The effect of forest ski-pistes on butterfly assemblages in the Alps
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Published source details
Rolando A., Negro M., D'Entreves P.P., Balletto E. & Palestrini C. (2013) The effect of forest ski-pistes on butterfly assemblages in the Alps. Insect Conservation and Diversity, 6, 212-222.
Published source details Rolando A., Negro M., D'Entreves P.P., Balletto E. & Palestrini C. (2013) The effect of forest ski-pistes on butterfly assemblages in the Alps. Insect Conservation and Diversity, 6, 212-222.
Actions
This study is summarised as evidence for the following.
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Restore or create grassland/savannas Action Link |
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Restore or create grassland/savannas
A replicated, paired, site comparison study in 2010 three alpine grassland and forest sites in the Aosta Valley, Italy (Rolando et al. 2013) found that created semi-natural grasslands had a higher abundance and diversity of butterflies than adjacent conifer forest, and a higher abundance but lower diversity of butterflies than nearby species-rich pastures. On created grasslands, the total number of butterflies recorded (1,133 individuals) was higher than on pastures (759 individuals) or in forests (1,060 individuals). However, species diversity on created grasslands was lower than on pastures but higher than in forests (data presented as model results). Created semi-natural grassland strips (>15-years-old) were occasionally grazed by cattle in summer, and used as ski-pistes in winter. Species-rich pastures were grazed annually by cattle. From 20 July–20 August 2010, butterflies were surveyed on twenty 300-m transects in each of three habitats: created grassland, adjacent coniferous forest, and nearby pastures.
(Summarised by: Andrew Bladon)
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