endangered large copper Lycaena dispar butterflies were present on more unmanaged banks (48 individuals) than on sprayed banks (10 individuals). See paper for other species results. Banks (1–2 m wide) between paddy fields on three farms were either sprayed with herbicide (Glyphosate) in April, or left unmanaged with permanent herbaceous cover. From April–September 2016, butterflies were surveyed monthly on 160–440-m-long transects on 17 field banks (13 sprayed, four unsprayed).
(Summarised by: Andrew Bladon)
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